A Fortunate Life
At eight years old, an impoverished Bert Facey was forced to start the backbreaking, dawn-to-dusk life of a farm labourer. Unschooled, his father dead, abandoned by his mother, by the age of twenty he had survived the rigours of pioneering the harsh Australian bush and the slaughter of the bloody WWI campaign at Gallipoli.
Cast
Dorothy Allison
Grandma Carr
Dale Randall
Roy Facey
John Ley
Eric Facey
Anthony Richards
Bert (9 Years)
Benedict Sweeney
Bert (14 Years)
Dominic Sweeney
Bert
Pat Bishop
Alice McCall
Paul Sonkkila
Archie McCall
Jeffrey Rhoe
Jock McKay
Maurie Ogden
Cop
Leslie Wright
Jack Lander
Raelene Hughes
Young Alice McCall
Val Lehman
Bert's Mother
Ray Meagher
Bad Bob
Bill Hunter
Charlie Bibby
Seasons
E1Starting Out (1897-1905)
Apr 27, 1986
Bert Facey's tormented early years through his father's death and harsh economic depression
E2Bush Schooling (1905-1908)
Bert goes to work for the Phillips, a childless couple who treat him as one of the family.
E3Journey (1908-1914)
Apr 29, 1986
Reunited with his mother after 12 years, Bert soon moves north to seek work.
E4Providence (1914-1916)
Apr 30, 1986
A champion prize fighter, Bert enlists when WWI breaks out, surviving the nightmare of Gallipoli.
Storyline
At eight years old, an impoverished Bert Facey was forced to start the backbreaking, dawn-to-dusk life of a farm labourer. Unschooled, his father dead, abandoned by his mother, by the age of twenty he had survived the rigours of pioneering the harsh Australian bush and the slaughter of the bloody WWI campaign at Gallipoli.
