A Country Practice

A Country Practice

The highs and lows of the Wandin Valley residents, from the patients and staff at the rural town's hospital, to the locals and their everyday lives.

Genre: DramaRomance

Cast:Shane PorteousBrian WenzelLorrae DesmondJoyce JacobsGordon PiperSyd HeylenJoan SydneyShane WithingtonJohn TarrantGrant DodwellPenny CookAnne TenneyGeorgie ParkerJosephine MitchellDi SmithMaureen EdwardsKate RaisonAndrew Blackman


1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ Little Voices: Part 1

Tue, Feb 1, 1983

Yvonne and Ross McLean, a prosperous couple in their 40s who desperately want a child, have their dreams crushed when they learn that not only is Yvonne not pregnant, but her health problems will prevent her from ever conceiving a child.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Little Voices: Part 2

Wed, Feb 2, 1983

Janis Burnett (aka Mrs. Kafoops) arrives at the Gilroy's seeking help for her baby brother and leads Shirley and Frank to the abandoned house where she has been staying with her brother since their mother left.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ Grace and Favour: Part 1

Tue, Feb 8, 1983

A long-standing feud between the families of Rex Munro and Clarrie King escalates over an argument regarding an access road.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Grace and Favour: Part 2

Wed, Feb 9, 1983

One rotten egg spoils Molly's attempt to demonstrate to the CWA the benefits of her free range eggs. Ned visits Ada in the hospital and the two lonely people become quick friends.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ Breaking Point: Part 1

Tue, Feb 15, 1983

Brendan is upset by the hospital board's decision to place an ad for an Assistant Director of Nursing, a position he has unofficially held for the past thirteen months.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Breaking Point: Part 2

Wed, Feb 16, 1983

Marta blames herself for Terence's heart attack because of all the work he did renovating her house and for encouraging him to take up jogging and other physically demanding activities.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ Just Another Patient: Part 1

Tue, Feb 22, 1983

Brendan prepares to resign if the hospital board votes to appoint Judy Loveday the new deputy matron. Fortunately for Brendan, despite a panel stacked in Judy's favour, Brendan wins on account of Judy's sexist uncle voting against her.

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ Just Another Patient: Part 2

Wed, Feb 23, 1983

Shirley and Frank encourage his aunt to see Dr. Bowen when they come home to discover she has left the gas on and is about to light the stove.

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ Truth and Consequences: Part 1

Tue, Mar 1, 1983

In the midst of a heat wave, new nurse Sandy Wright begins work at the hospital. She's replacing Judy Loveday who left after not getting the Deputy Matron's job. Terence moves back to his flat above the clinic.

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ Truth and Consequences: Part 2

Wed, Mar 2, 1983

Harry Taylor, friend of Clive and Karen Murdoch, comes forward to donate blood when he learns that he's the baby's father. Clive begins to question why he isn't a compatible donor and realises that he cannot be the baby's father.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Who Cares?: Part 1

Tue, Mar 8, 1983

Molly turns her garden hose on Bob when he comes over to apologise for locking her inside the cage. Frank first encounters Nathan Webster when he passes by the boy while jogging.

12Season 3

S3.E12 ∙ Who Cares?: Part 2

Wed, Mar 9, 1983

Nathan survives his fall from the bridge with broken bones and internal injuries. Despite the complete lack of concern expressed by Nathan's father, Frank seems to be successful in turning around Nathan's bleak outlook on life.

13Season 3

S3.E13 ∙ September Song: Part 1

Tue, Mar 15, 1983

Vicky, unusually clumsy and forgetful of late, is not pleased to discover that Nigel left town without saying goodbye, news that Simon is reluctant to divulge.

14Season 3

S3.E14 ∙ September Song: Part 2

Wed, Mar 16, 1983

The latest Melanie Shields novel captivates the community, but the characters seem a little too familiar.

15Season 3

S3.E15 ∙ The Reckoning: Part 1

Tue, Mar 22, 1983

Terence's proposal to Marta is overheard by Bob Hatfield who quickly spreads the news. Bert Griffiths, the town's notorious bad driver, runs down Carpenter, the town's bus riding dog.

16Season 3

S3.E16 ∙ The Reckoning: Part 2

Wed, Mar 23, 1983

Graham Randall is taken to hospital after he suffers a stroke. Upon learning about the problems that her husband has kept from her, Hilary gets a job and begins to learn to cope with her husband's health problems and their financial woes.

17Season 3

S3.E17 ∙ The Winds of Change: Part 1

Tue, Mar 29, 1983

Brendan's ongoing feud with the hospital's chef spills over into the club where he lambastes Cookie over the poor quality of his food.

18Season 3

S3.E18 ∙ The Winds of Change: Part 2

Wed, Mar 30, 1983

After Shirley tells him about her suspicion that telephone operator Beverly Little is Melanie Shields, Neville reveals to Shirley that he is the romance writer, and that his job as postman is what allows him to keep tabs on everyone.

