Rovers 2

CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION

THE ROVERS
EPISODE DETAILS

THE ROVERS ARTICLE HOME INTERVIEWS CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW F.A.Q. LINKS EXPLANATION OF EPISODE GUIDE TERMS	EPISODES: 39. LENGTH: 30 mins. FORMAT: Colour, Film. PRODUCTION: 1969 - 1970 NLT Production. ORIGINAL SCREENING: 1969 - 1970. RUNNING ORDER: Airdate (except as noted for episode 1). NETWORK: 0-Ten. CAST: Rusty Collins.......ROWENA WALLACE Bob Wild.......NOEL TREVARTHEN Captain Sam McGill ('Cap').......EDDIE HEPPLE Mike McGill.......GRANT SEIDEN CREW: Producer.......DON CASH (except as noted for episode 4) Executive Producer.......BILL HARMON Series devised by.......ROGER MIRAMS Music.......TOMMY LEONETTI & ERIC COOK Story Supervisor.......RALPH PETERSON AWARD: 1970 Penguin: Rowena Wallace - Best Supporting Talent. 1. Slipway Tom Pilcher.......Brendon Lunney Norm Pilcher.......Gregory De Polnay Bank manager.......Nigel Lovell Susie.......Lynda Keane Max.......Don Barkham Boat buyer.......Mike Dorsey Biker.......Vincent Gil Biker's girlfriend.......Amanda Irving Constable.......Serge Lazareff Script.......Kenneth Cook Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: On holiday in Sydney, Mike is trapped on a slipway in the path of a moving sloop, and his cousin summons all his strength in a desperate attempt to stop the boat. Notes: This episode has non-standard episode titles and guest cast credits. Airdate: Melbourne 12/6/70, Canberra 20/11/70, Newcastle NSW 27/6/70, Wollongong NSW 3/7/70, Gippsland VIC 20/8/70	EPISODE TITLES 1. Slipway 2. The Fugitives 3. Long Cry Of A Bunyip 4. Dangerous Cargo 5. Bridie Baines 6. A Lamb, And A Handful Of Sugar 7. Wide Angle Shot 8. Pigeon Post 9. The Strangers 10. Guitar Boy 11. Double Or Nothing 12. The Bushranger 13. Day Of The Black Eagle 14. Forget Me Not 15. U.F.O. Pacific 16. The Odyssey Of Reginald Peck 17. Cannon To The Right Of Them 18. Crisis 19. Sittin' Pretty 20. Double Exposure 21. Wright's Peak 22. Cry Wolf 23. The Expert 24. The Charmer 25. Cousin Patrick 26. Hamish... Where Are You? 27. A Touch Of Yellow 28. The Secret Of Aroora-Hitte 29. A Place Of My Own 30. A Present For Jenny 31. The Sailor 32. Gone Fishin 33. Sophia 34. The Quack 35. Friends And Enemies 36. My Million For A Meal 37. A Day At The Zoo 38. The Choice 39. Coma
	2. The Fugitives Henry Keith.......Colin Croft Howard Keith.......Van Alexander Script.......Michael Wright Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: Howard Keith has run away from his father by stowing away on the Pacific Lady, and he persuades Mike to join him in his escapade. Notes: Serge Lazareff is credited in the titles, but does not appear. ATV-0 Melbourne consistently screened this as the first episode in the series. Airdate: Melbourne 21/8/69 (Premiere), Gippsland VIC 19/3/70, Orange NSW 29/4/70 3. Long Cry Of A Bunyip Prof. John Neary.......Peter Collingwood Sailor.......Roger Cox Script.......Michael Wright Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew go to Eagle Island to investigate a report of a bunyip. They find loud roaring noises, evidence of a large animal, near accidents, traps, a lost professor and a wildlife sanctuary. Airdate: Melbourne 28/8/69, Gippsland VIC 27/2/70	Noel Trevarthen, Eddie Hepple and Rowena Wallace.
