Delta Eps

CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION

DELTA
EPISODE DETAILS

DELTA ARTICLE HOME INTERVIEWS CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW F.A.Q. LINKS EXPLANATION OF EPISODE GUIDE TERMS	EPISODES: 23. LENGTH: 60 mins. FORMAT: Mono, Film. PRODUCTION: ABC Production, Sydney. 1969 (Series 1), 1970 (Series 2). ORIGINAL SCREENING: 1969 - 1970. RUNNING ORDER: Airdate. NETWORK: ABC. CAST: Inger Petri.......KIRRILY NOLAN Jeff Mallow.......JOHN GREGG Jackie Stewart.......PATSY TRENCH (eps 12 - 23) Brian Fitch.......KEVIN MILES CREW: Producer.......DAVID GODDARD Executive Producer.......DAVID GODDARD Series created by.......COLIN FREE Music.......GEORGE DREYFUSS with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra AWARDS: 1970 Awgie: Tony Morphett for ep. 19 'A Touch Of DFP'. 1970 AFI Bronze Reel Award: ep. 13 'The Short Sell'.	EPISODE TITLES Series 1 1. The Devil Take The Bluetongue Fly 2. Stresspoint 3. Wish Upon A Fallen Star 4. A Pocketful Of Bones 5. Welcome To Sunhaven 6. The Trouble With Daisy 7. There's A Lot Of It About 8. The Initiates 9. Delicate Balance 10. A Beautiful Burn 11. D Is For Destruction 12. R.I.P. First Patsy Trench Series 2 13. The Short Sell 14. Look Thy Last 15. The Fatted Calf 16. Hannah 17. Death Walk 18. A Bite Of History 19. A Touch Of DFP 20. The Honeywind Blows 21. Blackout 22. Too Many Masters 23. Overkill
	SERIES 1 1. The Devil Take The Bluetongue Fly Jim Mitchell.......Robert Bruning Bill Prescott.......Richard Meikle Pettit.......Brian Adams Clive Selwyn.......Jeff Ashby Slade.......Harry Lawrence Lawler.......Edward Howell Hazel.......Shirley Smith Bart.......Leslie Wright Buck.......Steve Dodd Worker.......Dennis Grosvenor Script.......Colin Free Director.......Brian Faull Synopsis: Bill Prescott, a sheep farmer hit by drought, is about to sell to an American buyer. Some of the stock are diseased and although Prescott knows this, he tries to pass it off as a skin ailment. Finally Prescott allows Delta to investigate, and Brian Fitch discovers the rare plague of Bluetongue, which could virtually wipe out the sheep industry. The disease could spread at the rate of 50 miles a day, and it takes the combined efforts of Delta and the Australian Military Forces to prevent a national disaster. Airdate: Melbourne 26/9/69, Sydney & Canberra 25/9/69	Ep. 1: Brian Adams Ep. 1: John Gregg.
	2. Stresspoint Janosek.......Wyn Roberts Nyholme.......Ronald Falk Synopsis: The Australian Navy calls in Delta to investigate death and possible sabotage causing delays in the building of two destroyers. The real problem lies with discrimination against a migrant worker - he is blamed for the death of a man by his workmates, who then start a victimisation campaign. Airdate: Melbourne 3/10/69, Sydney & Canberra 2/10/69	Kirrily Nolan.
	3. Wish Upon A Fallen Star Major Brunning.......Nigel Lovell Acker.......Eddie Hepple Joe.......John Armstrong Synopsis: The Delta field team are trying to locate an ancient Aboriginal burial ground which contains valuable artefacts, when they receive a call from the Army to help look for a space capsule containing dangerous viruses which has crashed in the outback. Inger and Mallow are at first reluctant to agree to Major Brunning's request because the burial ground is in danger of flooding - and Brunning at first refused to tell them the capsule's contents. There is little to guide them in the search for this deadly missile, but they know it could have broken open on impact. If the capsule is not found soon a plague could be unleashed, causing widespread disease and death. Two old bush characters, Acker and Joe, find the capsule and puncture it, and it becomes a race against time. Airdate: Melbourne 10/10/69, Canberra 9/10/69	Ep. 3: Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg.
	4. A Pocketful Of Bones Diane.......Carmen Duncan Hilda.......Enid Lorimer Synopsis: When Inger Petri and Brian Fitch are exploring for blue metal deposits, they uncover a cave with wall paintings. At first sight these appear to be Aboriginal relics, but a sinister discovery nearby causes them to think otherwise: a skeleton exhibiting signs of skilled modern surgery. Airdate: Melbourne 17/10/69, Canberra 16/10/69	Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg.
