Patchwork Hero, The

1 9 8 1 (Australia)
6 x 30 minute episodes

Aussie TV action hero Steve Bisley and young Damon Herriman from The Sullivans starred in this six-part children’s series from Australia’s ABC-TV.

The series – set during the Depression in the 1930s – initially aired in a late afternoon timeslot but was repeated in a prime 7.30 pm spot after the writer Michael Noonan won an AWGIE award (issued by the Australian Writers Guild) for the book from which the series was adapted.

The Patchwork Hero was the story of motherless Hardy Jamieson (Herriman) and his wandering banjo-playing sea captain father, Barney (Bisley), the master of a coastal trader.

Hardy is a lonely little boy, living with his two maiden aunts in the coastal village of Serenity. He thinks all his Christmases have come at once when the devil-may-care Barney decides to return home and spend time with his son.

Barney takes over a harbour tug boat, but times are hard, and dad turns out to be less than perfect. There was also the constant threat of teasing from the Snipers Gang.

Episodes related the relationship between the father and son during a year of their lives, with Hardy gradually realising that his father was a mere mortal after all.

The tasteful and well-made series was filmed on the Mornington Peninsula, southeast of Melbourne.

Barney Jamieson
Steve Bisley
Hardy Jamieson
Damon Herriman
Aunt Victoria
Monica Maughan
Aunt Ivy
Kirsty Child
Marie
Jackie Woodburne
Calendar McKenzie
Simon Austin