Touch the Sun (Australian TV series)
Encyclopedia
Touch the Sun was a television series commissioned by the Australian Children's Television Foundation
in 1988 as part of the Australian Bicentenary
celebrations. It may have been intended that seven feature-length episodes were produced, one for each State, plus the Northern Territory
, but only six were completed. Executive producer was Patricia Edgar
in association with the ABC
and production company Revcom.
) dir. Mario Andreacchio
2. Devil's Hill (Tasmania
) dir. Esben Storm
3. The Gift (Victoria
and Western Australia
) dir. Paul Cox
4. Peter and Pompey (Queensland
) dir Michael Carson
5. Princess Kate (New South Wales
) dir. George Ogilvie
6. Top Enders (Northern Territory
) dir. Jackie McKimmie
Only one of the six movies, Princess Kate, has been released on DVD.
Australian Children's Television Foundation
The Australian Children's Television Foundation is a non-profit, government-funded organisation in Australia concerned with the development, production, dissemination and promotion of children's television and other audio-visual material for children....
in 1988 as part of the Australian Bicentenary
Australian Bicentenary
The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...
celebrations. It may have been intended that seven feature-length episodes were produced, one for each State, plus the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, but only six were completed. Executive producer was Patricia Edgar
Patricia Edgar
Patricia May Edgar AM is an Australian author, television producer and educator, best known as the founding director of the Australian Children's Television Foundation....
in association with the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and production company Revcom.
Scope
The six telemovies (each 95 minutes' duration) deal with issues important to children: adoption, multiculturalism, country life, fame, running away and deafness. They are set in a different States and depict children overcoming problems in different family and social situations.Titles
1. Captain Johnno (South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
) dir. Mario Andreacchio
Mario Andreacchio
Mario Andreacchio is an Australian film producer/director.Born in Leigh Creek, South Australia, Andreacchio graduated from Flinders University with a degree in Psychology , and then was selected to study at the Australian Film & Television School to train as a film director...
- writer Rob George
- A deaf boy makes friends with an Italian fisherman who speaks no English.
- cast included Damien Walters, Joe Petruzzi, John WatersJohn Waters (actor)John Russell Waters is a film, theatre and television actor and musician best known in Australia, to where he moved in 1968...
, Rebecca Sykes, Michele FawdonMichele FawdonMichele Fawdon was a British-born Australian actress. In 1979 she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Cathy's Child....
, Elspeth BallantyneElspeth BallantyneElspeth Ballantyne is an Australian actress, born in Adelaide. Having started her career as a laboratory Technician, she then attended the prestigious drama school, the National Institute for Dramatic Arts...
, Vivienne Graves, Sam Sowton, Phoebe Salter, Peter Green, Henry Salter and Grant PiroGrant PiroGrant Piro is an Australian actor. He is best known as the host of the children's television show Couch Potato on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.- Television credits :* Sons and Daughters * Captain Johnno telemovie...
2. Devil's Hill (Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) dir. Esben Storm
Esben Storm
Esben Storm was a Danish-born Australian actor, screenwriter, television producer and director, well known for his work with Australian children's program Round the Twist. He worked to adapt John Marsden's Tomorrow series but lost the rights to the film...
- writer David Phillips from the novel by Nan ChauncyNan ChauncyNan Chauncy was a British-born Australian author of children's books.-Early life:Chauncy was born Nancen Beryl Masterman in Northwood, Middlesex, England and emigrated to Tasmania, Australia with her family in 1912, when her engineer father was offered a job with the Hobart City Council. She...
- City boy and country cousin get lost in the mountains
- cast included Cameron Atkins, Peter HehirPeter HehirPeter Hehir is an Australian film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Bert Duggan on the soap opera The Sullivans from 1976 to 1983, when the series was cancelled...
, Mary Haire, John FlausJohn FlausJohn Flaus is an Australian broadcaster, actor, voice talent, anarchist and raconteur. He was formerly a prominent film academic and theorist. He was born in Maroubra, Sydney....
, Alexander 'Matthew' Jacobs, Emma Pugh and Jane McArthur
3. The Gift (Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
) dir. Paul Cox
Paul Cox
Paulus Henriqus Benedictus "Paul" Cox is an award-winning Australian film director.Cox was born in Venlo, Limburg, the Netherlands, the son of Else , a native of Germany, and Wim Cox, a documentary film producer. Cox emigrated to Australia in 1965...
- writers Paul CoxPaul CoxPaulus Henriqus Benedictus "Paul" Cox is an award-winning Australian film director.Cox was born in Venlo, Limburg, the Netherlands, the son of Else , a native of Germany, and Wim Cox, a documentary film producer. Cox emigrated to Australia in 1965...
and Jeff Peck- A Melbourne couple wins some land in Western Australia.
- cast included Nicholas Hatjiandreau, Vicki Serbos, Alexis Anthopolous, Con Laras, Rena Frangioudakis, Peter Felmingham, Margaret Ford, Bill McClusky, Ken James and Susanne Chapman
4. Peter and Pompey (Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
) dir Michael Carson
Michael Carson (television director)
Michael Carson was an Australian television director who was responsible for some of Australia's most significant series in the last decades of the twentieth century...
- writer John Misto
- Three Queensland children find Latin inscriptions in a cave.
- cast included Clayton Williamson, Kate McDonald (who is daughter of Garry McDonaldGarry McDonaldGarry George McDonald, AO is an Australian stage and screen actor.-Early life and career:McDonald was born in Sydney and was educated at Cranbrook School and National Institute of Dramatic Art....
