Flying Doctors, The – Nostalgia Central (2024)

Table of Contents
Video Related Posts

1 9 8 6 – 1 9 9 2(Australia)
227 x 50 minute episodes

The Australian drama series The Flying Doctors made ordinary soap heroes seem like wimps. This lot saved lives constantly while risking their own. They had the Queen on their side after all – it’s the ROYAL Flying Doctor Service.

The show was set against the backdrop of the awesomely isolated Australian outback and the charms of Coopers Crossing, the sort of small friendly town stuffed with characters that no warm-hearted Australian series can do without. And it’s real too – thereareFlying Doctors, just like them. Well, sort of . . .

Flying Doctors, The – Nostalgia Central (1)

It began as a one-off mini-series in 1985 and the response in Australia and overseas was so strong that a regular series was launched in April 1986.

In July 1988 it landed in Britain and UK viewers took it to heart as a partner toNeighbours(even if the kitchens weren’t so well equipped).

The main character at the start (and in the mini-series) was Dr Tom Callaghan who had been running the RFDS alone. In the first episode, a second doctor arrived – Chris Randall. She soon proved herself dedicated and capable, but also for the conservative township of Coopers Crossing, decidedly female.

Her gender wasn’t the problem with Dr Frank Turner (who was in charge of the local hospital). He disapproved of all flying physicians, and they had frequent conflicts.

Dr Geoff Standish eventually replaced Callaghan when actor Andrew McFarlane moved to England to work after 16 episodes.

Flying Doctors, The – Nostalgia Central (2)Boyish, down-to-earth nursing sister Kate Wellings was a favourite from the start. The first pilot was flamboyant woman-mad David Gibson. Prickly property tycoon George Baxter was the local man to hiss at.

Would-be genteel shopkeeper and town gossip, Violet Carnegie was also a great favourite of viewing audiences.

Bellbirdstar Maurie Fields and his real-life wife Val Jellay established themselves from episode 1 as the public-spirited publicans Vic and Nancy Buckley. Pretty blonde New Zealander Rebecca Gibney arrived after six episodes as garage mechanic Emma Plimpton and took a shine to pilot Sam Patterson as soon as he arrived at the start of the second season.

Other popular characters were Sharon, the Aboriginal receptionist, and the hard-working radio operators, especially Demetris who thought he was a radio DJ, sometimes rather worryingly.

The Flying Doctorsregularly tackled “issues” while providing fast action (such as a mining explosion) but the writers never resorted to anything too far-fetched.

But perhaps the greatest appeal of the series was the large number of fledgeling romances (it was called “sexual tension” in 80s soap-speak), none of which really grew to full strength (that was called “unresolved sexual tension”).

Flying Doctors, The – Nostalgia Central (3)

In the case of our heroes, it was the promise of sex (or) because the natural urges of poor Dr Geoff Standing and his feisty nurse, Kate Wellings, were permanently on hold.

But not all the cast were sexually frustrated. Emma the mechanic and Sam the pilot were allowed to fancy each other, fall in love and marry and Dr Randall was allowed to fall for a visiting geologist who became her patient.

The Flying Doctorswas Australia’s most expensive television drama at the time, costing around $200,000 an hour-long episode, primarily because it was shot entirely on film.

The small town of Minyip near Horsham, Victoria, became Coopers Crossing for several months and many of the locals were seen as extras in the series.

Falling ratings and departing actors led to a revamp of the show in 1993 when it returned simply asRFDS. Maurie Fields, Sophie Lee and Val Jellay were carried over into the new production, which moved from Coopers Crossing to Broken Hill.

RFDSran for only 13 episodes.

Dr Tom Callaghan
Andrew McFarlane
Dr Chris Randall

Liz Burch
Dr Frank Turner

John Frawley
Kate Wellings

Lenore Smith
David Gibson

Lewis Fitzgerald
George Baxter

Bruce Barry
Violet Carnegie

Pat Evison
Vic Buckley

Maurie Fields
Nancy Buckley

Val Jellay
Emma Plimpton

Rebecca Gibney
Sam Patterson

Peter O’Brien
Sharon

Kylie Belling
Demetris

George Kapiniaris
Dr Geoff Standish

Robert Grubb

Video

Related Posts

  • Goodtime Girls 1 9 8 0(USA) 13 x 30 minute episodes The year is 1942. Four young ladies - level-headed Edith Bedelmeyer…
  • Caleb Williams 1 9 8 0(UK) 4 x 105 minute episodes At the end of the 18th century, Caleb Williams (Mick Ford)…
  • Lane End 1 9 7 2(Australia) 7 x 30 minute episodes Short-lived Aussie serial Lane End debuted on 11 March 1972. Written…
  • Men Behaving Badly 1 9 9 2 - 1 9 9 9(UK) 44 x 30 minute episodes Adolescently-minded Gary Strang (Martin Clunes) and…
  • Capstick's Law 1 9 8 9(UK) 6 x 50 minute episodes This drama series from Granada told the continuing saga of a…
  • Kick Start 1 9 7 9 - 1 9 8 8 (UK) 35 x 30 minute episodes Originally hosted by the hairy…
  • Man From Snowy River, The 1 9 9 3 - 1 9 9 6 (Australia) 65 x 60 minute episodes A hardy family carved out…
  • Camerons, The 1 9 7 9(UK) 6 x 50 minute episodes At the close of the 19th-century, the Camerons of West Fife,…
Flying Doctors, The – Nostalgia Central (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6054

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.