	4. Dangerous Cargo Mayor.......Gerry Duggan Policeman.......Reg Gorman Sailor.......Harry Williams Script.......Michael Wright (Edited by Ron McLean) Director.......David Baker Producer.......Roger Mirams Synopsis: Captain McGill proudly sails the Pacific Lady to bring a disabled vessel to safe anchorage. When the cargo undergoes a chemical reaction and both ships are in danger of being blown up together with a coastal town, the emergency action taken by Bob Wild saves the day. Notes: Pilot episode. Only episode with Roger Mirams as Producer. 'Hero Bob' does not wear his standard 'costume'. Airdate: Melbourne 4/9/69, Gippsland VIC 5/2/70	Rowena Wallace.
	5. Bridie Baines Albert Pringle.......Willie Fennell Bridie Baines.......Jessica Noad Pedestrian.......David Bunton Script.......Ron McLean Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: Captain McGill considers marriage after a chance encounter with the sweetheart of his youth. Airdate: Melbourne 11/9/69, Sydney 2/10/69, Gippsland VIC 12/2/70 6. A Lamb, And A Handful Of Sugar Smuggler 1.......Graham Rouse Smuggler 2.......Ben Gaule Script.......Glyn Davies Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew come across an abandoned boat, with goods and livestock for smuggling aboard. The smugglers return, taking Mike and Rusty as prisoners. Airdate: Melbourne 18/9/69, Sydney 25/9/69, Gippsland VIC 12/3/70	Noel Trevarthen and Rowena Wallace.
	7. Wide Angle Shot Wendel.......Don Reid Kosch.......Bryan Niland Script.......Michael Wright Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew discover an injured man left for dead on a cliff face. In trying to help the man they are hindered by two Commonwealth police officers who claim the injured man is a criminal. Later the Pacific Lady crew reveal the two policemen to be impostors. Airdate: Melbourne 25/9/69, Sydney 21/11/70, Ballarat VIC 26/3/70	Ep. 7: Noel Trevarthen and Don Reid.
	8. Pigeon Post Shipwreck girl.......Janet Kingsbury Bill Johnson.......Ken Goodlet Tina Johnson.......Leilani Hamilton Jean Johnson.......Beryl Marshall Shipwreck man.......Robert Grounds Script.......Kenneth Hayles Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: After a severe cyclone, the Pacific Lady crew come across a carrier pigeon with a distress message containing the location of a ship lost during the storm. Airdate: Melbourne 2/10/69, Wollongong NSW 18/12/69, Gippsland VIC 26/3/70 9. The Strangers Mrs. Drury.......Dawn Lake Jason Drury.......Peter Reynolds Greta Drury.......Sally Walker Script.......Kenneth Hayles Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: Mr. and Mrs. Drury hide away on a deserted island to avoid their retarded daughter Greta being regarded as a freak in mainstream society. Rusty shows them that Greta is autistic and can receive specialist help. Airdate: Melbourne 9/10/69, Gippsland VIC 16/4/70, Griffith NSW 17/3/70	Ep. 8: Janet Kingsbury.
	10. Guitar Boy Francis Longshaw.......Redmond Philips Andy McLellan.......Peter Gilbert Script.......Michael Wright Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: The Pacific Lady has two passengers bound for Quorn Island - Andy McLellan, a teenager who is very mysterious about why he is making the journey, and Francis Longshaw, who has some prejudiced attitudes and suspects Andy of being a thief. Airdate: Melbourne 16/10/69	Ep. 10: Redmond Philips and Eddie Hepple.
	11. Double Or Nothing Joe Riley.......Max Meldrum Bloke in club 1.......Les Foxcroft Bloke in club 2.......Barry Donnelly Mark.......John Armstrong Script.......Ron McLean Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: Captain McGill loses title to the Pacific Lady when con man Joe Riley tricks him at a club. However, Riley regrets his victory when the schooner is plagued by a series of ghostly incidents. Airdate: Melbourne 23/10/69, Gippsland VIC 9/4/70	Ep. 11: Max Meldrum and Eddie Hepple.
