Television Award: The Road to Tooleybuc, Australian Story, ABC Television
The Road to Tooleybuc, Australian Story, ABC Television - Helen Grasswill, Quentin Davis, Mara Blazic, Ross Byrne and Roger Carter
About this winner
- Year: 2004
- Level: Winner
- Award category: Media award
About the 2004 nomination
The Road to Tooleybuc, Australian Story, ABC Television - Helen Grasswill, Quentin Davis, Mara Blazic, Ross Byrne and Roger Carter
The Road to Tooleybuc focussed on a seemingly unlikely friendship between Ian Skiller, a farmer from the town of Tooleybuc, population 250, and a young Afghan refugee, Dr Abdul Nasiry, a medical graduate from Kabul University.
The judges described The Road to Tooleybuc as an open and honest story about the relationships that develop between Afghan TPV holders and members of small rural communities. They said the image of a group of Afghan refugees in traditional garb eating their food next to the Murray River farmer and his mother does more to promote what these human rights awards are about than any words.
The story showed that those who assume people from outback Australia are intolerant or inflexible are very wrong. It moved beyond the negative images and portrayals of refugees - here are Afghan people on TPVs integrating into the community - and showed how 'normal' people with no idea of refugee issues could become activists.
About the Human Rights Awards
The Australian Human Rights Awards is an inspirational showcase of the best in all of us. The Awards honour and celebrate diverse human rights heroes and significant achievements in protecting and promoting human rights in Australia.