A Country Practice

***A Country Practice*** is an Australian television soap opera that aired (shown) on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 to 5 November 1993 at 7:30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. A total of 14 seasons and 1,058 episodes were produced. The show was produced at the ATN-7's production facility at Epping, New South Wales. Outdoor locations were filmed in Pitt Town and Oakville, in the northwestern suburbs of Sydney, Australia.

Several of the regular cast members became popular celebrities as a result of their roles in the series. It also featured many native Australian animals, particularly the iconic 'Fatso the wombat' adding to its appeal both nationally and internationally. After the series was cancelled by the Seven Network in 1993, the series was relaunched on the Network Ten in 1994.

At the time of its cancellation, _A Country Practice_ was the longest-running Australian TV drama. However, by the late 1990s, the record was overtaken by Network Ten series _Neighbours_. The series was eventually sold and aired in 48 countries.

### Main cast (Seven Network series) 1981-1993

Note: Actors highlighted in pink were original cast members.
Note: Actors highlighted in yellow were kept in the series when switching from Seven Network to Network Ten.
|Actor|Role|Episodes|
| --- | --- | --- |
|Lorrae Desmond (MBE, AM) (Note:|Nurse: Sister Shirley Dean/Gilroy|(1981–1992) 816 episodes.|
|Shane Porteous|Dr. Terence Elliot|1981-1993 986 episodes|
|Brian Wenzel|Sgt. Frank Gilroy|1981-1993|
|Joyce Jacobs|Esme Watson|(1981–1993) 805 episodes, Seven Network. Semi-regular cast member until episode 99 onwards, debuted in episode 1 as Norma. (Retained to Network Ten 1994 series (30 episodes))|
|Gordon Piper|Robert Hatfield|(1981–1992) 742 episodes (Debuted in episode 3) Returned as guest character during season 12|
|Syd Heylen|Vernon 'Cookie' Locke|(1982–1992) episodes 723 (Debuted in episode 14) Returned as guest character during season 12.|
|Joan Sydney|Matron Margaret 'Maggie' Sloane|(1983–1990) 453 episodes, Seven Network. (Retained to Network Ten 1994 series after appearing in the Seven Network series finale (30 episodes)) Guest starred in the last episode of season 13.|
|Shane Withington|Nurse Brendan Jones|(1981–1986) 367 episodes (Debuted in episode 3)|
|John Tarrant|Dr. Matthew Tyler (Vet)|(1988–1992) 349 episodes|
|Grant Dodwell|Dr. Simon Bowen|(1981–1986) 332 episodes|
|Penny Cook|Dr. Victoria "Vicki" Dean/Bowen (Vet)|(1981–1985, returned as a guest in 1986, and the 1993 Seven Network series finale) 330 episodes Guest starred in the last episode of season 13.|
|Anne Tenney|Melissa 'Molly' Jones|(1981–1985) 299 episodes (Debuted in episode 3)|
|Georgie Parker|Nurse Lucy Gardner/Tyler|(1989–1992) 266 episodes (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Barbara Gottlieb in 1988)|
|Josephine Mitchell|Josephine Loveday/Langley|(1985–1989) 254 episodes|
|Diane Smith|Dr. Alex Fraser/Elliot|(1986–1989, returned as a guest in 1993) 246 episodes  later guest  during  1989 (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Sharon Lyons in 1982)|
|Maureen Edwards|Matron Rosemary Prior/Elliot|(1991–1993) 243 episodes (Had previously appeared in guest roles as Yvonne McLean in 1983, and Katherine D'Angelo in 1990)|
|Kate Raison|Cathy Hayden (National Park Ranger)|(1987–1990) 236 episodes (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Darlene McCoy in 1987)|
|Andrew Blackman|Dr. Harry Morrison|(1991–1993) 236 episodes Seven Network (Retained to Network Ten series 1994 (30 episodes))|
|Michelle Pettigrove|Nurse Kate Bryant/Morrison|(1991–1993) 230 episodes Seven Network (appeared in Network Ten series 1 episode, 1994) (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Mary O'Connor in 1988)|
|Matt Day|Julian "Luke" Ross|(1989-1992),  227 episodes  Guest starred in the last episode of season 13.|
|Wendy Strehlow|Sister Judy Loveday|(1981–1986) 216 episodes|
|Nicholas Bufalo|Dr.  Benjamin Green|(1985–1988),  206 episodes|
|Kym Wilson|Darcy Hudson|(1991–1993), 183 episodes (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Leanne Baxter in 1989)|
|Emily Nicol|Chloe Jones|(1983–1986) 174 epiosdes|
|Michael Muntz|Dr. Chris Kourous|(1989–1991) 164 episodes|
|Gavin Harrison|Hugo Szreclecki|(1992–1993) 161 episodes (Had previously appeared in a guest role as J.J. Moffitt in 1987 and Mick O'Brian in 1990)|
|Jon Concannon|Senior Constable/Sgt. Tom Newman|(1992–1993) 160 episodes|
|Judith McGrath|Bernice Hudson|(1992–1993) 149 episodes Guest starred in the last episode of season 13.|
|Allan Penney|Perce Hudson|(1987–1993) 114 episodes (Had previously appeared in guest roles as  Arty Turner in 1981, Alf Trotter in 1982 and Alfred Hitchins in 1984) Appeared from time to time as a valley resident. Not credited until season  13.|
|Anne Looby|Dr. Anna Lacey/Newman (Vet)|(1990)(1992–1993) 148 episodes (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Jennifer Rose in 1990)|
|Helen Scott|Matron Marta Kurtez|(1981–1983) 126 episodes|
|Brett Climo|Nurse Michael Langley|(1987–1989) 121 episodes (Had previously appeared in guest roles as  Barry Hall in 1982, and Sandy Hughes in 1984)|
|Sophie Heathcote|Stephanie "Steve" Brennan|(1990–1991), 117 episodes|
|Jamie Croft|Billy Moss|(1992–1993) 111 Episodes. (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Ashley Baker in 1991)|
|Caroline Johansson|Nurse Donna Manning|(1986–1987) 98 episodes|
|Mark Owen-Taylor|Peter Manning (Teacher)|(1986–1987) (88 episodes) returned  for a short time in a guest role in 87.|
|Mary Regan|DN. Ann Brennan|(1990–1991) 85 Episodes (Had previously appeared in a guest role as Wendy Allen in 1989)|
|Annie Davis|Kelly Shanahan (Reporter)|(1985–1986) 35 Episodes|
|Georgina Fisher|Jessica Kouros|(1989–1991) 112 episodes|
|Queenie Ashton (AM)|Mrs. Lillian Coote|1982-1992 (recurring)|
|June Salter  (AM)|Hilda Arrowsmith - Matron of Burrigan District Hospital|itinerant  1982-1992|
|Vincent Ball (OAM)|Ted Campbell|recurring|
|Brian Moll|Councillor Alfred Muldoon|recurring (1982-1992)|

