australian television information archive

The Flying Doctors

Part One (90min)
March 12, 1985 (Nine)
Written by Terry Stapleton
Directed by Pino Amenta

Dr. Tom Callaghan arrives in the remote town of Coopers Crossing to join the Royal Flying Doctor Service on missions to the homesteads, stock stations and mining camps of outback Australia.

Whilst trying to be accepted by the locals, a task made all the more difficult by the death of his first patient, Tom is unexpectedly introduced to Beth Drever and her daughter Liz, a New York advertising photographer, when Andy is forced to make an emergency landing.

Beth has returned to her home country to make crucial decisions about her future and that of the family homestead and struggling sheep station, Corindabella, now run by her brother Vern.

Cast:

• Andrew McFarlane as Dr. Tom Callaghan
• Lorna Patterson as Liz Drever
• Keith Eden as Dr. Harry Sinclair
•  
• Vikki Hammond as Beth Drever
• Bill Hunter as Dusty Miller
• Steve Bisley as Andy McGregor
• Monica Maughan as Jean Hennessey
• Lenore Smith as Kate Wellings
• Pat Evison as Violet Carnegie
• Max Cullen as Hurtle
• Gil Tucker as Joe Forrest
• Fredric Abbott as Vern Daniels
• Maureen Edwards as Rosemary Daniels
• Linda Hartley as Diana Daniels
• Simone Buchanan as Lucy Daniels
• Barry Donnelly as Bill Hennessy
• Stefan Dennis as Doug Hennessy
• Maurie Fields as Vic Buckley
• Val Jellay as Nancy Buckley
• Jacqui Gordon as Rhonda Lovejoy
• Mark Little as Ron the Roughneck
• John Frawley as Dr Frank Turner
• Carmel Millhouse as Matron Ingrid Fischer
• Carole Yelland as Pauline McGregor
• Nick Waters as Ray Williams
• Jim Ewing as Clem
• Vern Weaver as Jacko
• Peter Finlay as Russo
• Keir Saltmarsh as Tige
• Bruce Barry as George Baxter
• Alex Duke as Peter Hennessey [uncredited]
• Michaela Abay as Sally Hennessey [uncredited]

The Flying Doctors

Part Two (90min)
March 19, 1985
Written by Terry Stapleton and Vince Moran
Directed by Pino Amenta

Tom and Liz continue to be drawn together by their mutual contempt for the outback.

However, Tom steadliy begins to see things differently when he starts to respect those who live in such an isolated location.

Cast:

• Andrew McFarlane as Dr. Tom Callaghan
• Lorna Patterson as Liz Drever
• Keith Eden as Dr. Harry Sinclair
•  
• Vikki Hammond as Beth Drever
• Bill Hunter as Dusty Miller
• Steve Bisley as Andy McGregor
• Monica Maughan as Jean Hennessey
• Lenore Smith as Kate Wellings
• Pat Evison as Violet Carnegie
• Max Cullen as Hurtle
• Gil Tucker as Joe Forrest
• Fredric Abbott as Vern Daniels
• Maureen Edwards as Rosemary Daniels
• Linda Hartley as Diana Daniels
• Simone Buchanan as Lucy Daniels
• Barry Donnelly as Bill Hennessy
• Stefan Dennis as Doug Hennessy
• Maurie Fields as Vic Buckley
• Val Jellay as Nancy Buckley
• Jacqui Gordon as Rhonda Lovejoy
• Terry Gil as Sgt Jack Carruthers
• John Frawley as Dr Frank Turner
• Carmel Millhouse as Ingrid Fischer
• Catherine Wilkin as Pamela Stoneham
• Bill Pearson as Ken Stoneham
• Carole Yelland as Pauline McGregor
• Steve Dodd as Phillip Nangari
• Peter Finlay as Russo
• Keir Saltmarsh as Tige
• Bruce Barry as George Baxter
• Sydney Jackson as Road Train Driver [uncredited]
• John Armstrong as Ronnie [uncredited]
• ? as Mrs Harvey [uncredited]

The Flying Doctors

Part Three (90min)
March 26, 1985
Written by Vince Moran
Directed by Pino Amenta

A town meeting is held where George Baxter voices his displeasure with Dr Callaghan. Harry manages to quell the dissention but it is too late, Tom has heard enough and quits his job on the spot. Tom and Liz leave Cooper's Crossing for Sydney where Harry tracks them down in an effort to bring Tom back. Tom tries to help Diana and Doug through their predicament but his advice to return home only results in Diana's father throwing him off the property. Pamela Stoneham is recued when an emergency call is received. Tom goes out on a call to assists Jean Hennessey who has gone into premature labour, she is brought back to Cooper's Crossing where Tom successfully delivers her baby.

The delivery of Jean Hennessey's baby further rallies the town to Dr Callaghan's side but Tom is planning to follow Liz to New York — news which disappints Harry who hoepd Tom would take over for him after he retires.The arrival at the accident scene where a car has collided with a fuel truck tests the team but pushes Harry beyond his limits, forcing the issue of his retirement — and the possible resulting clossure of the Flying Doctors' base. Tom is shocked when Liz leaves Cooper's Crossing for New York without telling him.

Cast:

• Andrew McFarlane as Dr. Tom Callaghan
• Lorna Patterson as Liz Drever
• Keith Eden as Dr. Harry Sinclair
•  
• Vikki Hammond as Beth Drever
• Bill Hunter as Dusty Miller
• Steve Bisley as Andy McGregor
• Monica Maughan as Jean Hennessey
• Lenore Smith as Kate Wellings
• Pat Evison as Violet Carnegie
• Max Cullen as Hurtle
• Gil Tucker as Joe Forrest
• Fredric Abbott as Vern Daniels
• Maureen Edwards as Rosemary Daniels
• Linda Hartley as Diana Daniels
• Simone Buchanan as Lucy Daniels
• Barry Donnelly as Bill Hennessy
• Stefan Dennis as Doug Hennessy
• Maurie Fields as Vic Buckley
• Val Jellay as Nancy Buckley
• Jacqui Gordon as Rhonda Lovejoy
• John Frawley as Dr Frank Turner
• Carmel Millhouse as Ingrid Fischer
• Catherine Wilkin as Pamela Stoneham
• Carole Yelland as Pauline
• Steve Dodd as Phillip Nangari
• John O'May as Michael
• Deborah Lee Furness as Fran
• Bruce Barry as George Baxter
• Charles Tingwell as Oscar (voice) uncredited