australian television information archive

Heroes' Mountain

Debut: Sunday, March 10, 2002 (Ten)
Executive Producer: Fran McConnell
Producer: Anthony Buckley
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Writer: John Misto

On July 30th 1997, four thousand tons of earth crashed down upon two ski lodges on a mountainside in Thredbo Village killing 18 people. In the mayhem that followed, both rescuers and locals were faced with a catastrophic situation. Heroes' Mountain is the story of the incredible rescue of Sturart Diver, the sole survivor, who was buried underground for 65 hours in freezing temperatures. This is the story of the incredible rescue-ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, as they desperately battled to save Diver's life. The whole of Australia was held spellbound as it watched this miracle unfold. (95 min)

Starring: Craig McLachlan, Tom Long, Jodie Dry, Anthony Hayes, Nadine Garner, Jo Manning

Availalbe on DVD from chaos.com

Life

Produced: 2002
Australia: Sunday, December 10, 2005 (Ten)
Director: David Cameron
Writer: Roger Simpson

When a small criminal law practice suddenly finds itself out of its depth with two murder cases on its hands, one of the partners seeks help from her former teacher, who presumably has turned his back on law for good.

Starring: Vince Colosimo, Susan Lyons, Nicholas Bell, Nadia Townsend, Genevieve O'Reilly

The Road from Coorain

Australian debut: March 03, 2002 (ABC)
North American debut: May 13, 2002 (PBS)
Executive Producers: Tim Pye, Rebecca Eaton
Producer: Penny Chapman
Director: Brendan Maher
Writer: Sue Smith

Jill Ker Conway (Katherine Slattery) is born in the 1930s on Coorain, a place pressed into the earth by the weight of an enormous sky. Her mother, Eve (Juliet Stevenson), is a striking, potent woman, unyielding as the red earth, and woe betide any man who stands in her way. She is contained by only two things: the vast desolation of the western plains and the love of one man, Jillºs father Bill (Richard Roxburgh).

Bill Ker is charismatic and passionate. A soldier settler, he has secured the sprawling, remote pastoral station of Coorain. With Eve, he is determined to make a kingdom.

Jill is a bright loner who loves the bush. Too far from civilisation to go to school, the only people she knows are her adored older brothers and the eccentric men who work for her parents.

When her brothers leave for boarding school, Jill at the age of eight, becomes her father's helping hand. From her mother she discovers a passion for books. And from both parents, she learns the abiding rule—you never cry, ever.

The Road from Coorain explores what makes an exile, the sense of loss and liberation that makes a young woman leave her homeland. It follows the life of the curious, shy and bright Jill, including her difficult but enjoyable life on the land to her discovery of men, friendships, schooling and life in the city. (112 min)

Starring: Katherine Slattery, Juliet Stevenson, Richard Roxburgh, Tim Guinee, Bernard Curry, Sean Hall, John Howard

Secret Bridesmaids' Business

Australian debut: June 09, 2002 (ABC)
Canadian debut: January 24, 2004 (W Network)
Producer: Lynda House
Director: Lynn-Maree Danzey
Writer: Elizabeth Coleman

It's Meg's wedding and in the final hours before she ties the knot, the girls are determined to kick up their heels. Unfortunately, not quite everything goes to plan. A last minute scandal threatens to ruin the whole event, not to mention Meg's life. Marriage may be a wonderful thing, but after a night like this, could it really be worth it?

Starring: Helen Dallimore, Vince Colosimo, Val Lehman, Rebecca Frith, Sacha Horler, Alice McConnell, Deidre Rubenstein, Justin Batchelor, Amy Lockwood

White Collar Blue

Debut: Monday, August 12, 2002 (Ten)
Executive Producer: Sue Masters
Producers: Steve Knapman, Kris Wyld
Director: Ken Cameron
Writer: Kris Wyld

A new detective is attached to a Major Crime Squad in a tough southern district of Sydney. This creates tension within the squad, particularly when the Squad is called out to a homicide and the prime suspect appears to be the new detective. (120 min)

Starring: Peter O'Brien, Brooke Satchwell, Freya Stafford, Richard Carter and Don Hany