19Season 3

S3.E19 ∙ Love and Glory: Part 1

Tue, Apr 5, 1983

Bela Szollos's presence in the valley continues to impact upon Marta and Terence's relationship, made all the worse when Bela informs Terence of his intentions to ask Marta to come back to Europe with him.

20Season 3

S3.E20 ∙ Love and Glory: Part 2

Wed, Apr 6, 1983

With Henry Gill asking questions about the whereabouts of Bela Szollos, for whom he has a deportation order, Bela jeopardises himself to help the town's medical community rescue and treat four young boys injured by a homemade bomb.

21Season 3

S3.E21 ∙ So, Life Wasn't Meant to Be Easy: Part 1

Tue, Apr 12, 1983

In the aftermath of Marta's sudden departure, Terence finds his relief in alcohol, but still must contend with the opinions of Esme Watson and Councillor Muldoon, going so far as to punch out Muldoon in the club.

22Season 3

S3.E22 ∙ So, Life Wasn't Meant to Be Easy: Part 2

Wed, Apr 13, 1983

Andre Gitane quits as hospital chef after one last argument with Brendan but fortunately, Sister Loveday is able to call in a friend from Burrigan to replace him ("and they said I would never work again").

23Season 3

S3.E23 ∙ Another Man's Poison: Part 1

Tue, Apr 19, 1983

Terence's continued moodiness has his patients deserting him in favour of Dr. Bowen.

24Season 3

S3.E24 ∙ Another Man's Poison: Part 2

Wed, Apr 20, 1983

Molly's discovery of broken drainage pipes on Chas Foster's property clearly implicates Foster in the creek poisonings but Foster has the pipes fixed in time for a visit by an inspector of the health commission.

25Season 3

S3.E25 ∙ Hair of the Dog: Part 1

Tue, Apr 26, 1983

Molly sits down with her animals to prepare them for their impending move. The death of one of the hospital's elderly residents requires Frank to look for a new home for her dog.

26Season 3

S3.E26 ∙ Hair of the Dog: Part2

Wed, Apr 27, 1983

Jennifer Power takes her daughter to see Terence after confronting her about her drinking. Terence takes Tracy to an AA meeting but Tracy is uninterested as she doesn't feel she is an alcoholic.

27Season 3

S3.E27 ∙ See Ya: Part 1

Tue, May 3, 1983

While Simon is attempting to show Vicky how to golf, the pair encounter young entrepreneur Robbie Quinn, a young boy with a knack for finding ways to extract money from those he encounters.

28Season 3

S3.E28 ∙ See Ya: Part 2

Wed, May 4, 1983

Simon moves up his planned trip to Sydney to accompany Robbie to the Eye Clinic for his operation. Before Dorothy Edgar dies in hospital, she decides to donate her corneas for transplantation.

29Season 3

S3.E29 ∙ Warning Signs: Part 1

Tue, May 10, 1983

Brendan can't bring himself to tell Judy that he's turned down his promotion, and has thereby kept her from getting hers, but he eventually meets up with Judy's wrath when Terence lets the news slip.

30Season 3

S3.E30 ∙ Warning Signs: Part 2

Wed, May 11, 1983

A different side of Judy Loveday is displayed as she cares for Steve Marsh in hospital. Shirley receives lacklustre support when she decides to run for a vacant council seat - after all, "she's just a woman."

31Season 3

S3.E31 ∙ No More Mr. Nice Guy: Part 1

Tue, May 17, 1983

Terence receives a letter from Marta (she's in Vienna) telling him that she and Bela are going to be married. Complaints from the community about Constable Nolan's corrupt behaviour force Frank to call Superintendent Burke to report him.

32Season 3

S3.E32 ∙ No More Mr. Nice Guy: Part 2

Wed, May 18, 1983

Molly discovers the snake that has been stealing her eggs when she falls down a hole. After she gets out, the diamond snake follows her back home where it receives a name, Jules, and a place in the Jones' household.

33Season 3

S3.E33 ∙ Fruit of the Vine: Part 1

Tue, May 24, 1983

Cookie's night at the pub drinking with travelling lingerie salesman Hilton Mercer ends in trip to the hospital, with the pair clad in some of Hilton's finer garments, when Hilton breaks his arm.

34Season 3

S3.E34 ∙ Fruit of the Vine: Part 2

Wed, May 25, 1983

Vicky is held at gunpoint by Robert McNichol when she is called out to the McNichol farm. A phone call from Mrs. McNichol brings Simon out to the farm and he goes off into the bush in search of Vicky.

35Season 3

S3.E35 ∙ A Woman's Place: Part 1

Tue, May 31, 1983

Judy Loveday's warnings about Margaret Sloan are quickly confirmed upon the new Matron's arrival.

