australian television information archive

The Drovers Connection

Episode 2.01 (23)
Written by Chris Hawkshaw & Susan Smith
Directed by Robert Klenner
Australia: March 27, 2002
Canada: March 19, 2003
USA (We): March 19, 2005

Alex teases Tess about her new venture, a hemp crop, as Meg serves up another in a recent succession of gourmet meals. Meanwhile Becky gets a visit from her brother Sean, who is escaping another of their father's benders. Becky is secretly thrilled, seeing her chance to stop Sean going down the same path as Mark, her jailbird older brother. Peter arrives to check on Claire's progress training the quarter horses. He criticises her and Claire is confused and defensive.

Guest Cast: John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Richard Wilson as Sean Howard, Christopher Hobbs as Greg Watson, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Angelo Da Costa, Martin Levenberger as Steve Bailey, Simon Gligora as Gungellan Tough #1, Mack Wilson as Gungellan Tough #2

Through The Looking Glass

Episode 2.02 (24)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Robert Klenner
Australia: April 03, 2002
Canada: March 26, 2003

Tess and Alex's relationship is put to the test when a baby is abandoned on his doorstep. Meanshile, Drovers Run has a vermin problem. Meg discovers a potential rabbit infestation in the kitchen vegetable garden — and rabbit habits seem to be contagious. Claire can't get Peter Johnson out of her mind and is worried that having made the first romantic move towards her, he's now got cold feet.

Guest Cast: Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Jack, Sam & Emma Rasmus as Baby Roger

Desperate Measures

Episode 2.03 (25)
Written by Chris McCourt
Directed by Lewis Fitz-Gerald
Australia: April 10, 2002
Canada: April 02, 2003

Becky is thrown from her horse and injured when someone takes a shot at her. Claire's relationship with Peter is deepening. They are spending virtually twenty-four hours a day together as they seek out horses for training, and the time spent together only confirms how much they are starting to feel for each other. Tess finds a surprising ally in Nick when she wants to save some wild brumbies. Liz Ryan takes Jodi under her wing as she begins preparing her for the Miss Gungellan pagent.

Guest Cast: Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon, Richard Wilson as Sean Howard, Deborah Kennedy as Cathy Cronin, Melissa Truscott as Cast Double, Lachlan Willoughby as Cast Double

The Bore War

Episode 2.04 (26)
Written by Alexa Wyatt
Directed by Lewis Fitz-Gerald
Australia: April 17, 2002
Canada: April 09, 2003

It's a dry spell and the women are suffering the consequences of water shortages — shared baths, stained washing and unflushed toilets. Meg's veggie garden is the first victim to succumb. Claire cleans out an old bore to water her stock, but the newly-discovered water soon dries up when Nick irrigates his barley crop at Wilgul — he and Claire are sharing the same artesian basin and there is not enough water for both of them. Initial attempts to resolve the situation amicably fail, so a water licencing representative is called in to adjudicate on who is entitled to the water.

Guest Cast: Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Celia Ireland as Melanie Powers, Jillian Murdoch as Shelly

Hello Stranger

Episode 2.05 (27)
Written by Michaeley O'Brien
Directed by Donald Crombie
Australia: April 24, 2002
Canada: April 16, 2003

Meg's world is thrown into turmoil at the sudden return of her first love, the man she gave her heart to and the man she's told everyone, Jodi included, walked out on her. Kevin didn't walk out on Meg, he asked her to go with him and she refused. Jodi finds her dad simply delightful. As Meg and Kevin spend time together Meg remembers all the reasons she fell in love with Kevin in the first place.

Harry is determined to force Nick to do things on his own — or force him to come to him and ask for help.

Guest Cast: Richard Healy as Kevin Fountain, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Andrew Martin as Truck Driver

A Dry Spell

Episode 2.06 (28)
Written by Chris Phillips
Directed by Donald Crombie
Australia: May 01, 2002
Canada: April 23, 2003

As final preparations for the Miss Gungellan ball continue, Meg is faced with a difficult decision: to stay at the place she loves or to leave with the man she loves. Jodi is desperate to go with her father and is over the moon when Meg decides to take a chance for once in her life.

All the women at Drovers enjoy the opportunity to dress up for the biggest event on the Gungellan social calendar. Jodi is voted Miss Gungellan, but to everybody's surprise and Liz's horror, she gives up the crown in order to go off up north with her father and Meg. Only trouble is, Meg is having second thoughts. And so too is Kevin.

