State Coroner

Synopsis

A fast-paced television drama set within the fascinating environment of a State Coroner's office complex. Each day a team of highly trained professionals deals with the questions of death, murders, accidents, suicides, fires, drownings and even the odd natural cause. We see their battles with grieving families, slow or meddling authorities and organised crime, from the initial inquiry through the courtroom appearances and the Coroner's final verdict and recommendationsfor trial reform. The story begins when Deputy Coroner, Clive Trimble, is beaten to the position of Coroner by a rank outsider, ex-magistrate and former law lecturer, Kate Ferrari.

Trimble is bitterly disappointed and doesn't hide his antagonism towards Kate when her first day on the job calls for brilliant presence of mind and a very strong stomach. The State Coroner's office is populated with a hybrid of professionals - the Pathologist who fears she may never marry, the ambitious Coroner's Clerks, the middle-aged night clerk and the heavy smoking young female day clerk. State Coroner tells the story of those who conduct societies vital and absorbing search into the circumstances of unnecessary death. Who died? How and why did they die? Who contributed and, where possible, how might such a tragedy ever be avoided again?

Cast

KATE FERRARI … Wendy Hughes
CLIVE TRIMBLE … Bob Baines
DERMOT McLEOD … Christopher Stollery
JULIE TRAVERS … Elaine Smith
GEORGE CARDILLO … Nick Carrafa
SHARON RILEY … Elise McCredie
PAUL WEISS … Kristian Pithie
TED AMES … Paul Cronin
LIZ MASON … Jennifer Botica
SEN. CONST. DANIEL FERRIS … Christopher Gabardi HUGH FERRARI … Robert Grubb
CLAIRE FERRARI … Asher Keddie
LIAM PEARCE … James Reyne
ATTORNEY GEN. FRANK KELSO … Martin Jacobs
POLICE MINISTER DUDLEY MILLS … Alan Dale GASCOYNE … Richard Moss
ROLY FOX … Jerome Pride
PHIL DALY … Peter Hosking

Production

SERIES 1, 14 Episodes including 1st episode telemovie (1997)
SERIES 2, 14 Episodes x 1 hour (1998)

First televised on the TEN Network
Executive Producers: Bruce Gordon, John Kearney & David Rouse
Producer: David Taft
Associate Producer: Michael Harvey

Writers: Michael Harvey Bill Garner Deborah Parsons Graeme Hartley John Reeves Patrick Edgeworth Mandy Brown Barbara Bishop Shane Brennan John Coulter Craig Wilkins Annie Fox Peter Hepworth Tony McDonald Michael Cove Annie Beach Deborah Sheldon Michaeley O'Brien Michael Joshua