	5. Welcome To Sunhaven Dr. Doyle.......Peter Sumner Mayor Firland.......Don Reid Winifred Mash .......Gabrielle Hartley Synopsis: Delta is proud of its work on the newly designed filtration plant at Sunhaven, but then a tourist dies after eating polluted oysters. Inger Petri and Jeff Mallow investigate, but they can find no malfunction in the plant - then Inger turns up the first clue. Airdate: Melbourne 24/10/69, Adelaide 27/10/69, Canberra 23/10/69	Kirrily Nolan.
	6. The Trouble With Daisy Alan Tibbett.......Harold Hopkins Dakin.......Tom Farley Gail Dakin.......Maria Goddard Alan Tibbett Snr........Ron Roberts Mrs. Osmond.......Thelma Scott Linda Owens.......Peg Christensen Bill Owens.......Bob Haddow Synopsis: The Dakins are struggling to make their dairy farm pay. Dakin keeps getting scientific advice but stubbornly refuses to act on it, and the Delta team discover that the dairy produce is third-rate. Family tradition and rivalry in the small dairying community force the Delta team to abandon science and make use of female cunning, and they recommend that an old family employee should be sacked and part of the land which has been fenced off should be opened up. Airdate: Melbourne 31/10/69, Canberra 30/10/69	John Gregg and Kirrily Nolan.
	7. There's A Lot Of It About Rankin.......Stewart Ginn Carpenter.......Peter Collingwood Synopsis: Cranks cause Delta more headaches than the toughest of assignments, so when a crate of weeds arrives for investigation, laborious and unrewarding checks must be made. An amateur herbalist has been sending unsolicited specimens to Delta for years, but it comes as a surprise when a routine check shows an unusual creeper weed, Marsdenia, contains medically valuable analgesic properties. Airdate: Melbourne 7/11/69	Kevin Miles and John Gregg.
	8. The Initiates Peter Spencer.......Tristan Rogers Dr. Spencer.......Frank Thring Tony Spencer.......Max Phipps Script.......Tony Morphett Synopsis: Dr. Spencer, a distinguished anthropologist, has retired to Australia. He has set up a reconstruction of a village of the New Guinea Kaibu tribe on his property for post-graduate study of their life and religion. Inger Petri is invited to attend the school, but it soon appears to her that something more sinister than anthropological studies are being catered for. Her suspicions are strengthened by the doctor's strange son, Peter, and she panics when she discovers that the school is virtually cut off from the outside world by the express orders of Dr. Spencer, and Delta finds itself involved in a ritual murder. Notes: Segments filmed on location at an historic homestead at Appin, just south of Sydney. Airdate: Melbourne 14/11/69	Ep. 8: Frank Thring, Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg.
	9. Delicate Balance .......Martin Harris Synopsis: When Inger Petri takes a well-deserved holiday, she stays with friends on the coast. Unexpectedly, the Delta mobile laboratory arrives with Jeff Mallow and a metallurgist, who have been sent to the area to estimate the mineral content of the beach sands. Delta finds that when an ardent conservationist meets a rutile miner, the situation becomes explosive - with gelignite. Airdate: Melbourne 21/11/69	John Gregg and Kirrily Nolan.
