5 April (1984-04-05)[1] – 31 May 1984 (1984-05-31)
The Keepers is an 1984 Australian drama television series created by Noel Price and starring Bill Hunter and David Cameron as Fisheries and Wildlife officers.[2]
Synopsis
The series follows the personal and professional lives of two mismatched Fisheries and Wildlife officers, Jack Wolfe and his new assistant Rick Zammit.[1]
Production
Most of the series was shot on location in the Dandenong Ranges. The show's crew used multiple tricks to fake the killing of the wildlife that Fisheries and Wildlife officers want to protect including frozen ducks and a diseased deer that had been recently culled.[3]
Garrie Hutchinson of The Age wrote "The good things are the performances of gruff Bill Hunter enthusiastic David Cameron and the calm Catherine Wilkin as Aggie, the den mother of animal and human alike. The storylines, and the writing in general, suffer because they have to be about some Big Issue."[13] Barbara Hooks of The Age states "The Keepers is pleasantly diverting drama. competently scripted and performed and appealingly photographed. It's timely in its subject mater, informative but careful to avoid sermonising. I'll be tuning in for more."[14] Brian Courtis, also from The Age finishes his review "So what made it so special? Superb performances from all in the cast. a tight and witty script, refreshing camera angles, Greg Sneddon's music ... and Noel Price, the man who put it together."[2]
In The Sydney Morning Herald Jenny Tabakoff described it as "nice" saying "It's well acted, well scripted, socially aware but, despite a modicum of excitement, it makes pleasant rather than compelling viewing."[4]The Sydney Morning Herald's Elizabeth Riddell was critical of the show calling Wolfe a bully and said the script was "developing into one long exercise in truculence and petulance?"[5]
