Back Roads on ABC and ABC iview S11E3 – Back Roads guest presenter Anna Daniels heads to Theodore in central Queensland for its 100th birthday party. While the event celebrates the past, Anna finds this small town is also looking ahead and has big ideas on how to attract young people to the bush.
First up, Anna meets two young outback women who are proving anything is possible out here. Bella Hanson and Toni Lamb, both 22, launched their hit “Cowgirl Channel” podcast from the kitchen table on a local cattle station.
The idea was to talk about things that matter to young women in the country and connect with those who want to give rural life a go. The besties tackle everything from the reality of dating in a small town to the drinking culture in the bush. Technology allows them to chat to guests all over Australia and study for their university degrees, without leaving the farm. The Cowgirls are proving if you have a good idea, you can make it happen anywhere.
While it’s tough to get young people to move to the country, Anna meets a local who’s done more than most to turn that around. The town’s much-loved GP, Dr Bruce Chater, has trained more than 500 medical students and interns in Theodore. He tells Anna it’s about showing them the joys of rural practice, in the hope they’ll choose to work in the bush. But after 43 years, Bruce is retiring. Luckily for Theodore, one of his proteges is stepping up and taking over.
Production credit:
Executive Producer: Brigid Donovan. Series Producer: Louise Turley.
Back Roads on ABC and ABC iview – Thursday 23 January at 8.00pm
TV Central ABC content HERE
Back Roads on ABC and ABC iview S11E3