36Season 3

S3.E36 ∙ A Woman's Place: Part 2

Wed, Jun 1, 1983

Terence's discovery that he worked with Maggie Sloan (then Maggie Ellard) when he was an intern saves neither himself nor the other hospital staff from her lectures regarding her strict rules and regulations.

37Season 3

S3.E37 ∙ Still Life: Part 1

Tue, Jun 7, 1983

Terence rents out his vineyard cottage to an artist friend of Rowena's. The woman's passing remark about using a macrobiotic diet to cure her cancer sparks a debate with Terence about the merits of alternative therapies.

38Season 3

S3.E38 ∙ Still Life: Part 2

Wed, Jun 8, 1983

Molly confronts Boney and Clyde about Ollie's death when she learns the pair are professional roo shooters. They deny involvement and eventually put Frank on to the individuals responsible.

39Season 3

S3.E39 ∙ Lost Weekend: Part 1

Tue, Jun 14, 1983

Terence accompanies Vicky on a trip to Magnolia Vale to recover her stolen truck. Simon was hoping to go with her, but as Terence wanted to check on some wine making equipment up for sale, he took Simon's place.

40Season 3

S3.E40 ∙ Lost Weekend: Part 2

Wed, Jun 15, 1983

Terence and Vicky's remaining time in Magnolia Vale is highlighted by the truck being stolen, an epic bar brawl, and Terence being treed by a vicious dog named Attila before he's finally tranquillised by Vicky.

41Season 3

S3.E41 ∙ The Wandin Valley Connection: Part 1

Tue, Jun 21, 1983

Frank hopes to keep quiet news that Brendan's FJ Holden, discovered to be bulletproof, was once owned by outlaws, but trouble is soon to arrive on the Jones' doorstep when a story about the car is printed in the local newspaper.

42Season 3

S3.E42 ∙ The Wandin Valley Connection: Part 2

Wed, Jun 22, 1983

A pair of retired gangsters prove to be more bark then bite when they try to intimidate Molly and Brendan. Molly eventually finds what is left of their loot inside the FJ's spare tire-apart from what the rats let behind, a sum totalling all of 85¢. Knuckles and Wheels' boss is surprisingly amused by his henchmen's story and despite their being on the run from him for the last thirty years, he rehires them-it seems Big Mac is now in real estate. Matron Sloan's persistence pays off with Shane Peters as he is able to ride his new bike out of the hospital, he even manages a hug for Maggie before leaving. Terence more than lives up to his claim of producing a "wine to remember" when he debuts his first bottling at the club.

43Season 3

S3.E43 ∙ The Sentimental Bloke: Part 1

Tue, Jun 28, 1983

After Muldoon finds him sleeping in the club, Cookie talks his way into a brief overnight stay in hospital before disappearing altogether.

44Season 3

S3.E44 ∙ The Sentimental Bloke: Part 2

Wed, Jun 29, 1983

Terence discharges Daisy from the hospital so that she may go home, at which time she is finally able to sit Bob down and talk with him about her illness and their life together.

45Season 3

S3.E45 ∙ A Lady's Choice: Part 1

Wed, Jul 6, 1983

Molly scolds Chloe for ripping up the linoleum in the kitchen but she herself is soon down on hands and knees pulling up the flooring in an attempt to uncover an old newspaper from 1942.

46Season 3

S3.E46 ∙ A Lady's Choice: Part 2

Thu, Jul 7, 1983

A detective from Burrigan arrives to investigate Mandy's assault but suggests to her that she not pursue the matter as her case would be difficult to prove in court.

47Season 3

S3.E47 ∙ Bush Lore: Part 1

Wed, Jul 13, 1983

Shirley tries to involve Councillor Muldoon and the rest of the shire council, finally resorting to blackmail, when she learns a homeless man and his children were forced to sleep in a barn while one of his sons was in hospital.

48Season 3

S3.E48 ∙ Bush Lore: Part 2

Thu, Jul 14, 1983

Dave Patterson becomes pinned under his car while making repairs but due to the quick thinking of his children, he is soon rescued and brought to hospital. Vicky informs Simon that Confucius, his escaped Chinese chook, is really a goose.

49Season 3

S3.E49 ∙ Kicking the Habit: Part 1

Tue, Jul 19, 1983

Seeing Cookie firmly entrenched at Bob's house, Esme takes her feelings of betrayal and public humiliation to Shirley who does what she can to convince Esme that she is too good for Cookie.

50Season 3

S3.E50 ∙ Kicking the Habit: Part 2

Wed, Jul 20, 1983

Simon finds another tick on Scruffy when Molly asks him exam the dog. Hoping to tactfully explain his successful treatment of the dog to Vicky, Simon makes dinner for her but Molly blurts out the information prematurely.