Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is set to hop
back on to the small screen in a new documentary supported by the State
Government.
‘Skippy: Australia’s
First Superstar’ will tell the inside story of the remarkable television series
which starred an iconic crime-fighting kangaroo and her human
friends.
Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale
said it was the first documentary to receive State funding under the new
ScreenWest/ABC Matched Primetime Production Fund.
“Skippy was arguably Australia’s first
home grown international superstar who became the emblem of a nation for
children the world over,” Ms McHale said.
“The 91-episode series, produced
between 1966 and 1968, was screened in more than 80 countries and its catchy theme song
became one of the best known and most recognisable Australian
tunes.
“This behind-the-scenes documentary is
sure to rekindle childhood memories for many Western Australians.”
The Minister said
the production was the first documentary to take advantage of the new
$3.2million fund, which is part of the Carpenter Government’s Ignite
Package, the biggest single State Government arts funding
injection.
The ScreenWest/ABC
Matched Primetime Production Fund aims to provide funding to generate
significant independent primetime drama and documentary production in
WA.
“‘Skippy: Australia’s First Superstar’
joins the feature film version of famed Broome musical Bran Nue Dae,
which was the first WA drama to receive support under the matched funding
scheme,” Ms McHale said.
The project, which will go into
production subject to formal commissioning by the ABC Board and further
financing from federal funding agency Screen Australia, has already secured a
major sale from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
‘Skippy: Australia’s
First Superstar’ will be produced by high profile WA production company Electric
Pictures who recently created the groundbreaking documentaries The Hunt for HMAS
Sydney and Gallipoli’s Submarine.
Minister's office - 9213
6900