	12. The Bushranger David Kerr.......Greg Anderson Eddie Winter.......Martin Magee Tom Winter.......John Barnes Sgt. Hobson.......Don McNiven Script.......Michael Wright Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: In Mannering for the town festival, the Pacific Lady crew are bailed up by a bushranger. They take matters into their own hands when the local police display little interest in capturing him. Airdate: Melbourne 30/10/69, Sydney 26/12/70, Adelaide 3/5/71, Gippsland VIC 19/2/70 13. Day Of The Black Eagle Chang.......Terry Erwin Refugee on island.......George Wong Refugee on boat.......Cecil Parkee Refugee 1.......Mervyn Shing Refugee 2.......Hugh Kin Refugee 3.......Maurice Hor Script.......Kenneth Hayles Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: In an attempt to gain illegal entry into Australia, a group of Chinese seamen steal the Pacific Lady while the schooner is anchored off a Pacific island. Airdate: Melbourne 6/11/69, Adelaide 14/5/71, Orange NSW 1/7/70, Wagga Wagga NSW 16/3/70	Ep. 12: Rowena Wallace.
	14. Forget Me Not Dr. Wright.......Brian Moll Capt. Lawson.......Frank Ward Postmaster.......Norman Hodges Nurse.......Shirley Smith .......Graham Pitt .......Peter Hanlon Script.......Kenneth Hayles Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: Captain McGill is injured in a minor car accident and loses his memory. Rusty, Bob and Mike try everything they can to help him regain his memory, but all their attempts appear futile. Airdate: Melbourne 13/11/69, Gippsland VIC 30/4/70	Ep. 14: Noel Trevarthen, Rowena Wallace and Grant Seiden.
	15. U.F.O. Pacific Molly Corby.......Janet Kingsbury Mr. Corby.......Tom Farley Barney.......Reg Evans Jack Webster.......Mark McManus Script.......Kenneth Hayles Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew investigate a UFO sighting on a Pacific island, and uncover an elaborate hoax. Airdate: Melbourne 20/11/69, Gippsland VIC 2/4/70, Shepparton VIC 17/3/70	Ep. 15: Janet Kingsbury.
	16. The Odyssey Of Reginald Peck Reginald Peck.......Reg Varney Dawn Tobin.......Dawn Lake Simon.......Robert Evans Wilbur.......Ricky Cilona Tara.......Leonie Williams Dog.......'Lonsdale' Script.......Ralph Petersen Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew take Reginald Peck to an island he has inherited - and they find he has also inherited a nanny, three kids and a dog. Notes: A 'spin-off' comedy series from this episode titled 'Reggie's Paradise' was proposed, featuring Reg Varney and Dawn Lake in the lead roles. Airdate: Melbourne 27/11/69, Sydney 19/2/70, Gippsland VIC 14/5/70	Ep. 16: Dawn Lake and Reg Varney.
	17. Cannon To The Right Of Them Count de Lucio.......Charles McCallum Richardson.......Keith Lee Admiral.......Ron Roberts Millard.......James Bowles General.......Derek Maguire Peebles.......Clifford Neate Script.......Brian Wright Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: When Bob Wild requests permission to film wildlife on a Pacific island owned by an Italian Count, he finds a world of fantasy and a standover man trying to force the Count to sign over the mining rights to the island. Airdate: Melbourne 4/11/69, Gippsland VIC 24/4/70 18. Crisis Harris.......Stewart Ginn Gertie Johnson.......Janne Coghlan Miss Constable.......Elizabeth Kirkby Harry Johnson.......Kenneth Laird Welfare officer 1.......Geoff Hiscock Welfare officer 2.......Gordon Lishman Script.......Rosamund Waring Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: A welfare officer with some prejudiced attitudes tries to separate Mike from his grandfather and the Pacific Lady. Airdate: Melbourne 11/12/69, Gippsland VIC 21/5/70, Albury NSW 16/3/70	Grant Seiden.
