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James Edmund Davern OAM (21 February 1933 - 18 November 2023) was an Australian television director, writer, script editor and producer, and founder of production company JNP Productions. He is arguably best known for creating long-running Australian soap A Country Practice.

Professional career

Davern was employed as a writer and script editor with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television branch in the 1960s. He worked as a producer and director in drama and music programmes and was involved in establishing a script production line.

In 1967, Davern was director and producer of the very first episode of Bellbird, Australia's first successful television soap opera, set in a rural community.

Davern moved to the Seven Network where he created the highly popular series A Country Practice, one of the most popular drama series in Australian television history. The series ran from 1981 to 1993 with 1,058 episodes. When the Seven Network cancelled A Country Practice in 1993, it was remade by Network 10 in 1994. Although James Davern moved to Network 10 to work on the "new" series. It was not a success and was cancelled after 30 episodes.

Davern wrote episodes for Homicide, Alpha Scorpio, Rush, Patrol Boat, A Country Practice, and Warming Up. As producer or executive producer, he worked on shows such as Rush, Alpha Scorpio, Barnaby and Me, No Room to Run, Patrol Boat, A Country Practice, Queen of the Road, Warming Up, Hector's Bunyip, Land of Hope, Whipping Boy, The Hostages, Reprisal, Without Warning.

Awards and honours

Davern was nominated for a production award at the Television Society of Australia Awards in 1970, for his work on Bellbird. However, he lost to Eric Taylor for ABC TV drama series Australian Playhouse.

Davern was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 1991 in recognition for his service to and influence on Australian television.

In 2014, Davern received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to television as a writer, director and producer.

Personal life and death

James Davern was born one of four children to Edmund and Eva Davern, he's father died from an illness having served as a soldier in Papua New Guinea. He met his wife Philippa (nee Haesler) while they were both working at the ABC in the early 1960s. They married in 1964 and had three children, Sophie Allen, Anna Davern and Pat Davern.

James was an avid yachtsman and sailed regularly with the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club. He competed in multiple Sydney To Hobart Yacht Races.

In the 1990s James and Philippa bought a vineyard in the Hunter Valley and named it Wandin Valley Estate after the fictional town featured in A Country Practice.

Davern died on 18 November 2023, aged 90.

References

1. ^ "Obituary: James Davern".
2. ^ Judith Colqhoun. "Creative generous with a zest for life and love". Sydney Morning Herald.
3. ^ Monaghan, David (12 September 1983). "How to create a TV series - jump and pray". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 34. Retrieved 15 November 2023. JNP Films Pty Ltd, the maker of ACP, was established in 1977 by James Davern as a scriptwriting firm... James Davern conceived ACP in February 1981.
4. Lewes, Jacqueline Lee (3 May 1981). "More soap in the pipeline". The Sun-Herald. p. 64. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
5. Horace Newcomb (3 February 2014). Encyclopedia of Television 4 Vol Set. Taylor & Francis. pp. 612–614. ISBN 978-1-135-19479-6.
6. ^ Knox, David (15 November 2023). "Vale: James Davern". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
7. "Names in line for TV honours". The Age. 17 September 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
8. "Eric Pearce wins the top TV award". The Age. 9 November 1970. p. 2. Retrieved 15 November 2023. ABC television producers shone in drama, variety and current affairs production. There were Penguins for Eric Taylor, who produced the drama series Australian Playhouse...
9. Bayley, Andrew (31 March 2011). "1991: March 23-29; TV Week Logie Winners 1991: Industry-voted categories". Television.AU. Retrieved 15 November 2023. Gold Logie - Hall of Fame: James Davern
10. "Award: 1149129". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 15 November 2023. For service to television as a writer, director and producer.
11. Forrest, Betty (8 July 1993). "A valley on a hilltop". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 70. Retrieved 15 November 2023.

Further information

Moran, Albert (interviewer). "James Davern: Interviewed by Albert Moran." ScreenSound Australia: National Film and Sound Archive Oral History - Television collection. Record No: 273689

• 1933 births
• 2023 deaths
• Australian television directors
• Australian television writers
• Australian television producers
• Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
• Logie Award winners
• Australian male television writers