Back Roads: July 27

In the Back Roads season final, Heather Ewart hears the untold stories of the men and women of Omeo and surrounds.

Victoria’s High Country has long been famous for its cattlemen and horsemen, but Back Roads tracks down the area’s extraordinary women, described as the backbone of the region.

Join Heather Ewart as she hears the untold stories of the men and women of Omeo and surrounds, whose grit and determination have seen them survive droughts and bushfires.

A lot of these mountain people have spent their whole lives around Omeo. It’s in their blood. Those that have ventured away, like physiotherapist Jill Hill, have returned, finding the pull of their home too strong.

Heather also meets Jim ‘Hardhead’ Flannagan. He was the ‘pick-up’ man at the Omeo rodeo for 55 years, a volunteer job he only gave away when he turned 77.

Sisters Tahnee Orchard and Aleshia Sievers are true horse women of the High Country. They grew up chasing brumbies and cracking stockwhips. They were so good with a whip, they were asked to crack them in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics! Years later Tahnee was dealt a huge blow with ill health. Heather learns how the women in Tahnee’s home town of Benambra, just outside Omeo, stepped up to help.

8pm Monday on ABC.