Guest Cast: Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, Richard Healy as Kevin Fountain, Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan, Chelsea Bruland as Jessica Carter, Rosie Denny as Emma Brown, Phillip Lowe as Grazier, Liz Windsor as Judge Dreadful, Reece Griffith as Young Boy #2, Michael Hartwich as Youth, Leona Hermann as Jessica's mother, Riley Smith as Young Boy #1

Three's A Crowd

Episode 2.07 (29)
Written by Chris Pearce & Alexa Wyatt
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Australia: May 08, 2002
Canada: April 30, 2003

Claire and Peter's growing peronal and professional relationships is leaving Tess feeling more and more isolated from her sister. Tess works hard to bring Nick and Alex back together, an effort which causes more trouble for the Ryan family when she lets a divisive Ryan family secret out of the bag.

Harry meanwhile yearns to know all about Peter Johnson who seems to settling in at Drovers Run. His background check turns up a surprise, but unable to inform Claire himself, he tells Becky who must decide what to do with the information.

Guest Cast: Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan, Stelios Yiakmis as Frank Da Costa

The Bridle Waltz

Episode 2.08 (30)
Written by Robert Dudley & Alexa Wyatt
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Australia: May 15, 2002
Canada: May 07, 2003

Claire and Peter appear to move one step closer to marriage when Peter organizes a romantic dinner for her, presenting her with a ruby pendant and declaring he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. With Claire and Peter seemingly destined to be married and about to start their new life together, Tess is feeling like a third wheel and makes plans for her own future, agreeing to join her friends in the city to help run their new business.

Becky meanwhile struggles to deal with the information given to her by Harry. To help make her decision, Becky plays detective and manages to put a telephone call through to Queensland that varifies what she vainly hoped was not true, that Peter is in fact married. Becky struggles with the burden of telling Claire, knowing it will destroy her, but spurred on by Harry, she untimately reveals the secret.

Liz Ryan tries to reunite her fractured family but her efforts are fruitless.

Guest Cast: Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan, Stelios Yiakmis as Frank Da Costa

To Have And To Hold

Episode 2.09 (31)
Written by Chris McCourt & Sarah Smith
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones
Australia: July 03, 2002
Canada: May 14, 2003
USA: May 21, 2005

Claire's relationships are fragmented… she and Becky barely speaking, and Tess is now living in Melbourne, unaware of recent events. When Peter arrives, unsuspecting, she asks him straight-out whether he is married, and on learning that he is, she sends him packing, telling him the relationship is over.

Guest Cast: Murray Bartlett as Simon, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Alexandra Davies as Briony Masters, Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Episode 2.10 (32)
Written by Ysabelle Dean
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones
Australia: July 10, 2002
Canada: May 21, 2003
USA: May 28, 2005

Claire is taking the loss of both Peter and Tess badly. Unable to raise energy or enthusiasm for anything, including the imminent birth of Blaze's foal, she nonetheless refuses to accept she is suffering from emotional stress. Things reach crisis point when she decides to cancel her contract with Australian Bloodlines and sell Drovers Run. She offers it to Harry who agrees to buy.

Tess meanwhile is being kept busy by the success of the café in Melbourne and is unaware of recent events back at Drovers, and Simon is trying to see that things stay that way.

Despite being cautioned against it, Nick starts riding again, but getting back in the saddle proves to be the easy part. Alex returns to Killarney.

Guest Cast: Murray Bartlett as Simon, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Alexandra Davies as Briony Masters, Damien Garvey as Dr. Cunningham, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan

Wildfire

Episode 2.11 (33)
Written by Sally Webb
Directed by Ian Gilmour
Australia: July 17, 2002
Canada: May 28, 2003

Becky's troublesome older brother Mark returns to the district, determined to drag brother Sean into his life of illegality. Mark assaults Nick in a remote paddock and while everyone is busy searching for him, Mark heads over to Killarney where he talks a reluctant Sean into helping him steal Alex's prize horse.

Meg discovers that she has competition for Terry's affections and Terry finds himself under scrutiny by the law.

Guest Cast: Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Justin Rosniak as Mark Howard, Norman Sheum as Doctor, Khristina Totos as Jane Strzelecki, Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan, Richard Wilson as Sean Howard, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa

Hounded

Episode 2.12 (34)
Written by Dave Warner
Directed by Ian Gilmour
Australia: July 24, 2002
Canada: June 04, 2003

Frank Da Costa, the new cop in town, has it in for Terry. When Terry unwittingly sells a pair of stolen Alpacas to Tess, he sets up an explosive confrontation that will unearth the dark secret at the heart of Frank's animosity.