	19. Sittin' Pretty Postmistess.......Ruth Cracknell Mrs. Potts.......Anna Russell Basil.......Jack Allan 'J.D.'.......Robin Cuming Script.......Ron McLean Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: Mike enters Rusty in a beauty contest without her consent to try and raise some money for much needed photographic equipment. Airdate: Melbourne 16/1/70	Ep. 19: Rowena Wallace.
	20. Double Exposure Terry Claffey.......Slim deGrey Alderman Truan.......Don Philps Police Sergeant.......Stuart Finch Mrs. Driscoll.......Mary Mackay Leroy Claffey.......Robert Brockman Script.......Eddie Hepple Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: Mike has disappeared and the whole town seems to know something, but no-one is willing to help locate him. Airdate: Melbourne 23/1/70, Sydney 5/3/70, Gippsland VIC 28/5/70	Ep. 20: Eddie Hepple and Don Philps.
	21. Wright's Peak Kenneth Baker.......Jack Thompson Sir Charles Baker.......Ray Taylor .......Moray Powell .......Ray Mitchell .......Steve Carey Script.......Ron McLean Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: Kenneth Baker and Bob Wild plan to climb Wright's Peak, but when Kenneth sprains his ankle he is replaced by his pompous father, who lost his nerve during a rockfall on his last climb. Airdate: Melbourne 30/1/70, Sydney 26/2/70	Ep. 21: Jack Thompson.
	22. Cry Wolf Ann Fraser.......Jeanie Drynan Jim Fraser.......Owen Weingott Bert.......Vincent Gil Ben McCall.......Mike Dorsey Farmer 1.......John Godfrey Farmer 2.......Peter Armstrong Farmer 3.......Peter Orsick Farmer 4.......Red Moore Script.......Peter Schreck Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: When some sheep disappear mysteriously, farmers at first blame the only strangers in the area - the crew of the Pacific Lady, until further events point to a Tasmanian Tiger being responsible. Airdate: Melbourne 6/2/70, Gippsland VIC 18/6/70	Ep. 22: Owen Weingott and Jeanie Drynan.
	23. The Expert Bill Shaw.......Jeff Ashby Policeman.......Lex Mitchell Virginia Shaw.......Lorraine Bayly Script.......Michael Wright From a story by.......George Torode Director.......Max Varnel Synopsis: A retired bomb disposal expert who has lost his nerve is asked to defuse a sea mine threatening a coastal town. His wife opposes him accepting the job. Airdate: Melbourne 13/2/70, Newcastle NSW 25/4/70 24. The Charmer Willard Foss.......Don Pascoe Eric Wilson.......Tony Bazell Butcher.......Tommy Dysart 'J.D.'.......Robin Cuming Tom.......Patrick McCarville Joe.......Graeme Gow Johnno.......Lee Bagwell Mrs. Wilson.......Betty Crosby Script.......Ron McLean Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: A snake handler, Willard Foss, moves into a small town and causes unease amongst the locals. When Rusty writes an article about Foss, her manuscript is substituted, and she is threatened with a lawsuit. Airdate: Melbourne 20/2/70, Albury NSW 30/3/70	Ep. 23: Jeff Ashby and Lorraine Bayly.
	25. Cousin Patrick Patrick McGill.......Ron Randell Gaylene Higgins.......Gwen Plumb Clarrie Hope.......Roger Cox Immigration officer.......Louis Wishart Claude Larkins.......Noel Brophy Ship Captain.......Kenneth Laird .......Al Thomas .......Bob Woodham .......Charles Thorne Script.......Ron McLean & Michael Wright Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: For years Captain McGill has been writing to his family boasting that he is the successful manager of a fleet of ships. When his cousin comes to visit, the Pacific Lady crew play a masquerade to keep up the pretence. Airdate: Melbourne 27/2/70, Sydney 15/1/70, Newcastle NSW 14/3/70, Gippsland VIC 4/6/70, Port Augusta SA 8/9/70	Ep. 25: Noel Trevarthen and Ron Randell.
