Hatch and Dispatch on "A Country Practice" Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What name did Brendan and Molly Jones give their daughter, the first child born to main characters on "A Country Practice"?

Answer: Chloe

The new parents chose the name after learning of its meaning ("blooming") and popularity as a name for farm girls.

Chloe was played by Emily Nicol, who grew from a baby to a walking, talking young girl in front of the nation's eyes.

2. Tragedy struck Wandin Valley in 1984 when Molly Jones went into premature labour, delivering a baby boy who died within a few hours of birth. What did Molly name her son?

Answer: Christopher

Molly had developed placenta praevia during her pregnancy, and was under strict orders to rest. Growing frustrated with the restrictions placed on her activity, Molly decided to do some house painting which ended when she fell from a stool. Her tiny son lived less than a day and wasn't named until after his untimely death.

3. Molly Jones' death on "A Country Practice" was one of Australian television's most memorable moments. How did her final episode end?

Answer: Fade-out from Molly's point of view

Not wanting to die in hospital, Molly returned home to her family. In the last scene she watched Brendan and Chloe play with a kite. As the image faded, we saw Brendan call her name and run toward her in panic. Instead of the usual credit music, the character of Bob Hatfield read out a poem, "Molly".

4. Fans of "A Country Practice" were in for a surprise when Vicky Bowen's baby turned out to be twins, but their number wasn't the only unusual thing about their birth. Where were Tom and Charlotte born?

Answer: In a barn

Vicki was making house calls with her locum vet when she went into labour. She holed up in a nearby barn while he went for help. Brendan Jones arrived in time to deliver the first baby and Simon joined him for the second, whose existence was kept a secret from the viewers as well as the residents of Wandin Valley.

5. The year-long appearance of Donna Manning on "A Country Practice" ended in 1987 with the character's sudden death. How did she die?

Answer: Car crash

Donna was involved in a three-way collision in which one of the other drivers was drunk, and another was falling asleep. Donna was not at fault, but as she was not wearing her seatbelt she was graphically thrown through the windshield and died instantly.

The role of Donna Manning was played by Caroline Johansson.

6. "A Country Practice" reprised the premature birth storyline when Laura Elliott died. Terence was her father, but who was her mother?

Answer: Alex Fraser

Alex had understandable difficulty going back to her normal routine after the tragic loss of her baby daughter, and not long afterwards went to work in a remote Aboriginal community. She intended to stay for only three months but found more meaning providing health care in such a disadvantaged setting than in Wandin Valley, and she and Terence reluctantly ended their marriage.

The role of Alex Fraser was played by Diane Smith.

7. The "A Country Practice" writers appeared to have it in for Terence Elliott, killing off three of his four children. How did his daughter Sophie die?

Answer: Drug overdose

Sophie Elliott lived in Sydney with her mother, Terence's ex-wife. She came to visit Terence early in the series when she was a boisterous teenager. Things went downhill later, as she began to develop a heroin addiction. She was diagnosed as HIV positive while visiting her father again in Wandin Valley and died of an overdose not long afterwards.

Sophie was played by Katrina Sedgwick for 10 episodes in 1988, and earlier by Gabrielle Mason for 12 episodes in 1982.

8. Which character on "A Country Practice" died after falling from a horse?

Answer: Steve Brennan

Stephanie ("Steve") Brennan grew up in Wandin Valley but only appeared as a main character on the show in 1990, when she was 18. A little over a year later she died instantly from a broken neck when her horse was accidentally shot by a neighbouring farmer.

Steve Brennan was played by Sophie Heathcote.

9. James was the name given to the long-awaited son of which "A Country Practice" couple?

Answer: Lucy Gardiner and Matt Tyler

Due to a case of chlamydia she had years earlier, Lucy faced possible infertility. She and Matt tried IVF and considered adoption but in true soap opera style ended up conceiving naturally anyway. The birth of their baby made the front page in my small town paper on what I can only assume was a slow news day.

The role of Lucy Gardiner was played by Georgie Parker while John Tarrant played Matt Tyler.

10. Which popular character on "A Country Practice" was killed in an off-screen plane crash?

Answer: Shirley Gilroy

Appearing on the show since the first season, Shirley was killed off in 1992, leaving poor old Frank a widower for the second time. The role of Shirley Dean was played by Lorrae Desmond. Lorrae later played another character on Australian television who died in a similar manner, and has joked that if you see her about to board a plane on TV again, you should try to stop her.

Source: Author lorance79

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor guitargoddess before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

"A Country Practice" ran on Australian television for 12 years in the 1980s and early 1990s. Like any good long-running series, there were plenty of births and deaths to keep up the drama. Let's see which ones you remember.

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