1 9 8 5 (UK/Australia)
8 x 30 minute episodes
This Central Television series followed Luke Greenwood (Bryan Marshall), who was involved with industrial riots in the Staffordshire Potteries and was imprisoned for seven years before turning to God, taking a vow of non-violence and becoming a pacifist and lay preacher.
Luke married young widow Rebecca (Carol Drinkwater) and travelled with his new wife and her two children – Lucy (Michaela Abay) and Jack (Tibbi Karman) – from England to Australia in 1854, hoping to make a living in the primitive tent township of Jericho on the Victorian goldfields.
Rebecca never complained, no matter the hardships. Good-natured and hard-working, she could turn her hand to almost any task. Her son, Jack, although slightly crippled, was a plucky lad who never allowed his disability to hold him back.
Because he still hero-worshipped his late father, he had difficulty accepting a stepfather. His sister Lucy, however, realised just how much her mother loved Luke and was prepared to accept the new father figure.
Doc Slope (Frank Wilson) was a Californian who had been struck off any medical register long ago but still fixed broken limbs and pulled rotten teeth. He also sold snake oil and various potions, which he claimed would cure everything.
Mr Uriah Lovejoy (Gerard Kennedy) was the cheerless, grasping man who ran the local general store and was determined to make his fortune in any way he could.
When a French illusionist called Marcel (Paul Karo) was arrested, Luke invited his young daughter Cleopatre (Cindy Unkauf) to come and live with the family. The Greenwoods also sheltered Ned (Burt Cooper), an old friend of Luke’s, when he was being pursued by the authorities.
Rebecca Greenwood
Carol Drinkwater
Luke Greenwood
Bryan Marshall
Lucy Greenwood
Michaela Abay
Jack Greenwood
Tibbi Karman
Uriah Lovejoy
Gerard Kennedy
Sean
Jason Donovan
Doc Slope
Frank Wilson
Cleopatre
Cindy Unkauf
Lin Ping
Lawrence Mah
Danks
Damon Sanders
Bones
William Upjohn
Ernest
Jay Mannering
Bojinda
Alan Dargin
Marcel
Paul Karo
Collings
Robin Harrison
Sugden
Ed Rosser
Ted
Harry Kinsella
Ned
Burt Cooper