	26. Hamish... Where Are You? Police Sergeant.......Lionel Long Newton.......Don Crosby Bernard Newton.......Tony Shepherd Jack.......Tony Hughes Script.......Michael Wright Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: A boy from a local town steals Mike's koala, and the Pacific Lady crew encounter a lot of difficulties trying to get him back. Airdate: Melbourne 6/3/70, Gippsland VIC 11/6/70	Ep. 26: Lionel Long.
	27. A Touch Of Yellow Bruce Hunter.......John Meillon Horace Soames.......Ben Gabriel Bert.......Harry Lawrence Postmaster.......Howard Vernon Marine Board member 1.......Charles Moody Marine Board member 2.......Derek Maguire Script.......Michael Wright Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: A man accuses Cap of cowardice and negligence which caused the sinking of the 'Southern Belle'. Cap doesn't deny the allegation. Airdate: Melbourne 13/3/70, Gippsland VIC 9/7/70	Ep. 27: John Meillon.
	28. The Secret Of Aroora-Hitte Dr. Henry Micklejohn.......Nigel Lovell Luana.......Inanui O'Rani Chief.......Mark Metekinge Script.......Michael Wright Director.......David Eastman Synopsis: Bob, Cap and Mike visit the island of Aroora-Hitte. They suspect that the only other white man there is intending to rob the island's wealth of pearls. Notes: Rowena Wallace does not appear in this episode. Airdate: Melbourne 20/3/70, Gippsland VIC 25/6/70	Ep. 28: Inanui O'Rani, Mark Metekinge and Nigel Lovell.
	29. A Place Of My Own Peter Cass.......Kamahl Luke Blake.......Brendon Lunney Bill.......Jack Thompson Bennett.......Lex Mitchell Neighbour.......Les Foxcroft Grey.......Alister Smart Saunders.......John Llewellyn Script.......Rosamund Waring Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: Peter Cass is a traveller and a loner who shuns friendship after being embittered by bad experiences with people. However, he finds himself working hand in hand with the Pacific Lady crew to save some wombats from extermination. They are helped by Luke Blake, also a traveller - and a loner, but not by choice. Notes: This episode, with an alternative ending, also doubled as a pilot for a proposed adventure series featuring Kamahl in the lead role as Peter Cass, with Brendon Lunney as Luke Blake. Airdate: Melbourne 27/3/70	Ep. 29: Kamahl and Brendon Lunney.
	30. A Present For Jenny Peggy Riley.......Maggie Stuart Professor Anderson.......Richard Meikle Jenny Anderson.......Alexi Long Charlie.......Matthew Crosby Dr. Graham.......Geoff Hiscock Script.......Rosamund Waring Director.......David Johnstone Synopsis: Bob and Rusty interview marine biologist Professor Anderson and become involved in a rescue attempt following poisoning from a deadly cone-shell. Mike finds his first childhood romance with the professor’s daughter Jenny, while the professor is involved in a romantic situation of his own. Airdate: Melbourne 3/4/70	Ep. 30: Rowena Wallace and Maggie Stuart.
	31. The Sailor Russ Kellett.......Jeff Ashby John Huntly.......Charles McCallum Mrs. Huntly.......Betty Dyson Script.......Ron McLean & Michael Wright Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew aid a lone sailor suffering from food poisoning, but are hampered by a ruthless reporter. Airdate: Melbourne 10/4/70, Sydney 14/5/70, Gippsland VIC 16/7/70 32. Gone Fishin Dorrie.......Kerry Maguire Sgt. Piper.......Noel Ferrier 'Ocker' Moore.......Stewart Ginn Harry.......John Armstrong Baker.......Kevin Leslie Script.......Ted Roberts Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew join in a frantic search for two old-timers, Ocker and Harry, who have stolen explosives for an easier way of fishing. They have unwittingly placed a whole town in danger as the explosives have deteriorated and could be set off by a slight bump. Airdate: Melbourne 17/4/70, Sydney 30/4/70	Eddie Hepple and Rowena Wallace.
