australian television information archive

Bush Mechanics: A Story of the Outback Car Trade

1999
Producer: Tom Kantor
Directors: David Batty, Francis Jupurrula Kelly

This half hour documentary is the 'original' Bush Mechanics as produced by Warlpiri Media Association, a remote community video and radio facility in Yuendumu, Central Australia in 1998. The modificiation of the craft or car maintenance in the outback highlights many of the adaptative qualities desert people have utilised over the last seventy years. This adaptive culture is highlighted in the technical details of the surprising, greasy, gritty and sometimes irreverant stories of this documentary. This documentary also brings us close to some touching details and renditions of male to machinery relationships. We also get a feeling of the harsh and beautiful terrain the cars and the families they carry call home.

Cast: Jupurrurla Gang, Francis Jupurrula Kelly, Jack Ross

Motorcar Ngutju

Tue, September 11, 2001
Episode 1
Writer: David Batty
Director: David Batty
Co-Director: Francis Jupurrula Kelly

The Bush Mechanics form a rock band and their first paying gig is a half-day's drive away — now they just have to get there. None of them owns a vehicle, so they resurrect a derelict car, load it up with band gear and hit the road. This episode follows the five Bush Mechanics as they bounce along rough bush tracks, occasionally encountering Jupurrula, the magic mechanic who helps them overcome their various car catastrophes with his bush ingenuity.

The Bush Mechanics: Simeon Jupurrula Ross, Steven Jupurrula Morton, Errol Jupurrula Nelson, Junior Jupurulla Wilson, Randall Jupurulla Wilson

Featuring: Jack Jackamarra Ross, Francis Jupurrula Kelly

And: Bandy Jupurrula Long, Warren Japanangka Williams, Jimmy Japanangka Langdon, Peter Bartlett, David Batty, Steve Hall, Lloyd Spencer Nelson, Alan Collins, Matthew White, Simon Jnr Fisher

Payback

2001
Episode 2
Writer: David Batty
Director: David Batty
Co-Director: Francis Jupurrula Kelly

The Bush Mechanics travel to Alice Springs to collect their nephew from jail and wind up having their own brush with the law. Although their nephew Walter has done his time in jail, he still must be brought back to the community to face Aboriginal law or "payback". On their way home, the Bush Mechanics try to appease an eerie night-time spirit who visits Walter in his dreams. As they approach their destination, the police stop them and send half the gang back to jail for having unpaid warrants for shooting cattle.

Featuring: Jack Jackamarra Ross, Francis Jupurrula Kelly, Walter Leichleitner

With: Harry Collins, Hugh Miller, Michael Morgan, Warren Japanganka Williams, Harry Japangardi Jones

The Chase

2001
Episode 3
Writer: David Batty
Director: David Batty
Co-Director: Francis Jupurrula Kelly

After an exhilarating win against the Yuendumu Magpies, four Mt Allen football players become stranded when the team bus leaves without them. To get back home, they "borrow" the rival team coach's car. An hilarious high-octane car chase ensues as the Bush Mechanics are enlisted to catch the culprits. The episode concludes with a spectacular act of revenge when the abandoned car is found.

Featuring: Jack Jackamarra Ross, Francis Jupurrula Kelly

With: Brian Wilson, Billy Stafford, Herman Wilson, Joshua Nelson

And: Dennis Jupurrula Nelson, Cecil Crocodile Johnson, Jimmy Japanganka Langdon, Alan Collins, Simon Jnr Fisher, Steven Brown

The Rainmakers

2001
Episode 4
Writer: David Batty
Director: David Batty
Co-Director: Francis Jupurrula Kelly

With the country in the grip of severe drought, the Bush Mechanics are summoned by the rainmaker, Jungala, to go to Broome in search of rainmaking pearl shells. In the old days, Jungala would have traded bush tobacco for the valuable shells, but this time he trades today's commodity — a motorcar he has painted with the Rain Dreaming. As Jungala sings them on a safe journey, the Bush Mechanics are beset with dust storms, fires and unfamiliar landscapes as they travel to saltwater country to trade an old Ford V8 for the magical pearl shells.

Featuring: Thomas Jungala Rice

With: Monte Dwyer, Steven Baamba Albert