The Story

Our story begins in pre-War Darwin. While Australia was in an era of seeming peace, in Darwin there was increasing unrest. Territorians had lost right to vote, rates of pay were low and the promised Vestey's meatworks had set back after set back and ultimately didn't last long. Finally, there was an unprecedented beer tax - the final straw that lead to rebellion.

It's during these events that we meet the Taylor family. John (Mark Bunnett) and Mary (Cat Hart) are parents to 18 year old Rusty (Jackson Ralph) when war breaks out in 1914. With reluctant parental approval he sets off to Brisbane to enlist on April 26, 1915, just hours after the first Gallipoli landing. He is accompanied by an unexpected companion known as 'G' (Darren Edwards), who though not a citizen of the land in which he is from, must balance the fight abroad against the battles he will face when he returns home.

When our boys reach France en route to the Western Front, our story will take a very ANZAC turn. Captain Pekama Kaa (one of several non-fictional characters to make an appearance in the show and played here by his great-nephew Shalom Kaa) served in the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. We will also meet his village in a haunting scene.

Other non-fictional characters to make appearances will be the wife the Administrator, Jeannie Gilruth (Carmen Feehan) and Music Hall singer Billy Williams (Russell Smith).

And when our story finally returns to Darwin after the signing of the Armistice in 1918, will our characters have found peace? Or will they really have just started a longer journey?