## Network Ten (primary and recurring cast) (1994)

Only four of the original cast members from the Network Seven series were kept in the Network Ten re-launch: Joan Sydney, Joyce Jacobs, and Andrew Blackman, and Michelle Pettigrove (1 episode)
|Actor|Role|Episodes|
| --- | --- | --- |
|Joan Sydney|Matron Maggie Morrison|1994|
|Joyce Jacobs|Esme Watson|1994|
|Andrew Blackman|Dr. Harry Morrison|1994|
|Michelle Pettigrove|Kate Bryant|1994 (episode 1)|
|Paul Gleeson|Ian McIntyre|30 episodes (Appeared in the final 8 episodes of the Seven Network Series 1993)|
|Claudia Black|Claire Bonacci|30 episodes (Appeared in the final 4 episodes of the Seven Network Series 1993)|
|Vince Colosimo|Danny Sabatini|30 episodes|
|Jane Hall|Dr. Jess Morrison|30 episodes|
|Laura Armstrong|Georgie Wilkes|30 episodes|
|Katherine Murray|Fred Bates|10 episodes (School friend of Georgie's)|
|Alyce Platt|Sarah Wilkes|5 episodes (Georgie's mother)|
|Chris Lyons|Miles Ferdenbach|4 episodes (School friend of Georgie's)|
|Clarissa House|Dr. June Munroe|2 episodes (Doctor at Burrigan Hospital)|

## Celebrity guest stars

_A Country Practice_ rose to fame with a long list of guest appearances, with a total cast of over 1000 stars and well-known mostly Australian actors in two-part episodes each week.