Brick's new job complicates things with Becky.

Guest Cast: Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Paul Reichstein as Snr Constable Karl Ashworth, Wendy Strehlow as Helen, Khristina Totos as Jane Strzelecki, Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa

Steer Trek

Episode 2.13 (35)
Written by David Phillips & Alexa Wyatt
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Australia: July 31, 2002
Canada: June 11, 2003

With the drought continuing, and no money to buy feed or truck in water, Claire, Tess, and Nick join forces. Like the Drovers of old, they take their amalgamated herds out on the Gungellan track. Meg is quietly delighted when the Ryans send Terry along to help and sees a chance to win him back from Jane. The attraction between Nick and Tess grows.

Back on Drovers, Becky, who has been left in charge by Claire, tries to keep Jodi from taking advantage of the situation.

Guest Cast: Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Brian Torry as Graham Newton (Vet), Sandy Winton as Daniel Lewis, Rosie Denny as Emma, Lachlan Tetlow-Stuart as Party Guest #2

Brave J

Episode 2.14 (36)
Written by Louise Crane
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Australia: August 07, 2002
Canada: June 18, 2003

Tess motivates Claire into rekindling her dreams of becoming a stock horse trainer and breeder. Drovers Run needs the money and with Peter safely out of the way there is slim chance of crossing paths with him again. There's no reason why the dream can't be pursued.

Guest Cast: Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Greg Carroll as Stan Dixon, Roger Corser as Peter Johnson, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Episode 2.15 (37)
Written by Guila Sandler
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones
Australia: August 14, 2002
Canada: June 25, 2003

When Jodi's cooking gives five young men food poisoning, the women of Drovers must convince the Killarney men to put on a strip show.

Claire and Alex's business partnership gets off to a rocky start, whilst Nick and Tess form a partnership of their own.

Guest Cast: Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Tim Campbell as Finn O'Neill, Scott Johnson as Rowan Simmons, Craig Paues as Sam, Samuel Robinson as Greg, Alex Shepherd as Michael, Warren C Brooke as Farmer #1, Emily O'Loughlin as Constance Woodland, Patrick Frost as Neil Thompson, Adam Morgan as Farmer #2, Ian Beaton as Farmer #3, Jennifer Block as Farmer #4

Stripped Bare

Episode 2.16 (38)
Written by Chris Hawshaw (sic)
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones
Australia: August 21, 2002
Canada: July 02, 2003

Drovers Run is cleared out by burglers as Jodi and Craig take advantage of everybody else's absence from the farm to enjoy a secret rendezvous in the spa. When Wilgul is burgled, Tess and Nick set a trap to catch the thieves.

Guest Cast: Peter Callan as Charlie Watts, Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Patrick Duggin as Morrie Vickers, Leon Ford as Mick Woodland, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, Patrick Frost as Neil Thompson, Scott Harrison as Leon, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Valdis Anderson as Farmer Bill, William Hall as Barman

Blame It On The Moonlight

Episode 2.17 (39)
Written by Chris McCourt
Directed by Donald Crombie
Australia: September 04, 2002
Canada: July 09, 2003

Claire is irritated over Tess's three homestay guests: they're starting to shear today, and the last thing she needs are tourists, getting in the way.

Jodi is surprised by Alberto's return from Italy.

Guest Cast: Nikki Coghill as Gabi Harding, Peter Cousens as Paul Harding, Jack Finsterer as Marty O'Rourke, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, Brooke Harman as Skye Harding, Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Shane Cooper as Shearer, Jim Willoughby as Boss Shearer

Made To Be Broken

Episode 2.18 (40)
Written by Chris McCourt
Directed by Donald Crombie
Australia: September 18, 2002
Canada: July 16, 2003

Claire and Alex are finding potential clients are being put off by rumours circulated by Peter Johnson that ten years ago Alex was responsible for crippling a boy, Stefan Van Amstel, when he deliberately ran his car off the road. The incident was hushed up by Harry's blood money.

Guest Cast: Andy Anderson as Race Hayley, Craig Ball as Stefan Van Amstel, Loretta Bates as Claudia Van Amstel, Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Jacqueline Cook as Tanya, Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Peter Rodgers as Gerry Wallis, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa

Best Of Enemies

Episode 2.19 (41)
Written by David Phillips
Directed by Robert Klenner
Australia: September 25, 2002
Canada: July 23, 2003

Tess meets Sandra Kinsela at the cattle sale yards and likes her instantly, only to discover Claire dislikes her intensely. Their childhood dispute is renewed when a herd of calves is stolen from Drovers and Claire is convinced Sandra is responsible.

