Back Roads ABC

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Back Roads ABC

03_Troopy · Guru

Hylda&Jon wrote:
I watched last Monday's show which was on the Mighty Clarence River in NSW and thought I was the only one that was not happy with it but it seems I was wrong.
http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/community-sour-over-abc-back-roads/2903194/

I recorded it, but haven't watched it yet.

Just made your url a link H&J

capricorn and pisces · Senior Member

Yes, we thought it was very disappointing too. We were really looking forward to seeing and hearing about the river, its history, the towns dependent on the river. A great opportunity to show tourists all aspects of the area, thought the interviewing of the locals was a bit bland. Cheers Capricorn and Pisces

Cupie · Guru

I watched it but thought that it was OK. But then I have no personal involvement in the area so the bit about Sth Grafton was not a big deal for me.

My view was largely in line with this comment

Sometimes we cannot see the wood for the trees. Backroads was not a infomercial, it was a outsiders view of different areas and events in areas of regional Australia that don't always make it onto the Public conversation. I was raised in the Richmond valley and spent much time in the Upper Clarence and last nights show made me hungry to return. I felt of all the areas covered in the show the Clarence showed up as the most diverse and interesting. As for the the divide in Grafton between North and South, to the outsider like myself it has always been patently obvious of the differences in play and my view was it was handled reasonably by the program.

PeterD · Guru

Just for those who could not read the small print above, here it is again:

Sometimes we cannot see the wood for the trees. Backroads was not a infomercial, it was a outsiders view of different areas and events in areas of regional Australia that don't always make it onto the Public conversation. I was raised in the Richmond valley and spent much time in the Upper Clarence and last nights show made me hungry to return. I felt of all the areas covered in the show the Clarence showed up as the most diverse and interesting. As for the the divide in Grafton between North and South, to the outsider like myself it has always been patently obvious of the differences in play and my view was it was handled reasonably by the program.

I too was disappointed with the concentration on the upper river but it did point out that we don't have to go to the Kimberley to get good scenery, there is more of it south and north of there as well.

trouto · Senior Member

Sorry guys I thought it was a good but quick insite on the river

MOLLUSCAN · Senior Member

We've stopped watching the show. We were interested to see what Derby was like but saw very little of the town or local scenery. It gave us an insight on the locals. I think it is probably an excellent view on the social aspects of an area and not meant as a travel documentary. I'm now enjoying some old re-runs of The Leyland Brothers.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I just caught up with the episode on "ivew" just now and must be missing something going by the above comments. I see part of this river on my journey north and south when going to Townsville to see my daughter and grandchildren. I had no idea really about how long and interesting this river is.

I actually enjoyed the episode very much, as I do the show in general. It has got me wanting to investigate the river further at some stage.

sandgrooper1 · Senior Member

We also gave up watching this progam as well after the Derby episode for much the same reasons as Molluscan.

We too thought it would be more about the area/towns but it seems to focus more on locals which is fine but not what we wanted to see.

Hallmark1 · Veteran Member

When I first watched this show I thought it was a great,but the last few screenings were very poor in my opinion.

Cheers Baz

Phillipn · Guru

I was born in Grafton and went to high school their. The comments made regarding the differences between Grafton and South Grafton were off the mark. The most disappointing thing between Grafton and South Grafton is that b***y bridge, which is twenty years past it`s use by date, and the show made out it is great.[ Well it was once, in the horse and sulky days.]

Copmanhurst, Ulmarra, Brushgrove,Lawrence and Maclean didn`t make the show. Their is a lot of history in those towns.

The report on the upper Clarence was good.

PeterD · Guru

Hylda&Jon wrote:
I watched last Monday's show which was on the Mighty Clarence River in NSW and thought I was the only one that was not happy with it but it seems I was wrong.
http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/community-sour-over-abc-back-roads/2903194/

The navigator replayed that episode tonight (she had not seen it in full before.) The bits regarding Struggle Town (south Grafton) were fed to the presenter by several locals, she just ran with them. You can blame you own people as much or more than the ABC for the. When anyone does a quick make on a programme like this they just go along with what they are fed.

Phillipn · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Hylda&Jon wrote:
I watched last Monday's show which was on the Mighty Clarence River in NSW and thought I was the only one that was not happy with it but it seems I was wrong.
http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/community-sour-over-abc-back-roads/2903194/
The navigator replayed that episode tonight (she had not seen it in full before.) The bits regarding Struggle Town (south Grafton) were fed to the presenter by several locals, she just ran with them. You can blame you own people as much or more than the ABC for the. When anyone does a quick make on a programme like this they just go along with what they are fed.

They are not my people, and no I am not from South Grafton. I thought the ABC would have done a bit of research on the area before putting the program to air. The lady with the reporter from the ABC is employed by the Daily Examiner, what else would one expect.