Against the Wind

1978 - 1978

The Seeds of Fire

12th September 1978

Episode 1

Mary and her boyfriend Michael are harrassed by British soldiers while out walking. In repsonse to the troops taking over a nearby farm, Michael and his mates burn down the house which is now being used to store supplies. When the Mulvane family can't pay rent and church tax, the British troops take their cow away as payment. Mary and Michael attempt to retrieve the cow back but are discovered and Michael is shot dead - leaving Mary to stand trial.

The Wild Geese

12th September 1978

Episode 2

Mary is onboard a convict transport ship on route to Australia and Polly, a streetwise convict in charge, makes Mary life harder. Ensign Grenville gives Mary a chance to escape the prison below, but he is furious when she turns down his offer. This leads him to what revenge which backfires when Mary cuts a soldier in self-defence. Worse is to come though when there is talk of a mutiny.

A Question of Guilt

19th September 1978

Episode 3

A concerned Doctor ensures that Mary is given a good chance in the colony by being assigned to Captain Wiltshire. He sends Jonathan to escourt her back, himself a convict serving his sentence. Polly decides that she isn't going to let just any man choose her, so she does the work and snags Will Price, an Innkeeper.

The Flogging Parson

19th September 1978

Episode 4

The men are forced to work very hard at their labour. Jonathan befriends a wiley fellow convict Dinny O'Byrne.

An Agreement Between Officers and Others

26th September 1978

Episode 5

Mary meets up again with Polly, a fellow captive on the long sea voyage to the colony, who now works at the local inn. Jonathan learns to read and write prior to becoming a free man.

A House on the Hill

3rd October 1978

Episode 6

Mary, who had originally planned to return to Ireland, decideds to stay in the Colony and marry Jonathan after seeing his house and land.

The Tree of Liberty

10th October 1978

Episode 7

Work on the land is hard and there is talk of an uprising among the convicts and Jonathan, against Mary's will, wants to help them.

When Kings Go Forth to Battle

17th October 1978

Episode 8

The uprising has begun but the convicts are tricked and betrayed. The British troops are too powerful and the uprising has failed.

The Farmer's Friend

17th October 1978

Episode 9

Dinny, although wounded, escapes the slaughter and hides at Jonathan's house. Meanwhile, their old adversary, Ensign Greville has taken over the neighbouring farm.

A Matter of Life and Death

24th October 1978

Episode 10

Dinny finds an Aboriginal wife and, as he is a wanted man, has to live rough in the bush with her. Mary gives birth to a son. Dinny is spotted by the military and shot dead.

The Spirit of Enterprise

24th October 1978

Episode 11

Crops are bad at Jonathan's farm and the military want to take advantage of this and buy the crops off his farm from him. Jonathan finally has no choice but to sell. Later he finds out the payment is only given out in rum!

The Whip Hand

31st October 1978

Episode 12

Jonathan and Will, Polly's husband, start their own illegal distillery. But when this is discovered , Will is fiercely punished.

The Windfall Summer

10th October 1978

Episode 13

Ensign Greville uses Mrs Wiltshire's affection for him to gain power in the Colony. Jonathan is sentenced to 6 months jail for writing a letter to the Governor exposing the corruption of the overseers after he refuses to do as the new 'government' order. Will is still imprisioned after being turned in for his whiskey making.

Top Cast

Jon English•Mary Larkin•Kerry McGuire

Director

George T. Miller

Writer

Bronwyn Binns

Against the Wind was a 1978 Australian television mini-series. It is a historical drama portraying both the British rule of Ireland, and the development of New South Wales and Australia. The producers were Bronwyn Binns, Ian Jones and Henry Crawford. The directors were George T. Miller and Simon Wincer. The scriptwriters were Bronwyn Binns, Ian Jones, Peter Kinlock, Tony Morphett, Paul Davies and Cliff Green. Jon English won the Logie Award in 1979 for "Best new talent" for his role in the miniseries as "Jonathan Garrett". The complete series is now available on DVD in Australia, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands in PAL format. It is also available in North American format.

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Full Cast

Jon English Image

Jon English

Jonathan Garrett

Mary Larkin Image

Mary Larkin

Mary Mulvane

Kerry McGuire Image

Kerry McGuire

Polly McNamara

Warwick Sims Image

Warwick Sims

Ensign Greville

Hu Pryce Image

Hu Pryce

Jonas Pike

Gerard Kennedy Image

Gerard Kennedy

Dinny O'Byrne

Frederick Parslow Image

Frederick Parslow

Captain Wiltshire

Bryan Brown Image

Bryan Brown

Michael Connor

Julia Blake Image

Julia Blake

Cook

Frank Gallacher Image

Frank Gallacher

Will Price

Full Crew

George T. Miller Image

George T. Miller

Director

Simon Wincer Image

Simon Wincer

Director

Bronwyn Binns

Writer

Paul Davies

Writer

Cliff Green

Writer

Tom Hegarty

Writer

Ian Jones Image

Ian Jones

Writer

Peter A. Kinloch

Writer

Tony Morphett Image

Tony Morphett

Writer

Bronwyn Binns

Executive Producer

Henry Crawford

Producer

Ian Jones Image

Ian Jones

Executive Producer

Dan Burstall

Director of Photography

Philip Reid

Editor

Jon English

Music

Mario Millo

Music

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