Back Roads on ABC and ABC iview S11E8 – Heather Ewart arrives by ferry to find an idyllic island with a tumultuous past and a community trying to carve out a more sustainable way forward.
In the 1980s Great Keppel Island was famous for its “Get Wrecked” advertising campaign and raunchy party culture. But in 2008 the island’s party resort suddenly shut and as Heather discovers, is now a wreck itself. Big plans to revitalise it with hundreds of villas, a swanky hotel, a marina and a casino all came to nothing.
But what’s been there all along are the people who call Great Keppel home, even if for some that means living on a catamaran. Heather dons the captain’s hat and hits the open water with Denise Weisse and partner Mark who have a passion for saving turtles and living on the water, despite losing their first floating home in a storm.
Heather also goes oyster harvesting with third generation islander Aaron Lorraway and his wife Nycole who have turned the local ‘milky’ mollusc into a delicacy.
Heather is in her element and goes back for seconds and thirds.
While the party culture might have disappeared, the stunning coastline still attracts visitors, including swimmers competing in an open water marathon around the whole island. Heather is in awe of Kerry-Lee Gockel who was born without arms. She’s made of tough stuff and thrives in the 20km island swim alongside her husband Paul, a former Paralympian silver-medallist.
As visitors lap the island, the Great Keppel community hopes new moves to take a more eco-friendly approach to tourism will create a better future for their piece of paradise.
Production credit:
Executive Producer: Brigid Donovan. Series Producer: Louise Turley.
Back Roads on ABC and ABC iview – Thursday 27 February at 8.00pm
TV Central ABC content HERE
Back Roads on ABC and ABC iview S11E8
