McLEOD'S DAUGHTERS

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:18): Today I wish both to acknowledge and to celebrate in the success of the Australian television series McLeod's Daughters. The hit TV series was developed by Posie Graeme-Evans in the early 1990s for her company, Millennium Television, in conjunction with the South Australian Film Corporation. The idea behind the television drama was based on two half-sisters running a property they both inherited from their father. The idea was pitched to the board of the Nine Network who agreed to make it into a telemovie in 1996. Legendary Australian actor, Jack Thompson, starred as Jack McLeod, Kym Wilson starred as Tess and Tammy Macintosh starred as Claire.

The telemovie was shown on Mother's Day in 1996. The Nine Network then agreed to commission a 22-episode series in late 2000 in response to the telemovie. The first episode of McLeod's Daughters aired on 8 August 2001 and was the third most watched Australian TV drama series in 2002. Series one was sold to the giant American cable network, Hallmark, which successfully debuted it in the UK in 2001 and throughout Asia in 2002. The series was also picked up by TVNZ in New Zealand, where it became an instant hit with viewers. In addition, the series has been broadcast in more than 200 countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Hungary, Italy, Estonia, Bulgaria, Poland, Israel, South Africa, Romania and so on.

McLeod's Daughters has been nominated for and won numerous Logie Awards. In total, the series has been nominated for 36 awards and won a total of eight, including a number of most popular actor, actress and most popular drama.

McLeod's Daughters has been filmed on a working property located in the Light Regional Council district between the townships of Gawler and Freeling. Although originally part of a 30,000 acre property, Kingsford has been used in recent years by the South Australian government as a wheat research station, and it was subsequently purchased by the Nine Network in 1999 for the series. The historic house was built from Edinburgh sandstone and transported to Australia as ship ballast. It took over 30 years to build the homestead and it was finished in 1856.

According to Posie, the series was successful because the timing was right for this type of show—a rural-based series which showcases a predominantly female cast and tells stories that reflect the lives and desires of contemporary Australian women. Who could forget episode 186, appropriately entitled 'Ever After', in which Stevie and Alex finally tie the knot?

McLeod's Daughters is the first prime time drama series to be filmed entirely in South Australia. Sadly, though, on Tuesday 20 November 2007 Channel 9 announced that series 8 would be its final. Creative and executive producer of McLeod's Daughters, Posie Graeme-Evans, said at the time of the announcement that she had always maintained that the series should finish on a high whilst still being loved by its audience, and popular it was. On Friday 14 March of this year, the Gawler Health Foundation staged a celebration for the series which was attended by its cast and crew, and over 3,000 local people turned out to say thank you and farewell to them. This was on a day when the temperature rose to 40°C.

I was lucky enough to have a good working relationship with the production. I was able to go on the set, twice when I was mayor, and on two occasions with the Premier. The actors and crew and the production team were always generous with their time. They have supported numerous local community events and activities, including the Gawler Horse Festival and the launch of the wedding dress display at the local Gawler dry cleaner, etc.

While the series has been very important to the district, the state government has also supported the series with an appropriate assistance package. The Premier in his capacity as Minister for the Arts has lent his strong support to the series. Each series has reputedly injected $1 million into the local economy of Gawler and surrounding districts.

I would like to put on record my thanks to the producer, Ms Vicki Barr, who has always been very happy to work with local councils, the community and me for the benefit of the community as a whole and the series itself. The series will leave a wonderful legacy and its tourism benefits to the area continue today.