How a 1986 television episode tackled the AIDS epidemic
In short: In 1986, Australian television faced a choice: ignore the rising AIDS crisis or confront it head-on. While other shows hesitated due to evolving medical data, The Flying Doctors chose to broadcast a story of love and loss, marking a landmark moment for Australian drama and public awareness.
The episode "Return of the Hero," broadcast on 15 September 1986, represented the first time an Australian drama series addressed the AIDS epidemic. While the series A Country Practice had considered the subject earlier that year, producer Bruce Best found it impossible to write a definitive script due to the rapidly changing medical evidence of the time. In contrast, The Flying Doctors used a single episode to tell a story that producer Oscar Whitbread hoped would avoid sensationalism while addressing a serious epidemic.
The plot centered on Les Foster, a war hero played by Gerard Kennedy, who returns to Coopers Crossing to die from AIDS and Kaposi's sarcoma. Kennedy's performance was physically demanding; he had to simulate the exhaustion and breathing difficulties caused by the disease, guided by a nurse's advice. The script, written by Tony Morphett, was intended to be a love story focused on the emotional devotion shown by partners of those dying from the condition, rather than a purely medical procedural.
The episode also introduced Dr. Geoffrey Standish, played by Robert Grubb, a city doctor struggling with alcohol dependency following the death of his wife. While critics offered mixed reviews—some praising the sensitive handling of the subject and others criticizing the lack of medical detail—the audience response was largely favorable. Kennedy's portrayal earned him the Best Male Actor in a Series or Serial award at the 1987 Penguin Awards, cementing the episode's impact on Australian television history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Return of the Hero (The Flying Doctors)
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