A Country Practice

I grew up watching and loving this series when it aired in the 1980's. It was a great series with a who's who cast of Australian actors and performers.

As a product of its time there was probably little thought given to diversity. Going through the list of probably over a thousand acting credits it is hard to find a non-white and non-anglo/european actor or indeed character.

From my memories of watching this show I can't remember any aboriginal actors or characters either. There probably were some bit-parts.

Friends has often been criticised for its lack of diversity but this Australian production ranks alongside and not in a positive way.

This Australian drama series is one of the best to be produced, I enjoyed it when it aired and I still enjoy it now as I have bought all ten series that went to sale but unfortunately the last four series have not been released.

This production touched on real life situations and was very informative as they really did their homework on portraying real medical emergencies, it made you laugh and it made you cry and it was a sad day when it was axed.

Well done and a feather in your cap to the creator and executive producer James Davern, the many actors and all who had a hand in giving Australia a quality drama.

I love this show. Full of awesome stories and brilliant acting. I love the antics of bob and cookie

A Country Practice is in my opinion the GREATEST drama series of all time. This show began before i was born and with a magnificent cast including Anne Tenney, Shane Porteous, Brian Wenzel, Joyce Jacobs, the late Syd Heylen and Gordon Piper as well as Georgie Parker entertained millions over viewers over a 12 year period. I still cant believe the show got the chop. It was bought by another network and reworked but the show was never the same. It should have stayed with seven and never should have been axed. In this day and age where many Australian dramas are getting axed and very few survive, illustrates just how magnificent this program was. ACP was axed in 1993. The 1994 version in my mind and many other die hard fans never existed and everyone goes on about how great Blue Heelers is but let me tell you A Country Practice in terms of size was a zillion times better. Fantastic to see so many old A Country Practice stars appear on All Saints in recent times. A long time favourite gone but never ever forgotten. Thankyou James Davern for creating such a wonderful series.

For 12 years A Country Practice was a regular viewing pleasure in our household. I was only 4 years old when it started but it's still clear in my mind as it was 20 years ago and now it's being shown on tv all over again for a new generation to see.

In 1994 another channel took over the production rights and it wasn't the same, some characters ventured over and some new characters were introduced but it wasn't the same and after a year it was cancelled.

Anne Tenney as Molly was a breath of fresh air and her vibrant personality and not to mention her colourful wardrobe brought humour to us all and from when the show first started in 1981 she was the heart and soul of this series and when Molly died in 1985 I cried my little heart out and the show even though continued it was surely missing Molly.

Penny Cook and Grant Dodwell were another favourite. Their will they/ won't they relationship was so frustrating that when they finally got married, every girl in Australia wanted the wedding dress Vicky wore when she finally married Simon.

It wasn't until 1989 when we got a character as likable as Molly Jones and the character was Lucy Gardiner played by Georgie Parker. When Georgie left the series a few years later again it left a gap in the show and the next 2 years left of the series wasn't the same.

But, there wasn't one bad performance in this series. When Lorrae Desmond left in 1992 it brought a tear to everyone as she was an original, and you couldn't help but love all the characters of Wandin Valley.

Syd Heylen and Gordon Piper as Cookie and Bob were the best friends who were always getting into trouble and were the definite comic relief, to the town gossip Esme Watson played by Joyce Jacobs even though she was a meddler you couldn't help but like her character.

There hasn't been another tv series quite like this and it's one that will be remembered always.