), Emile Minty, Aaron Ferguson, Paul ChubbPaul ChubbPaul Chubb was an Australian film and television actor primarily in genres of comedy and drama. He was born Paul Dunford in Arncliffe, Sydney....
, Lynnette Curran, Dennis Miller, Amanda MuggletonAmanda MuggletonAmanda Lillian Muggleton is a British-born theatre, television and film actress. She is best known for her role on television soap opera Prisoner.-Early life:Muggleton was born in Stepney, London in 1951 and emigrated to Australia in 1974...
, Basil Clarke and Bruce Venables
5. Princess Kate (New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) dir. George Ogilvie
George Ogilvie
George Ogilvie is an Australian actor and film director. He was born in Goulburn, New South Wales in 1931. He directed Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome with George Miller.He was awarded the A.M...
- writers Kristin WilliamsonKristin WilliamsonKristin Löfvén Williamson is an Australian journalist and author.Kristin Williamson was born in Melbourne, went to school in Geelong and trained as a teacher. On graduating she took up a scholarship at the University of Florence in Italy to study Italian...
and David WilliamsonDavid WilliamsonDavid Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...
- Adopted daughter of wealthy couple searches for her birth mother
- cast included Justine ClarkeJustine ClarkeJustine Clarke is an Australian actor and singer. She has been acting since the age of seven and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known TV shows...
, Lyndel RoweLyndel RoweLyndel Rowe is an Australian actress who is best known for her work with the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company and the State Theatre Company of South Australia. Ms. Rowe is now living in London. She is probably best known for her role as the unpleasant Karen Fox in Australian...
, Alan CassellAlan CassellAlan Cassell is an Australian actor, born in the UK and best known for his roles in film and television.Cassell was one of the actors who worked in Bruce Beresford's early Australian films....
, Myra Noblet, Shane Tickner, Rebekah ElmaloglouRebekah ElmaloglouRebekah Elmaloglou is an Australian actress who is best known for portraying the role of Sophie Simpson on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away from 1989 to 1993 and again on a recurring basis from 2002 to 2005...
, Lorna Lesley, Martin SacksMartin SacksMartin Colin Sacks is an award-winning Australian actor, chiefly known for his 12-year role on Blue Heelers from 1993–2005.-Career:...
, Mouche PhillipsMouche PhillipsMouche Phillips is an Australian actress best known as Viv Newton in Home and Away, and Eva Sykes in Water Rats.- TV :* East of Everything 11 Episodes.... as Sandy...
, Claudia KarvanClaudia KarvanClaudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
, Beth BuchananBeth BuchananBeth Buchanan is an Australian actress. She is best known for the television roles of Gemma Ramsay in Neighbours, in the early '90s, and Susan Croydon in Blue Heelers from 1994. She is also a long-standing member of the Ranters Theatre company.-Early life:Buchanan is the daughter of musician Tony...
, Annie Byron and Nick EnrightNick Enright-Life:He was drama captain of St Ignatius' College, Riverview in 1964, where, like Gerard Windsor and Justin Fleming, he was taught by Melvyn Morrow. At that school, he won the 1sts Debating Premiership in both 1966 and 1967....
.
6. Top Enders (Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
) dir. Jackie McKimmie
- writers Michael AitkensMichael AitkensMichael Aitkens is a British writer of drama scripts for movies, television, and the traditional stage. He is well known in the UK for the BAFTA nominated BBC situation comedy Waiting for God, first shown in 1990. He has written for many of the UK's favourite drama and comedy series.Michael...
and Jackie McKimmie- Alice and her Aboriginal friend get lost while fleeing to KakaduKakaduKakadu can refer to:* Kakadu National Park in Australia* The "Kakadu Variations" by Ludwig van Beethoven* Kakadu , a software library for encoding and decoding JPEG 2000 images* Kakadu , an orchestral composition by Peter Sculthorpe...
- Alice and her Aboriginal friend get lost while fleeing to Kakadu
- cast included John JarrattJohn Jarratt-Early life:Jarratt was born and grew up in Wongawilli, a small rural town near Wollongong, New South Wales and later in the Snowy Mountains area. Jarratt's father was a coal miner and later concreter, who worked on the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme. Both his parents were of Irish origin....
, Madeleine Blackwell, Bennendine Woods, Donald Dale, Tom LewisTom LewisTom Lewis may refer to:*Tom Lewis , former Premier of New South Wales*Tom Lewis , Scottish chef*Tom Lewis , Australia*Tom Lewis , British obstetrician...
, Justine SaundersJustine SaundersJustine Florence Saunders, OAM was an Australian stage, film and television actress. She was a member of the Woppaburra indigenous people, from the Kanomie clan of Keppel Island in Queensland. She was born next to a railway track. At the age of 11, she was removed from her mother Heather, and...
, Bernadette Hudson, Mai Nguyen, Willy Johnson and Marcus Rosas.
Publication
VHS copies were made available for general release and at least one, Captain Johnno appeared in a subtitled classroom edition.Only one of the six movies, Princess Kate, has been released on DVD.
Sources
- http://www.memorabletv.com/episodeguides/touchthesun.htm
- Harrison, Tony The Australian Film and Television Companion Simon & Schuster Australia ISBN 0 7318 0455 4
- leaflet supplied with Captain Johnno VHS