Ron McLean (1943–1983) was an Australian screenwriter, producer and executive producer, best known for his work on TV. He wrote most of the episodes for Spyforce, which he helped create.[1] He had a long collaboration with producer Roger Mirams.[2][3]
Biography edit
McLean was running a woman's shoe shop in Double Bay, Sydney, when he read an article about a TV series being made in Australia, Riptide (1969). He sent them a couple of stories which the show liked and he taught himself how to adapt them into scripts. He wrote some episodes of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and did sketches for The Mavis Bramston Show. He came much in demand in the early 1970s, writing a number of shows for Crawford Productions.[2]
McLean met Roger Mirans when working on Woobinda, Animal Doctor. The two formed a company, South Pacific Films, which made Spyforce.[2]
McLean was also one of a team of four people who wrote children's books under the name of Mary Elliott.
In the early 1980s he set up Ron McLean Productions which produced Airhawk, The Little Feller and Outbreak of Hostilities. The company went into liquidation in 1982.[4]
Personal life edit
McLean married Elizabeth, and together they have three daughters, Sara, Sallie, Samantha and son Steven.[2]
Select credits edit
- Skippy the Bush Kangaroo (1969) (TV series) – writer
- Riptide (1969) (TV series) – writer
- The Mavis Bramston Show (TV series) – writer
- Good Morning Mr Doubleday (1969) (TV series) – writer
- Woobinda, Animal Doctor (1969–70) (TV series) – writer
- The Galloping Gourmet (TV series) – writer
- The Rovers (1969–70) (TV series) – writer, script editor
- Homicide (1970–71) (TV series) – writer – episodes include "The Cat", "Flash Johnny", "Juliet"
- Spyforce (1971–72) (TV series) – co-creator, associate producer, writer
- Barrier Reef (1972) (TV series) – writer
- Ryan (1973) (TV series) – writer
- Division Four (1973) (TV series) – writer
- Silent Number (1974–76) (TV series) – creator, writer, co-producer, director of episode
- Certain Women (TV series) – writer
- The Evil Touch (1974) (TV series) – writer
- Human Target (1974) (TV movie) – writer, producer
- Number 96 (TV series) – writer
- Delta (TV series) – writer
- Case for the Defence (1978) (TV series) – writer, co-producer
- Secret Doors (TV series) – writer
- King's Men (1976–79) (TV series) – creator, writer
- Glenview High (1977–79) (TV series) – writer, producer
- Night Nurse (1978) (TV movie) – writer
- Chopper Squad (1978) (TV series) – writer
- Prisoner: Cell Block H (1979) (TV series) – writer
- The Young Doctors (TV series) – writer
- Airhawk (1981) (aka Star of the North) (TV movie) – writer, co-producer
- Bellamy (1981) (TV series) – creator, writer[5]
- Island Trader (1982) (TV movie) – writer
- Outbreak of Hostilities (1983) (TV movie) – writer, co-producer
- The Little Feller (1983) (TV movie) – writer, co-producer
- Innocent Prey (1984) – writer
Books as "Mary Elliot" edit
- Clare Carson and the Sheep Duffers : Bush Nurse in the Australian Outback Hawthorn : Lloyd O'Neil, 1970
- Clare Carson and the Gold Rush : Bush Nurse in the Australian Outback Adelaide : Rigby, 1970
- Clare Carson at Wilga Junction : Bush Nurse in the Australian Outback, Adelaide : Rigby, 1970
- Clare Carson and the Runaways : Bush Nurse in the Australian Outback Adelaide : Rigby, 1970
References edit
- ^ "Spyforce". classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d "FROM SELLING SHOES TO WRITING SCRIPTS". Australian Women's Weekly. 24 April 1974. p. 15. Retrieved 12 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (5 December 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Writers: Ron McLean". Filmink.
- ^ "AN order of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Equity Division, for the winding up of Ron McLean Productions". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 163. 26 November 1982. p. 5464. Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BELLAMY~a ratings casualty". Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 49, no. 16. 23 September 1981. p. 148. Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
External links edit
- Ron McLean at National Film and Sound Archive
- Ron McLean at IMDb
- Ron McLean at AustLit
- Vagg, Stephen (5 December 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Writers: Ron McLean". Filmink.