	33. Sophia Sergio Francetti.......Keith Lee Ben Ashdown.......Gordon McDougall Rogers.......Peter Whitford Tony Francetti.......Sean McEuan Voss.......Ron Ferrier Fisherman.......Serge Lazareff Script.......Kenneth Hayles Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew solve the mystery of a series of mishaps that have dogged an Italian tuna fisherman who looks like losing his boat, house and land to an unscrupulous creditor. Airdate: Melbourne 24/4/70, Sydney 7/5/70, Gippsland VIC 30/7/70	Rowena Wallace.
	34. The Quack Nerrida Burrows.......Sue Lloyd Charles Burrows.......Peter Reynolds Ebenezer Wilson.......Kevin Manser Ellen Burrows.......Lynne Murphy Script.......Ron McLean & Michael Wright Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew foil the plans of an unscrupulous quack doctor who ties to use the supposedly invalid wife of a wealthy businessman as a lever to obtain finance to set up an expensive health resort. Airdate: Melbourne 1/5/70, Sydney 21/5/70, Gippsland 13/8/70	Ep. 34: Rowena Wallace, Noel Trevarthen and Sue Lloyd.
	35. Friends And Enemies Roberto Servijano.......Lex Marinos Anna-Maria.......Erica Crowne Driver.......Fred 'Cul' Cullen Italian brother 1.......Carlo Manchini Italian brother 2.......John Serge Constable.......Roger Milliss Rico Servijano.......Tom Lake Eric Finley.......Liam Reynolds Mechanic.......Frankie Davidson Script.......Ralph Peterson Director.......Ron Way Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew rescue an Italian boy and girl from a sinking dinghy, and are asked not to reveal their whereabouts to the authorities. The mystery deepens when two strong-arm Italians arrive, wanting to board the schooner. Airdate: Melbourne 8/5/70, Gippsland 27/8/70, Orange NSW 18/11/70	Eddie Hepple and Rowena Wallace
	36. My Million For A Meal Connie.......Kate Fitzpatrick Tony.......Serge Lazareff John.......Graham Dixon Father.......John Warwick Script.......Peter Schreck Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew try to teach three spoilt teenagers how to stand on their own two feet and have respect for other people. Airdate: Melbourne 5/5/70, Gippsland VIC 10/9/70 37. A Day At The Zoo John Fleming.......James Condon Claire Fleming.......Jacqueline Kott Doctor.......Robert Quilter Nurse.......Maggie Gray Robin Fleming.......Matthew Crosby Script.......Michael Latimer Director.......John von Kotze Synopsis: A young boy escapes unharmed from a crashed plane piloted by his father. But as he is in shock, and afraid that his father was trying to take him away from his mother, he runs away when the Pacific Lady crew come to rescue him. Mike later risks his life to save the boy. Airdate: Melbourne 22/5/70	Eddie Hepple.
	38. The Choice Ralph Carter.......Bindi Williams Ian Bradley.......Walter Sullivan O'Neill.......Ken Goodlet Jack Carter.......Ron Shand Script.......Rosamund Waring Director.......David Johnstone Synopsis: An Aboriginal boy with exceptional talent as a painter is being trained by a crippled and greedy guardian to become a jockey. The boy's headmaster and the Pacific Lady crew defy the guardian and help the boy start on his painting career. Airdate: Melbourne 29/5/70, Sydney 19/9/70, Gippsland VIC 24/9/70 39. Coma Margaret Walsh.......Benita Collings Dr. Owens.......John Faasen Eddie Somers.......Stanley Walsh Mrs. Sutchbury.......Jessica Noad Patsy.......Ingrid Beck Script.......Anne Hall Director.......Warwick Freeman Synopsis: The Pacific Lady crew rush insulin to a 10-year-old diabetic. A woman calling herself a nurse is recognised by the housekeeper, who tries to prevent her seeing the child. Airdate: Melbourne 5/6/70, Sydney 26/9/70, Canberra 27/11/70, Gippsland VIC 17/9/70	Eddie Hepple, Rowena Wallace and Noel Trevarthen.