australian television information archive

Cliff Hanger

Episode 2.01 (14)
November 26, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Peter Smalley
Director: Rod Hardy
Producer: Don Battye

A rock climber in difficulties is almost hung by the neck before being rescued, and a silly kid with a gun accidentally shoots a camper in the bush.

Starring: Dennis Grosvenor as Jebbie Best, Robert Coleby as Barry Drummond, Eric Oldfield as Phil Hardy, John Clayton as Sam Wright, Kerri Eichhorn as Dr. Anne Harris

Guest Stars: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Gordon McDougall as Joe, Geoff Parry as Brian Jarvis, Simon Slater, Ian Gilmour as Jeff, Hank Johan, Russell Kiefel, Olga Tamara as Dolly Jarvis Celia DeBurgh as Liz

Happiness Is...

Episode 2.02 (15)
December 03, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Denise Morgan
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

The Surf Rescue squad become involved with a motorbike stuntman who has a lot of attitude, and an elderly bushwalker becomes trapped by a fallen tree.

Guest Stars: Olga Dickie as Emma Martin, Vince Martin as Craig Robinson, Max Meldrum as Bligh, Michael Ferguson as Greg, Muriel Hopkins as Lady on beach, Robert Hughes as Photographer, Pat McTernan

A Deed Without A Name

Episode 2.03 (16)
December 10, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Denise Morgan
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

William McKenna disapproves of Tim seeing his sister Susan, and he retaliates against the club by vandalising their equipment. When Susan is subsequently injured in the bush, the vandalism to the jet boat prevents the rescue team from reaching her. The squad meets Perry Quixote Roland, an eccentric bumbler who has set himself up as an alternative rescue service.

Guest Stars: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, John Krummel as Perry Quixote Roland, Kevin Leslie as 'Pop' McKenna, Shane Whittington as William 'Mac' McKenna, Rosie Bailey as Susan McKenna, Lucky Grills as Sgt. Burrows, Maggie Kirkpatrick as Mrs. Roland, Patrick Stahle as Martin

Sweet Youth, Sweet Madness

Episode 2.04 (17)
December 17, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Bob Caswell
Director: Julian Pringle
Producer: Don Battye

Phil's mother comes to visit, but Phil has to spend the day underwater in an attempt to rescue a diver trapped in a sunken ship. A young bloke trying to impress a girl gets himself stuck high up on a crane.

Guest Stars: Delvene Delaney as Carol Webber, Lulu Pinkus as Kate, Robin Ramsay as Murray, Carol Raye as Eileen Traill, Tom Farley as Les Hodges, Noel Brophy as Webber

8:52 A.M.

Episode 2.05 (18)
December 24, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Simon Wincer
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

A commuter ferry collides with a cargo ship in Sydney Harbour. A massive rescue operation is mounted, and the Surf Rescue helicopter is called in to assist. Among the passengers on the ferry are Barry's parents.

Starring: Dennis Grosvenor as Jebbie Best, Robert Coleby as Barry Drummond, Eric Oldfield as Phil Hardy, Tom Richards as Derek Price, Kerri Eichhorn as Dr. Anne Harris

Guest Stars: Patsy King as lris Deacon, Richard Meikle as George Deacon, Martin Vaughan as Ferry Captain, Kit Taylor as Barge supervisor, Felicity Gordon as policewoman, Kay Taylor as Margaret Drummond, Ken Fraser, Don Crosby as Police radio operator, Rina Bourne, Peter deSalis, Gary Cosham, Stuart Campbell, Angela Bennie, Lena Coleby, Anja Coleby, Marion Schad, John Pratt

Notes: Filmed during a disaster training exercise being staged on Sydney Harbour. Robert Coleby's wife (Lena) and daughter (Anja, pictured) appear as ferry passengers. It is Anja's first known screen credit at age 7

Wanting Things

Episode 2.06 (19)
January 01, 1979 (Sydney)
Writer: Peter Smalley
Director: Julian Pringle
Producer: Don Battye

Jebbie finds himself attracted to the sister of a missing boy, who is feared to have had a motorbike accident in the bush. A couple known to Barry are on a boat that blows up due to a gas leak.

Guest Stars: Margaret Nelson as Sally Chambers, Slim De Grey as Jack Pearce, James Condon as Norman Chambers, Robina Beard as Betty Pearce, Matthew Crosby as Michael Chambers, Kay Eklund as Dorothy Chambers

Note: the last known acting role for Picnic at Hanging Rock alumna Margaret Nelson (pictured)

The Eye Of The Beholder

Episode 2.07 (20)
January 07, 1979 (Sydney)
Writer: Jim Simmonds
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

The chopper squad finds a drifting boat and evidence that the owner committed suicide. They are also involved in a search for a psychopath who pours acid on bikini-clad girls at the beach.

