| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (55 min. 2 sec.) ; 333130458 bytes |
| Summary |
It's shearing time, the busiest week of the year for Oxley Downs. Station life, working from dawn to dusk seven days a week is hard enough, but now, with only six days to shear over 1300 sheep by hand, it's all hands on deck to meet the deadline.With unseasonal cloud cover growing, all their hard work is under threat, as shearers will not work on wet sheep. Despite Bernie's assurances, just as the shearers are getting started, the storm clouds break and shearing is over before it's even begun. Squatter Paul now has a crisis on his hands as he needs over 200 sheep shorn each day if they are to get the job done in time. The recent arrival of governess Fiona has allowed squatter's wife Juli to indulge in her passion for painting, a pastime considered most suitable for a woman of her position. Despite this temporary break from the management of household staff, there are still problems between Juli and her maid Claire. In the lead up to Christmas, Juli has banned Claire from singing Christmas carols until Christmas Eve and Claire is most frustrated. Singing is the only thing that relieves the monotony of her daily tasks and she is fed up with constantly being told what to do. In the 1860s shearers were paid one pound sterling for every 100 sheep they shore. It's hard work, but good money, and the competition between shearers racing to get the top tally each day is only tempered by the incessant rain. As the team of shearers has to move on to another station at the end of the week, they leave with only a small number of sheep shorn and squatter Allcorn is facing potential ruin. He puts pen to paper in search of more shearers, and ironically the rain has meant that a neighbour's crew is available for his use for a few days. With three gun blade shearers from New Zealand amongst these boys, and with the weather improving, there is a chance that the wool clip may make it to market after all. PRODUCTION DETAILS:An ABC TV Production developed in association with Wall to Wall.Executive Producer Ivo Burum, Head of Factual Entertainment Denise Eriksen |
| Event |
Broadcast 2010-02-11 at 00:25:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: PG |
| Subject |
Adventure and adventurers.
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Frontier and pioneer life.
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Sheep ranches.
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Sheep shearers (Persons)
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Australia.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Hall, Alan, director
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Middis, Mark, cast
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