Jakin Manser will play Adam Lindsay Gordon in a new film on the bush poet.
WARRNAMBOOL will star in a new film based on bush poet Adam Lindsay Gordon.
Filming for Rider and Writer, which has been dubbed a ‘docudrama’, began about two weeks ago.
Director Brenton Manser said although the popularity of Gordon, who died in 1870, had declined he should be remembered as the first to write about the beauty of the Australian bush.
He said it was hoped they would film at Flagstaff Hill as they did with their earlier work, The Wreck of Admella.
The film is about Gordon’s life while he lived in the area.
Mr Manser said Gordon’s story was significant to the south-west and in particular Mount Gambier, where he was the first policeman.
“He was nationally and internationally recognised as a poet and horseman,” he said. “It’s a great story to tell.”
Gordon was posted to the south-east of South Australia as a mounted trooper in 1853. He also served as a member of Parliament during his time there.
Mr Manser said Gordon was the first to develop the galloping rhythm style of poetry.
“He was the first one of notoriety to write about the Australian bush,” he said.
It’s the third docudrama for Mount Gambier’s Mr Manser and cinematographer Robert Tremelling and it’s expected to be filmed in Penola, Coleraine and Warrnambool.
Mr Manser, a camp manager and tourism lecturer at Mount Gambier TAFE, said the support from the community had been overwhelming.
“To date there has been no knock-backs from people. They have been absolutely brilliant,” he said.
Filming is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
cquirk@fairfaxmedia.com.au