A Country Practice Actor Throwback
In the 1980s, A Country Practice was arguably the biggest show on Australian network television.
Set in the quiet country town of Wandin Valley, the beloved series became a launchpad for countless Australian actors — and a staple of living rooms around the country.
For many familiar Ensemble Theatre faces, A Country Practice was a key part of their early careers, with numerous cast members appearing in guest roles (or more!) over the years.
Join us as we take a walk down memory lane and revisit a few of the Ensemble actors who once walked the streets of Wandin Valley.
Maggie Dence
Can you tell us who you played on ACP and what they were doing in Wandin Valley?
One role I remember, like most actors I did more than one guest appearance – I played the alcoholic wife of a politician (I think that’s what he was!) anyway, I was a secret drinker – finally collapsing and ending up in the Wandin Valley Hospital – and died – Shane Porteous valiantly tried to resuscitate me – to no avail – I seem to recall him basically on top of me as he thumped my chest!
I also played a snobbish selfish ‘horsey’ woman who got kicked by a horse at a Horse Show – think I was in a hospital bed for most of that ep!
What do you remember about working on ACP?
The regular cast was always a terrific group of actors, very easy and supportive, it was a ‘happy set’ to walk onto – everyone worked very hard to do their best for each story.
What did the show mean to you and your career?
It was a good ‘credit’ to have on your CV – the show was highly regarded both by people in the television industry and the public, it never seemed to lose it’s audience and feed back from the general public was always warm.
Do you have a favourite memory of the show?
I was a guest on an episode that was filmed on a cruise, Stuart Wagstaff had organised it, and he was a guest as well, also on board – literally! Were Lorrae, Bryan, Shane and Grant – it was NOT smooth sailing!! We were away about a week and on the return journey the weather was dreadful – if you look at the scenes with Grant and Shane by the swimming pool, one minute it’s full then it’s empty – the ship was really rolling! Most of my scenes were filmed on this leg and I spent quite some time standing on the deck, looking wistful (!) I was playing a lonely spinster – and hanging onto the railing, as the wind and rain attacked! I was ‘saved’ from my lonely fate by “Cookie” – who was also on board. In spite of the weather, we had a pretty good time!!
Wendy Strehlow
Can you tell us who you played on ACP and what they were doing in Wandin Valley?
I played Sister Judy Loveday and she was a nurse at the Wandin Valley Hospital.
What do you remember about working on ACP?
I remember that working on A Country Practice was so exciting and challenging and I was so lucky to work with such an extraordinary group of people. It was my first job out of acting school and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the industry. The older Actors were fantastic mentors and the actors of my generation were just fabulous to work with. I learnt so much. I was very very lucky. I did the pilot and then we weren’t sure
if the show was going to go ahead , so I accepted a job at the South Australian Theatre Company for a year and then at the end of that year James Davern asked me back. Lucky me.
We made two hours of television a week! Unheard of now. We were either at rehearsals, out on location or in the studio. For me, it was exhilarating .We would have a cast meeting at JNP Productions every Friday night and were always involved in the development of storylines and our characters.
There is a fantastic fan base which now watches the re runs of the show and they are very active on Social media and really lovely people. I went to a fan event at Pitt Town last year and it was just delightful to get such positive feedback.
What did the show mean to you and your career?
I learnt so much on that show. Not just technical but how to behave in this industry, how not be a dickhead! How to treat everyone in the cast and crew with respect. It was an amazing launching pad.
Do you have a favourite memory of the show?
I have so many memories from the show. There was a lot of laughter, and we never took ourselves too seriously but when push came to shove we were united in making the best show that we could, cast and crew.
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Grant Dodwell
Can you tell us who you played on ACP and what they were doing in Wandin Valley?
My character on ACP was Dr Simon Bowen. I was a young city trained doctor who at the very beginning of the series had only just arrived as Wanden Vally’s new doctor.
What do you remember about working on ACP?
I have many memories working on ACP all of them wonderful. Excellent writers, producers, creative actors and hard working crews. The end result was being part of the highest rating TV series in Australia.
What did the show mean to you and your career?
After I left ACP my TV profile gave me the opportunity to perform in many stage shows and many guest roles on TV.
Do you have a favourite memory of the show?
It’s very difficult to have one specific memory. However, working opposite Penny Cook was certainly one of the highlights of the show.
James Lugton
Can you tell us who you played on ACP and what they were doing in Wandin Valley?
Wow, it was 37 years ago!
I played Andrew Carter, a friend of Michael (Brett Climo) and his wife Jo (Josephine Mitchell, and I’ve come to Wandin Valley with my fiancée Jenny (Kim Lewis) on our way around Australia on motorbikes. Jenny is unwell, and it turns out she has renal failure and needs an organ transplant, but decides to discharge herself so they can continue their trip, even though it means she’ll die.
It was only a two episode story arc which was called Personal Choice, and the synopsis above is entirely from my memory so there may be some holes!
What do you remember about working on ACP?
I remember shooting a day where the four of us went riding (it so happened Michael and Jo were into motorbikes as well…who knew!?) We weren’t allowed to ride even if we knew how because of insurance I guess, so there were stunties to do the wide shots and the closeups were us riding around the track on a trailer trying to look like we were on bikes. My memory is that it wasn’t entirely successful, but it’s been a looooong time since I saw it.
Do you have a favourite memory of the show?
I also still have a letter somewhere from Peter Andrikidis, who directed the episodes, thanking me for my work and including a lovely comment James Davern said to him about my performance…that was a pretty classy thing to do.
HOW TO PLOT A HIT IN TWO DAYS is now playing until 8 Oct. Step into the writers’ room in this hilarious imagining of what it was like for the writers of A Country Practice to pen the episode that became a defining cultural moment in Australia’s TV history.