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Seven Little Australians: episode guide

Fowl For Dinner

Episode 1
September 02, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

The Captain's new commanding officer and his wife will be arriving for dinner and the children are asked to be silent and invisible. However, things get out of hand when Pip dares to go downstairs and steal some roast chicken. Suddenly all of the other children think they can do it as well. The Captain is thoroughly embarrassed.

With: Brian James as Colonel Bryant, Anne Haddy as Mrs. Bryant, Jenee Welsh as Bridget, Martin Vaughan as Pat

What are Fathers for Anyway?

Episode 2
September 09, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

Both Pip and Judy are trying their best to make up for the embarrassment they caused their father at the dinner party, but they're also upset that they missed out on the pantomime. One day while running errands they decide to make a detour to Bondi Aquarium to ride the roller coaster. They leave the General behind in their father's office at the military barracks but he goes missing.

With: Jenee Welsh as Bridget, Martin Vaughan as Pat, Lynne Murphy as Miss Marsh, Kenneth Laird as Colonel Whitmore, Stuart Finch as First Officer

Consequences

Episode 3
September 16, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

The Captain holds Judy responsible for the misbehaviour of the entire group of children and she is sent off to boarding school at Mount Victoria. She hates being away from her siblings but is hopeful that she might get to go home when there is an outbreak of measles at the school. Unfortunately her father has made other arrangements.

With: Brendon Lunney as Alan Courtnay, Jenee Welsh as Bridget, Martin Vaughan as Pat, Judith McBurney as Aldith, Catherine Errol as Marion, June Salter as Miss Ada, Lee Denfield as Miss Flora, Alan Wilson as James Graham, James Kemsley as Andrew Courtnay, Dennis Grosvenor as Station Attendant

All for the Worst

Episode 4
September 23, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

Judy is determined to run away and return home and so she embarks on a long hike through the wilderness back to Sydney. Meanwhile Meg is desperately trying to make her waist smaller so she looks more feminine, but by lacing up her corset too tightly she nearly faints. Then there is Bunty who's getting himself into all sorts of trouble by telling fibs.

With: Brendon Lunney as Alan Courtnay, Jenee Welsh as Bridget, Judith McBurney as Aldith, Redmond Phillips as Dr. Gormiston, Aileen Britten as Mrs. Gormiston, Roger Cox as Dray Driver, Shirley Donald as Maid

Secrets

Episode 5
September 30, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

Judy finally makes it home, she's starving and quite ill but she decides to hide out in the barn and she asks the other children not to tell Esther or the Captain that she is home for fear of being sent back to boarding school. The Captain is too busy worrying about his injured horse to notice what is going on. It was Bunty who hurt the horse when he hit it with a cricket ball.

With: Lynne Murphy as Miss Marsh, Jenee Welsh as Bridget, Frank Gallacher as Postman

Tomorrow Do Thy Worst!

Episode 6
October 07, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

The Captain finds out about Bunty injuring his prize horse and is determined to punish him severely despite Esther's pleas to leave him be. The couple still haven't heard from Judy and the strange actions of the children begin to raise his suspicions. The Captain eventually finds Judy in the barn and is about to punish her but then discovers that she's desperately ill.

With: John Morris as Chemist, Brendon Lunney as Alan Courtnay

Into the Sun

Episode 7
October 14, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

Judy begins her to recover from her illness but the Doctor advises that she will fair better in a warmer climate. Judy starts to worry that the Captain will send her straight back to boarding school once she's is completely better. Thankfully Esther's parent's have invited all of the children to spend Winter on their sheep property.

With: Redmond Phillips as Dr. Gormiston, Jenee Welsh as Bidget, Frank Gallacher as Postman, Martin Vaughan as Pat, Brian James as Colonel Bryant, Peter Gwynne as Mr. Hassal

Yarrahappini

Episode 8
October 21, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

At Yarrahappini, Meg starts to develop a crush on the property manager Dick Gillet, but she then discovers that he's a drunk. Pip is busy lending a hand in the shearing shed and Bunty is still up to mischief although he's now in league with a young aboriginal friend. Meanwhile, the Captain is starting to miss his family back at Misrule.

With: Peter Gwynne as Mr. Hassal Betty Dyson as Mrs. Hassal, Alfred Bell as Mr. Gillet, Steve Dodds as Tettawonga, Noel Campbell as Jacky, Marg Timbery as Cook, Bill Sceanes as Mulligan

The Picnic

Episode 9
October 28, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

Esther thinks it is time they went home but her mother urges her to stay until after the local ball. She accompanies her father to the ball while the children go on one last picnic. Meg is still trying to get over Dick Gillet. The children have fun eating chops and damper, singing and playing games but the day ends in disaster.

With: Peter Gwynne as Mr. Hassal Betty Dyson as Mrs. Hassal, Alfred Bell as Mr. Gillet, John Armstrong as Brown, Jenee Welsh as Bidget (uncredited)

Going Home

Episode 10
November 04, 1973
Written by Ethel Turner
Adapted by Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by Ron Way

In the final episode Esther and the children return to Misrule in Sydney and life goes on as essentially as it did before. Meg develops a friendship with a young fellow who is studying to be a Doctor. Bunty is working on a printing press and most importantly the Captain decides to spend more time with the children.

With: Peter Gwynne as Mr. Hassal Alfred Bell as Mr. Gillett, Nigel Lovell as The Doctor, John Armstrong as Brown, Brendon Lunney as Alan Courtnay, Judith McBurney as Aldith, Colin Taylor as Man, Shirley Broadway as Woman, Robert Quilter as Pastor