Guest Stars: Brenda Senders as Maureen Jamison, Ralph Cotterill as Reynolds, Chris Orchard as Bob Jamison, Suzie Stephens as Nurse, Gordon Piper as Port Officer, Miles Buchanan as Brendan, Lyal Loughnan, George Beddows

Note: Miles Buchanan's earliest known TV credit

The Other Man's Grass

Episode 2.08 (21)
January 14, 1979 (Sydney)
Writer: Denise Morgan
Director: Julian Pringle
Producer: Don Battye

An old friend of Jebbie's is trapped in a mine accident. Jebbie suspects foul play and discovers an insurance swindle with a surprising twist. Phil becomes involved with an old man, Fred, and his nephew Ben after Fred has a heart attack. Fred wants Ben to take over the running of their boat, but Ben would rather learn to fly.

Guest Stars: Abigail as Alison Burns, Nick Tate as Jeff Burns, Vincent Gil as Jack Parsons, John Dease as Fred Murray, Richard Moir as 'Curly', Tim Burns as Ben

People Can See

Episode 2.09 (22)
January 21, 1979 (Sydney)
Writer: Luis Bayonas
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

A bungling couple of newlyweds have their honeymoon on an island. Disaster follows disaster, and their boat drifts away leaving them stranded. An inept hang glider repeatedly crashes, and is repeatedly rescued by the chopper squad. A lady who attempted suicide and was rescued by Barry forms an emotional attachment to him.

Guest Stars: Barbara Stephens as Paula, John Gregg as Jack, George Spartels as Hang glider, Judith Dick as Joan, Richard Gilbert as Fisherman, Raymond Hogan as Boy

Freedom

Episode 2.10 (23)
January 28, 1979 (Sydney)
Writer: Bob Caswell
Director: Rod Hardy
Producer: Don Battye

A man running away from his wife, a 'mascot' training with a rugby team, and the appearance of a previous girlfriend of Barry's all combine to give the squad major difficulties.

Guest Stars: Bettina Welch as Mrs. Docker, Chantal Contouri as Diana Baker, Shane Porteous as Duffy, Steve Millichamp as Lester, Joe James as Captain Watson, Kevin Manser as Docker, Jack Allan as Car owner, Mark Ferguson as Andy Docker

No Strings

Episode 2.11 (24)
February 09, 1979 (Brisbane)
Writer: Derek Strahan
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

A girl is bitten by a snake when a couple go bushwalking. A boy sneaks off into the bush to fly his model plane, some yobbos dump a van in the bush, and a girl is thrown from her horse causing serious injury. Their circumstances are brought together and the chopper squad is called in, however the helicopter runs low on fuel and is forced to make an emergency landing, which seriously complicates their rescue attempts.

Guest Stars: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Sigrid Thornton as Mandy Paramor, Gerda Nicolson as Enid Paramor, Peter Fisher as Jack, Rodney Bell as Jimmy Henderson, Ken Blackburn, Carol Passmore, Malcolm Keith, Sal Sharah, Olga Yarad, Bill Rose, Michael Howard, Bronwyn Fullerton, Richard Horne

Stunt

Episode 2.12 (25)
January 26, 1979 (Brisbane)
Writer: Luis Bayonas
Director: Rod Hardy
Producer: Don Battye

The chopper squad becomes involved in a wild chase after a bank robber stuntman, and Jebbie is confronted by the jealous boyfriend of a female reporter.

Guest Stars: Grant Page as Bank robber, Sean Scully as Ed, Camilla Rountree as Lisa, Richard Gilbert as Fisherman, Jeremy Paul, Jonathan James, Kathy Troutt as Rescue girl, Kay Streeter, Jason McGrarth

Note: featured guest star Grant Page (pictured), the series' only credited stunt performer for the entire run, finally gets some face time while showing off his talents playing... a tv stuntman.

The Big Trip

Episode 2.13 (14)
February 16, 1979 (Brisbane)
Writer: Don Battye
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

Jebbie and Barry take the helicopter to Canberra for a demonstration, and while there Jebbie meets a former girlfriend and they become involved in a bushfire rescue. Meanwhile, back in Sydney Phil has his hands full when he comes across a girl and a mystery man trying to kill her, who also tries to kill him.

Guest Stars: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray [uncredited], Briony Behets as Debbie James, Diane Craig as Jenny, Ivar Kants as James, Marcella Burgoyne as Mother, Walter Sullivan as Father, David Franklin as Rod, Jackie Howard