Of course daylight saving beat me and I was unable to join the chat on the SBS site.
I really enjoyed the episode and it raised the issue of "nature vs nurture" which is always interesting - I don't think the debate will ever be settled.
I think there were some very common issues there - convicts, war service, infidelity and divorce, adoption - probably issues that almost all of us have in our family in some shape or form. It was great to see Rod enjoying his voyage of discovery and the story that unfolded.
I was left with some questions, like what happened to Rod's aunts, including Minnie and Julia - we only really heard about one aunt on the show - what was the original relationship between the Holgates and the Duttons, how did Holgate's life unfold after his wife left him, etc. Some but not all of these were answered by Diana on the SBS chat. I know there was only limited time in the show, but I am one who loves to know what happens to all the rellies as well as the central ones!
I had the issues I usually have with these episodes, ie how easy research is made to look, how people meet the enquirer at every venue carrying relevant documents, etc - if only! Certainly, at the excellent archives I sometimes visit, the staff is minimal and only have time to give superficial help - certainly not to search out documents and sit down and explain them, and not to take people into the repository, as happened in this episode!
Still, well-done again, Diana and SBS - and if you can tell me what happened to those other rellies, I'll be very interested!
MarieC