Famous stars included:
|Name|Notability||
| --- | --- | --- |
|Bob Hawke|Prime Minister As himself||
|Sir Robert Helpmann (CBE)|Dancer, choreographer, actor||
|Baz Luhrmann|Film director (see also article: List of awards and nominations received by Baz Luhrmann||
|Nicole Kidman (AC)|Actress||
|Simon Baker (AACTA Award winner)|Actor||
|Toni Colette|Golden Globe Award  and Emmy Award winning actress||
|Smokey Dawson (AM, MBE)|Singer, radio personality||
|Paul Kelly (AO)|Singer-songwriter, musician||
|Ruth Cracknell  (AM)|Actress, comedian||
|Pro Hart (MBE))|Artist||
|John Meillon (MBE)|Actor||
|Ray Meagher (AM)|Actor||
|Andrew Denton (AM)|TV Host, broadcaster||
|Barry Crocker (AM)|Actor, singer||
|Richard Wilkins (AM)|Entertainment reporter, today Show prsenter||
|Dr. John D'Arcy|Medical specialist, media personality||
|Delta Goodrem (AM)|Singer, actress (_Neighbours_), TV music show judge||
|Henri Szeps  (OAM)|Actor, comedian||

## Logie Awards

_A Country Practice_ is the third most successful television program after _Home and Away_ (1st) and _Neighbours_ (2nd), at the Logie Awards. The show has won 29 awards during its twelve years of production.

**Logie Awards 1983**
- Best Supporting Actor In A Series: Brian Wenzel
- Best Juvenile Performance: Jeremy Shadlow

**Logie awards 1984**
- Most Popular Actor: Grant Dodwell
- NSW Most Popular Female: Penny Cook
- NSW Most Popular Show: _A Country Practice_
- Most Popular Drama Series: _A Country Practice_
- Best Supporting Actress In A Series: Lorrae Desmond

**Logie Awards 1985**
- Most Popular Lead Actor: Grant Dodwell
- Most Popular Lead Actress: Anne Tenney
- NSW Most Popular Male: Grant Dodwell
- NSW Most Popular Female: Penny Cook
- NSW Most Popular Show: _A Country Practice_
- Most Popular Drama Program: _A Country Practice_
- Best Lead Actor In A Series: Shane Withington
- Best Supporting Actress In A Series: Wendy Strehlow

**Logie Awards 1986**
- Most Popular Australian Actor: Grant Dodwell
- Most Popular Australian Actress: Anne Tenney
- NSW Most Popular Female: Anne Tenney
- NSW Most Popular Program: _A Country Practice_
- Most Popular Australian Drama: _A Country Practice_

**Logie Awards 1987**
- NSW Most Popular Program: _A Country Practice_

**Logie Awards 1988**
- NSW Most Popular Program: _A Country Practice_

**Logie Awards 1989**
- Most Outstanding Actress: Joan Sydney
- NSW Most Popular Program: _A Country Practice_

**Logie Awards 1990**
- Most Outstanding Actor: Shane Porteous
- Most Popular New Talent: Georgie Parker

**Logie Awards 1991**
- Most Popular Actress: Georgie Parker

**Logie Awards 1992**
- Most Popular Actress: Georgie Parker

**Logie Awards 1993**
- Most Popular Actress: Georgie Parker

## Infobox (television)

- **genre**: Soap opera
- **creator**: James Davern
- **starring**: (see Cast List in Article)
- **theme music composer**: Mike Perjanik
- **opentheme**: _A Country Practice_ (instrumental)
- **endtheme**: Reprise
- **country**: Australia
- **language**: English
- **num seasons**: 14
- **num episodes**: 1,088 (List of A Country Practice episodes, List of episodes)
- **producer**: James Davern
- **runtime**: 48 minutes
- **company**: JNP Productions
- **network**: Seven Network (1981–93)
Network Ten (1994)