	10. A Beautiful Burn Fire Brigade Officer.......Tony Ward .......Anna Bowden Synopsis: To prevent the disaster of future bushfires to a town that is regularly razed by fire, Delta creates an artificial firebreak. The local fire brigade officer scoffs at progress and, resenting the intrusion, prevents its completion. Because of his stupidity he causes the death of one man and nearly kills himself and others when a spectacular fire threatens the town. Airdate: Melbourne 28/11/69 11. D Is For Destruction Mother.......Pat Bishop Father.......Ray Taylor Stevie.......Matthew Crosby Synopsis: Delta investigates a human problem when Inger Petri goes to the sixth birthday party of her godson Stevie, an intelligent child who cannot, or will not, learn to read or write. He is a difficult child who goes into a tantrum if crossed. His parents are high-living social climbers who blame each other for the child's behaviour. Meanwhile, Jeff Mallow clashes with some bikies who destroy equipment in the mobile laboratory. Airdate: Melbourne 5/12/69 12. R.I.P. Sawtell.......Chips Rafferty Director.......David Goddard Synopsis: A ghost mining town in the Blue Mountains is the proposed site of a multi-million dollar American leisure centre. Delta operator Jackie Stewart has been given the task of surveying the area and she heads for the uninhabited town. After making her base in an old bar she explores the area and discovers an empty tent. Returning to the bar she finds signs that someone has visited it during her absence. In a panic Jackie tries to start her Landrover - only to find that the distributor arm is missing. Other 'ghostly' events turn an adventure into a nightmare as it becomes obvious someone is trying to scare her off. Notes: First episode with Patsy Trench as Jackie Stewart. Filmed at the abandoned mining town of Harvey Vale, NSW. Airdate: Melbourne 12/12/69	Ep. 10: Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg. Kirrily Nolan
	SERIES 2 13. The Short Sell Jim Garrick.......John Meillon Jack le Fevre.......Ron Randell Director.......Wolfgang Storch Synopsis: Jack le Fevre, a Canadian geologist working for wealthy Jim Garrick, has made a promising mineral discovery and Delta is asked to provide an independent valuation of the field. Delta finds the discovery is limited, but this doesn't stop Garrick from falsifying the report and sending the company's shares rocketing. As a result Mallow is accused of accepting a bribe and suspended pending investigation. Mallow then attempts to prove his innocence. Notes: This episode won an Australian Film Institute Bronze Reel Award. Airdate: Melbourne 10/7/70	Ep. 13: John Gregg and Ron Randell.
	14. Look Thy Last Skade.......Harry Lawrence Scottie.......Keith Lee .......Don Reid Script.......John Martin Director.......Tom Jeffrey Synopsis: Coal mine workings are operating dangerously near an old flooded shaft. The old hands are wary and believe there is danger; the young men and management are more worried about bonus and output. Delta is asked to give an independent assessment of the situation, and Jackie and Mallow are assigned. Mallow sets off down the mine - there is a blast and he and Scottie, the union representative, and a troublemaker named Skade are trapped. Notes: Filmed on location at the Awaba colliery, Newcastle. Kirrily Nolan does not appear in this episode. The script was used in the textbook ‘Close-Up’. Airdate: Melbourne 17/7/70	Ep. 14: Harry Lawrence and Keith Lee.
	15. The Fatted Calf Leo Falstone-Green.......Michael Pate Wilson.......Peter Gwynne Paul Falstone-Green.......Alister Smart Ryan.......Brian Adams Director.......David Goddard Synopsis: Jackie Stewart is invited to the property of Leo Falstone-Green, a domineering cattle station owner, for a holiday. It soon becomes obvious that Falstone-Green thinks his cattle station needs a strong owner, and he looks on Jackie as potentially an ideal wife for his spineless son Paul. Jackie has disliked Paul ever since they were children and she likes him even less now. Delta is about to drill for oil on the property, and Falstone-Green is opposed to the plan in spite of the fact that Delta has government permission. Jackie's loyalties are put to the test, especially when Delta takes a tough line and Falstone-Green takes an even more violent line. Airdate: Melbourne 24/7/70	Ep. 15: Brian Adams and John Gregg.
	16. Hannah Margaret.......Moya O'Sullivan Hannah Thompson.......Dinah Shearing Saxon.......Reg Livermore Synopsis: Hannah Thompson, a one-time distinguished scientist with a secret government department, consults a spiritualist. As a result the spiritualist becomes a threat to national security, and Delta becomes involved. Airdate: Melbourne 31/7/70	John Gregg and Kirrily Nolan.
	17. Death Walk McCrainor.......Owen Weingott Rand.......Wyn Roberts Script.......Robert Peach Director.......Wolfgang Storch Synopsis: Inger Petri and Jeff Mallow visit the desert salt pans of Lake Eyre in South Australia to view television reception tests. They find a dismantled hut, a half-crazed man and attempted murder. Soon they find themselves having to fight for survival with an injured man, and no food, water, radio, compass or map. Notes: Filmed at Lake Eyre, South Australia. Considerable difficulties were experienced during filming due to adverse weather conditions, the shoot taking 17 days instead of the allocated 11. Because of excessive rain, some scenes had to be re-shot in sand dunes near Newcastle and at Cronulla, Sydney. Airdate: Melbourne & Sydney 7/8/70, Brisbane & Adelaide 21/8/70, Perth & Hobart TAS 14/8/70	Ep. 17: Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg.
