David Bowie was a fan. So was Iggy Pop. The iconic duo was so captivated by the Australian television show A Country Practice that they had tapes sent to them overseas. However, in 1985, the show’s writers faced a crisis. As the beloved series entered its fifth season, its biggest star, Anne Tenney, decided to leave, prompting the writers to craft a memorable exit for her character, Molly Jones.
Forty years ago, Molly’s death left her on-screen husband Brendan, played by Shane Withington, widowed, and fans unaware that the actors were a real-life couple. For the first time, Tenney and Withington are speaking together about their experiences. “Yeah, they didn’t know. We kept it very quiet,” Anne Tenney told 7.30. “That was our business, not theirs,” Withington added, reflecting on the media frenzy surrounding their relationship.
The Cultural Impact of “A Country Practice”
Between 1981 and 1993, A Country Practice was a staple on Australian television, airing twice a week and captivating audiences with its portrayal of life in the fictional town of Wandin Valley. Over 12 seasons and more than 1,000 episodes, viewers became deeply invested in the lives of characters like Esme Watson, Frank Gilroy, and Vicky Dean, among others.
For Tenney and Withington, the fame was both exhilarating and overwhelming. “They’d fly us to a telethon in Brisbane, and the show was so huge that we’d land in the airport and they’d say, you can’t get to the TV station because people have driven up and blocked all the traffic,” Withington recalled. The show’s reach extended beyond Australia, with even David Bowie and Iggy Pop among its fans.
The Scene That Broke Australia
The scene of Molly’s death is etched into the memories of many Australians. Actor Georgie Parker, who later joined the show, remembers watching it in 1985. “I don’t know many people who saw it who don’t remember it frame by frame,” Parker told 7.30. The scene, beautifully directed and acted, depicted Molly lying on a couch outside her farm as Brendan and their daughter Chloe flew a kite in the distance. The camera, from Molly’s perspective, fades to black as Brendan runs towards her.
“That screen goes to black and you realise … that’s us letting her go,” Georgie said, tearing up.
Withington humorously recalls the scene differently: “I call it the Brendan grieving scene because I had the dialogue, I had the child, I had the kite, I had to run up a hill, hitting the mark,” he said. “She just shut her eyes and becomes an icon.”
Behind the Scenes: Plotting Molly’s Death
To commemorate the anniversary of Molly’s departure, a new play titled How To Plot A Hit In Two Days explores the writer’s room as they crafted Molly’s final season. Georgie Parker stars in the play, portraying a character based on screenwriter Judith Colquhoun, who penned the episode with Molly’s death.
“Leukaemia was chosen to give Anne Tenney plenty of time to change her mind,” Colquhoun told 7.30. “Also, something like leukaemia gave us a chance, because she was such an immensely popular character, to ease it in gently and make it a gentle death.”
Despite the hope that Tenney might reconsider, she remained firm in her decision to leave. “I really wanted to leave. I really needed to leave. I wanted to move on,” Tenney said. The storyline resonated deeply with viewers, many of whom wrote letters sharing how Molly’s passing helped them cope with their own losses.
Life After “A Country Practice”
After her departure, Tenney faced a period of adjustment. “I had some job offers, but they were very similar to the Molly character, so I didn’t want to do those,” she said. Eventually, new roles came her way, including a memorable performance in the comedy The Castle. Withington continued on A Country Practice for a while longer and currently stars in Home and Away.
Despite their attempts to keep their personal lives private, Tenney and Withington acknowledge the lasting impact of their characters. “We’ve heard people say you couldn’t go to school if you didn’t watch A Country Practice. Everybody was talking about what was going on,” Withington said. “It did bring the nation together, and we’re proud of that.”
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