Cirrus@Austlit

Set in a small, fictional, New South Wales country town called Wandin Valley, A Country Practice focused on the staffs of the town's medical practice and local hospital and on the families of the doctors, nurses, and patients. Many of the episodes also featured guest characters (frequently patients served by the practice) through whom various social and medical problems were explored. Although often considered a soap opera, the series was not built around an open-ended narrative; instead, the two one-hour episodes screened per week formed a self-contained narrative block, though many of the storylines were developed as sub-plots for several episodes before becoming the focus of a particular week's storyline. While the focus was on topical issues such as youth unemployment, suicide, drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, and terminal illness, the program did sometimes explore culturally sensitive issues, including, for example, the Aboriginal community and their place in modern Australian society.

Among the show's principal characters were Dr Terence Elliott, local policeman Sergeant Frank Gilroy, Esme Watson, Shirley Dean Gilroy, Bob Hatfield, Vernon 'Cookie' Locke, and Matron Margaret 'Maggie' Sloan. In addition to its regularly rotating cast of characters, A Country Practice also had a cast of semi-regulars who would make appearances as the storylines permitted. Interestingly, while the series initially targeted the adult and older youth demographic, it became increasingly popular with children over the years.

'Tommy Trainer is an aspiring actor, and has been for most of his life. Struggling to support himself, he plays the club circuits and accepts the bit parts while he waits for the big breakthrough. When his chance finally comes to play opposite one of England's top actors, Tommy's life takes a turn that is more real and dramatic than any script.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 5/2/2014)

'McKellar becomes personally involved when Tim Thomas leads the miners in direct action against the Great Eastern in support of a pay rise.'

Source: Classic Australian TV. (Sighted: 7/6/2013)