	18. A Bite Of History Vicki.......Tina Grenville Mrs. Sutcliffe.......Mary Mackay Orlando.......Peter Reynolds Hobson.......Rhoderick Walker Synopsis: Mrs. Sutcliffe is determined to will her historic home to the National Trust, but it stands on extremely valuable real estate which developers have their eyes on. Delta is called in by the National Trust to evaluate the condition of the house. Airdate: Melbourne 14/8/70	Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg.
	19. A Touch Of DFP Jenni.......Lyndall Rowe Bartlett.......Peter Adams Milburn.......Don Barkham Selwyn.......Jeff Ashby Claudia.......Elke Neidhardt Carter.......John Warwick Script.......Tony Morphett Synopsis: Jeff Mallow is sprayed by a crop dusting plane and collapses, near death. Inger Petri suspects foul play. Notes: Tony Morphett was joint winner of an Awgie Award for Best Script For A TV Drama Series (1970) for this episode (shared with John Dingwall for Homicide episode 208 'Everyone Knows Charlie'). Airdate: Melbourne 21/8/70, Adelaide 4/9/70	John Gregg and Kirrily Nolan.
	20. The Honeywind Blows Daphne.......Dina Mann 'Halloween' Jones.......Robert Dunlap Maria.......Lyndall Barbour Job Winton.......John Armstrong Director.......Frank Arnold Synopsis: When Delta is commissioned to investigate Winton Honey, which is claimed to have magical powers to cure illness, Inger Petri and Jeff Mallow come across an outbreak of voodooism and faith healing. They are joined at a bush camp of three honey farmers by 'Halloween' Jones and Maria, who is a fortune teller and a witch. Notes: American actor Robert Dunlap, who had a lead role in the U.S. serial Peyton Place, makes a guest appearance in this episode. Airdate: Melbourne 28/8/70	Ep. 20: Robert Dunlap and Dina Mann.
	21. Blackout Jennifer McKenzie.......Jeanie Drynan Bill Keegan.......Peter Sumner Lawson.......Ben Gabriel ‘Mac’ McKenzie.......Brian James Nigel.......Athol Compton Melodie.......Steve Dodd Aboriginal man.......Ben Blakeney Barman.......Allan Penney Script.......John Martin Director.......Tom Jeffrey Assistant Director.......Allan Penney Script Editor.......Barbara Vernon Synopsis: Delta investigates the tuna fishing industry and the racism of local fishermen in a small town when an educated half-caste Aboriginal, who is involved with a white girl, plans to build a small fleet of fishing boats to be manned by his people. Notes: Patsy Trench does not appear in this episode. Airdate: Melbourne 4/9/70	Ep. 21: Peter Sumner and Jeanie Drynan.
	22. Too Many Masters Len Reeves.......Peter Gwynne Ronnie.......Nigel Lovell Derek.......Jim Smillie Veronica Graham-Woods.......Margo Lee Butch.......Phillip Clifton Synopsis: Wealthy art collector Veronica Graham-Woods seems to be so lucky at finding valuable paintings that she can afford to let friends hve some. She sells a Conder painting to a friend of Inger Petri, and Inger becomes suspicious, remembering that this particular painting was lost in a fire many years ago. Delta investigates an art fraud, leading them to Len Reeves, an art forger. Notes: First Australian television acting role for Peter Gwynne. For her role as Veronica Graham-Woods, Margot Lee took along lots of hats - more than the character could possibly wear. "I was determined that this society woman should wear as many hats as possible," said Margot. "It was better to have too many on location than too few."¹⁷ Airdate: Melbourne & Sydney 11/9/70	Kirrily Nolan and John Gregg.
	23. Overkill Thorgens.......Katy Wild Mara.......Maria Goddard Judge.......Don Pascoe Scientist.......Phil Avalon Script.......Colin Free Synopsis: Delta scientist Brian Fitch has been in the mountains conducting investigations into pollution. When he does not contact the team for three weeks, Inger and Mallow go to find him. When they reach his camp they find it deserted with the Delta radio smashed, a bottle which once contained ether on the floor, and an unidentified decomposed body floating in the well. They later discover a weird deserted farm, inhabited only by what appear to be driverless bulldozers and vans. A scientist, Judge, operates the ultra-mechanised farm from a computer complex beneath the house. He is assisted by Thorgens and Mara - a 14-year-old girl with a mind like a computer who shows no emotion. Airdate: Melbourne & Sydney 18/9/70 17. TV Times, May 6, 1970.	Ep. 23: Maria Goddard.