About this season
Putting the "real" back into reality television, Australian Story is an award-winning documentary series with no narrator and no agendas — just authentic stories told entirely in people's own words.
Episodes (38)
1. The Parson's Daughter / The Keeper
Aired 15 February 1997 • 30 min
2. The Commissioner / Outback Legend
Aired 22 February 1997 • 30 min
3. Heroes / Girl's Own
Aired 1 March 1997 • 30 min
4. The Mouse That Roared / Dragon Tale
Aired 8 March 1997 • 30 min
5. Seize the Day / Alf of the Antarctic
Aired 15 March 1997 • 30 min
6. The Portland Boy / Harold the Kangaroo
Aired 22 March 1997 • 30 min
7. Portrait of Mick / A Woman's Voice
Aired 29 March 1997 • 30 min
8. Woman For All Seasons / Sister Act
Aired 5 April 1997 • 30 min
9. Native Born / Trials of Life
Aired 12 April 1997 • 30 min
10. Rocks and Rollers / Silent Nights
Aired 19 April 1997 • 30 min
11. House of Hancock
Aired 26 April 1997 • 30 min
Another look at the 1997 classic story on Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart.
12. Norm's Army / Folk Hero
Aired 3 May 1997 • 30 min
13. Lamb's Tale / Where Eagles Fly
Aired 10 May 1997 • 30 min
14. Lady Jane / The Good Sport
Aired 17 May 1997 • 30 min
15. Accidental Hero / A Girl Like Alice
Aired 24 May 1997 • 30 min
16. The Player / Heart of Gold
Aired 31 May 1997 • 30 min
17. Born to Run / Jesse's Town
Aired 7 June 1997 • 30 min
18. Outback Daughter
Aired 14 June 1997 • 30 min
19. The Last Tentman / A Secret Life
Aired 21 June 1997 • 30 min
20. The Sound Barrier / The Sunshine Twins
Aired 28 June 1997 • 30 min
21. Concerto For Don / Dream Run
Aired 5 July 1997 • 30 min
22. A Will of Their Own
Aired 12 July 1997 • 30 min
Film maker and author Pamela Traynor introduces the story of two amazing and indomitable young Australians, Allana Arnot and Mark Bagshaw. Pamela discovered their stories when her young daughter Jessica was knocked down by a car at a pedestrian crossing and seriously hurt. The accident set Pamela off on a mission to try to discover the crucial factors which enable some individuals to overcome extraordinary trauma and still lead fulfilling lives in circumstances which would crush most of us. She hoped to find clues which would help her daughter’s recovery. She met Allana and Mark in the course of her search and was immediately struck by the power of their experiences and the strength of their characters. Allana was left with paraplegia after a horrific light plane crash in her early twenties. She had to battle fear of flying and severe physical handicaps but has gone on to gain her commercial chopper pilot’s license. She is now in the middle of a solo flight around Australia. A diving accident at the age of sixteen left Mark Bashaw with complete quadriplegia. That means he is paralysed from the neck down with only a little limited movement in his arms. Despite incredible physical limitations Mark has managed a marriage, a highly successful business career and at the age of forty, is IBM’s international marketing manager for Australia and New Zealand. He went for the job without disclosing his handicap. These are stories to rival the saga of Janice Shepherd as recounted in her best selling books “Never Tell Me Never” and “Dare to Fly”.
23. All That Glitters / A Charmed Life
Aired 19 July 1997 • 30 min
24. Her Excellency / The Makeover Man
Aired 26 July 1997 • 30 min
25. Valentine's Day
Aired 2 August 1997 • 30 min
26. A Wing and a Prayer / His Own Trumpet
Aired 9 August 1997 • 30 min
27. Broken Heart / To Di For
Aired 16 August 1997 • 30 min
28. I Had A Dream / Great Scott
Aired 23 August 1997 • 30 min
29. Winter of Our Discontent
Aired 13 September 1997 • 30 min
30. The Good Life / Spirit of Arnhem
Aired 20 September 1997 • 30 min
31. The Comeback King / Out of the Blue
Aired 27 September 1997 • 30 min
32. Upon A White Horse / As Time Goes By
Aired 4 October 1997 • 30 min
33. The Homecoming / Up A Gum Tree
Aired 11 October 1997 • 30 min
34. Master of Illusion / All You Need is Love
Aired 18 October 1997 • 30 min
35. The Mission
Aired 25 October 1997 • 30 min
36. Lost and Found / The Promised Land
Aired 1 November 1997 • 30 min
37. In God's Name
Aired 8 November 1997 • 30 min
38. Roads Less Travelled / Without A Trace
Aired 15 November 1997 • 30 min