1. Each series you promise bigger and better action, and each series you deliver. How do you continue to achieve this? How can Series 5 possibly improve upon Series 4?

The best thing about making a TV series is you can quickly apply the lessons you learn. By constantly seeking ways to work smarter and faster and improve your storytelling, it is a rewarding challenge to both cast and crew. With it comes confidence to climb a higher mountain.

2. Di, you had a very unfortunate accident before filming this season. How hard was it to manoeuvre around boats with your foot in plaster? Has the injury limited your personal participation in Series 5?

Yes, I broke my ankle while taking a dawn walk on the first day of pre production (preparation). At first my doctor didn’t think it was broken, so I walked/hobbled around on it for a week. It was so painful I insisted on an X Ray and sure enough, it was broken. I only had plaster and crutches for a day before I insisted on a boot. This made it easier to get around – relatively!! Six weeks later when we flew to Mission Beach I threw the big heavy hot black boot away, and because I have been very careful, my ankle has been fine.

3. Does fan reaction ever play a part in the direction stories take – particularly in the final season?

We’re always interested in what the fans think. Not the negatives so much because often that’s the ‘shock of the new’ or just nit picking. But the positive feedback is inspiring, rewarding and actually why we all do it.

4. Has the Queensland flood crisis affected production on Series 5? If so, how?

We’ve been shooting on the Gold Coast so whilst we got heaps of rain, not too much flooding followed. Some of our crew live in and around Brisbane and they copped it. As soon as we heard Nine were doing a Telethon the cast jumped in and recorded a shout out. Lisa and Ian also manned the phones.

5. The asylum seeker issue has returned to the national spotlight recently in a significant way. Can we expect a storyline that deals with Naval responses to this complex issue in a deeper way than we’ve seen in the past?

Yes, we do go deeper this year. However we’re conscious that its a divisive issue and blowback can occur, so we try hard to keep focussed on the human issues, not the geo political.

6. Have you ever had filming disrupted by a real life distress call?

This season we were shooting on a big luxury cruiser when it started to draw water and sink! The owner was in shock but fortunately three of our top grips and electricians jumped on the problem (it was a blown outlet value) and they fixed it. We pumped her out and kept shooting.

7. Since some reviewers don’t seem to understand Sea Patrol, do you find it difficult to read reviews in newspapers?

Yes, it’s kinda aggravating. A few seem to have a political view that Navy are doing the ‘wrong thing’ and so put the show down. Well the Navy is simply upholding the law – someone has to do it – and most right thinking people see that and of course recognise the need for us to entertain as well as inform.

8. As a fan I’m fascinated in how much input you as producers have into the direction of the storylines for each season? Do you dictate the overall arcs and plots for stories and episode outlines or is it more of a collaborative process between you and the writers? Does the Network ever say ‘We’d like to see a, b and c happen this season’ – and how you respond to that?

We have a fabulous writing team headed by our Script Producer Marcia Gardner. She and her team do the research and create the storylines, but we’re consulted and involved every step of the way. Di very much so. The Network does of course have a say. They are the client. They pay the bills, but generally its reactive rather than actively setting agendas.

9. How much more difficult has it been to produce SP than your previous shows?

Sea Patrol is far and away the most difficult and dangerous show we’ve ever produced. We don’t think anyone else in the world has been crazy enough to try and make an entire series set on the water. But of course that’s the fun of it. The reward from pulling it off, learning how to tell those stories that mean something. Not only here in Australia but in other countries translated into a dozen languages – that’s thrilling.

10. Sea Patrol has seen some big character departures over the years, most notably, Buffer, Nav, Spider and Chefo. How come these characters just seem to disappear and nothing was really ever said about why they left the boat and where they went? This has been a sore point for many fans, who seek closure for these characters.

We never know when an individual cast member may choose to depart. Some gave us plenty of notice, most didn’t. As a result we never knew the line up exactly when we started writing each series, but had to write on regardless.

However, there is a fixed crew on a patrol boat, so we also knew if a Buffer departed, they would be immediately replaced with yet another Buffer, etc. etc.

Also, in the beginning of our research, we were a little surprised when overnight a key Navy contact would change or be replaced without explanation. But it’s Navy’s way to assign any personnel at the drop of a hat. So we adopted the same approach for the show.

11. The actors haven’t given too much away about Series 5 in their interviews. Can you share anything?

We’re focussed more on our core cast, their trials and tribulations. There’s seduction, betrayal, issues of parentage and responsibility, love and love lost, bravery and sacrifice.

12. How will you and the whole team celebrate/commiserate the end of production of Sea Patrol?

Well working in show biz we all know nothing lasts forever. So…… It will be bittersweet. Sad/happy, proud and sorry. We’ll have a big party on the night of the last day and we will cry and laugh, kiss and hug each other and say ‘see you on the next big one’.

13. Do you think you have paved the way for Australia to produce more ambitious television?

Let’s not say paved the way, because every new production cuts its way through the jungle of competition, indifference or in our case the sharks and stingers! We make good television in Australia. Just support it and encourage it in its diversity and excellence of execution.