Jodi worries about being perceived as a failure when she is fired from her job.

Guest Cast: John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Inge Hornstra as Sandra Kinsella, Denis Noble as Denny Faulkner, Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Greg Beaton as Auctioneer

Note: there is a new presentation for the credits, the opening production credits are split around the opening theme segment while the end credits move from a crawl to a series of static screens

Wind Change

Episode 2.20 (42)
Written by Chris Phillips
Directed by Robert Klenner
Australia: October 02, 2002
Canada: July 30, 2003

Sexual tension is mounting between Nick and Tess. Tess is ready to take a step forward but is interrupted when Alex's chopper flies over Killarney and dusts with chemicals, which threatens the freshly sewn organic wheat crop at Wilgul. Attempts to smooth things over with Harry appear to work but it is Liz's opposition to Tess's growing involvment with her son, and willingness to share her thoughts with Tess, that causes a new rift to form.

Jodi and Alberto are forced to move back to Drovers Run when they are kicked out of their apartment in town after being unable to pay the rent. Meg is happy to have her daughter back but it may be too much of a good thing.

Becky continues to wait to hear from Brick.

Guest Cast: John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Catherine Wilken as Liz Ryan, Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon (voice, uncredited)

Story gallery

No More Mr Nice Guy

Episode 2.21 (43)
Written by Sarah Smith
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Australia: October 09, 2002
Canada: August 06, 2003

On the eve of the Gungellan Show, Claire is presented with repossession papers for Drovers Run, a result of her defaulting on her contract with Australian Bloodlines.

Nick and Tess become estranged after Tess walked out on him. Tess tries to explain her actions the previous night but Nick has no time for excuses. Concerned she may have missed her chance, Tess may be right with Nick's physiotherapist Sally Clements' arrival on the scene, much to Liz's delight.

Eagerly awaiting his arrival, Becky is crushed when Brick doesn't return as promised.

Claire is shattered when she discovers she is pregnant.

Guest Cast: John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Catherine Wilken as Liz Ryan, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Kathryn Hartman as Sally Clements, Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, Khristina Totos as Jane Strzelecki, Michael Veitch as Lenny Bradshaw, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Doris Younane as Moira/Mystic Miranda, Andy Seymour as Announcer, Rosie Denny as Emma Brown, Lucy Dilger as Lenny's Daughter [Lucy], Reece Horner as Teenager, Adam Jarvis as Mean Machine, Callum Pyper as Brash Boy, Peter Raymond-Powell as Boxing Spruiker

Notes: The first appearance of Doris Younane as Moira, she becomes a regular character in later seasons. Reece Horner (he orders sausages from Terry) returns in series 4 as reoccuring character Nat, a farmhand at Killarny

Future Perfect

Episode 2.22 (44)
Written by Chris Hawkshaw
Directed by Karl Zwicky
Australia: October 16, 2002
Canada: August 13, 2003

Peter offers to stop Australian Bloodline's from repossessing Drovers if Claire will agree to marry him. After ultimately rejecting Peter's offer, Claire takes him on in the Stockman's Challenge but is seriously injured in a fall. The accident reveals her pregnancy but Claire tells Peter that he is not the baby's father and Alex steps forward to claim paternity.

Alberto, who is ready to settle down, suggests to Jodi that she do some traveling without him.

Nick gives Tess one more chance with a take it or leave it offer, when she hesitates, he accuses her of not knowing what she wants.

Brick's failure to arrive worries Becky who leaves to go in search of him.

Tess tells Liz Ryan what she thinks of her and her manipulation of Nick's life.

Guest Cast: John Jarratt as Terry Dodge, Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan, Catherine Wilken as Liz Ryan, Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson, Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison, Kathryn Hartman as Sally Clements, Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli, Luke Ford as Craig Woodland, Khristina Totos as Jane Strzelecki, Michael Veitch as Lenny Bradshaw, Stelios Yiakmis as Sgt Frank Da Costa, Sally Bull as Ambo [Julie], Andy Seymour as Announcer, Despina Kotos as Becky's Boxing Rival, Peter Raymond-Powell as Boxing Spruiker, Samuel Wark as Spectator, Josh Willoughby as Cross Country Rider