Hugh Keays-Byrne 1976 'Rush' Tribute

This is an edited tribute compilation of Hugh Keays-Byrne playing Tim Thomas in the last episode in the TV series ‘Rush’. He and his mate Griff (Vincent Gill) previously played better known rolls in 'Stone' and later the original 'Mad Max'. Although not Hugh's first screen appearance, it was his award winning performance in the hugely popular TV series that placed him in the public eye. Jaki Weaver played Yyvette and John Waters Sgt McKeller. Opening and closing titles are retained out of respect to cast and crew.

[@svengali0]

Rush. My favourite TV series..pity it's all lost now. Such fond memories of this as a kid..

[@vk3zpg921]

Sorry about delay. I am not sure that being in my late teens counts as being a kid when watching Rush, but it made a huge impression on me. Biased I suppose being a keen prospector, or was, getting too old for it now. This series seemed to lift standards. It is the first memory I have of a complex character such as McKellar. I would later realise that considerable research went into this show. The Great Eastern Bubble episode is remarkably reflective of events that occured between aluvial miners and the Port Phillip Company at Clunes, central Victoria. Ironically those historic events took place within view of the Clunes street scenes in Mad Max. There is one episode of the first black and white series surviving that I know of. All episodes of the second series also apparently exist.

[@MrSimplesimon1987]

Hi, The good news and the bad news. The good news is that Rush still all exists, well if the NAA is correct about it's content, it seems all episodes are intact. The bad news is that they won't sell a copy of any ABC material to the general public. All of Season 2 is available if you know where to look. I can guide you in that direction. As for the elusive season 1, only 1 episode is known to be in circulation of the public. That is episode 7, Three Cheers For Her Gracious Majesty. As well as that, the first 3-4 minutes of episode 8 is also out there too. Apart from that, Season 1 is pretty much impossible to find.

[@svengali0]

@@MrSimplesimon1987 please tell me how to access s2 as you describe. Other material, access issues I understand. I'll take what I can get. Whole s2 would be lovely

[@debradireen3625]

Never missed an episode

[@deciathomas-waite6923]

Absolutely loved watching Rush when I was growing up 👍🏻😉

[@vk3zpg921]

It was one of my favorite shows with high production values and story telling, even the B & W series. Sgt McKeller, the man with a police job to do but with a strong moral compass made a strong impression on me, especial 'A Shilling a Day' with Hugh. Watched Hugh's work in admiration as he saved the day in many dodgy films. Most famous for Toecutter yet it was another actor who became the global name. When a friend told me about a really good Toecutter replica bike for sale I had to have it, not so much for Mad Max but for Hugh and the bigger picture of Australian cinema. As a cinema projectionist I got to be a small part of the revival of Australian cinema.

[@Alan1969ize]

Night Rider and Toe Cutter, aways together... 😜

[@damienluxford4480]

Me too

[@GoldCobra487]

Amazing actor. Thankfully he got his due at the end of his career- international acclaim as the Immortan Joe.

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

The Toe Cutter and Night Rider in a scene

[@cosmicrooster65]

Great stuff I never knew about this show!

[@russe19642]

Yeh used to be every Sunday night on Australias national station

[@vk3zpg921]

It was indeed great stuff, some episodes were a bit ordinary but it showed what we could do. Later on, commercial televison came with Against The Wind with Jon English asone of the leads.

[@mauriziopetta754]

The great Toecutter and His Future Bikergang!!! 😎 R.I.P. my friend.

[@tarap9924]

he was awesome as Toe Cutter scary but amazing work

[@MrSimplesimon1987]

I remember Hugh was a great actor and seeing him in Mad Max as Toecutter and even in kid's series Secret Valley as W.W. (Or William Whopper).

[@vk3zpg921]

Sorry about delay. I have notifications turned off and I forget to check. Hugh had many small rolls, I did not know about secret valley. It frustates me that actors of Hugh's abitity did not have more success. I have a Toecutter replica bike and when I bought it I had in mind the bigger picture of the actor, not just the one movie.

[@donaldduck7461]

Hugh doing a good welsh accent.

[@vk3zpg921]

I have a friend who is Welsh. He told me the accent was 'toned down' a fair bit, possibly to make sure it remained easily understood. In Mad Max I noticed at least 3 accents used by Toecutter. Was that just simply part of Hugh's talent or did his Shakespear training give him the sklls?

[@donaldduck7461]

@@vk3zpg921 He was an Englishman born in India. I only noticed 2 accents in Mad Max - the English & Scottish one.

[@vk3zpg921]

@@donaldduck7461 Thinking about it I can't account for the third, I believe you're right and I am wrong. Scottish was the confrontation with Jessie not having a sense of humour.

[@donaldduck7461]

@@vk3zpg921 actually, I think you’re right mate. When Hugh is in back of the truck with the coffin, having a convo with Bubba. It’s almost a strange German accent when pronouncing the words” but it’s not for him, it’s for me Bubba.

[@vk3zpg921]

@@donaldduck7461 Sorry for the delay. Not much into social media and been very busy. You are quite right about the truck/coffin scene with Bubba. Does seem to have crisp German sounds. However, I had not noticed this before and doubt that I would have if not pointed out.

[@paulz4632]

where can we get a copy of both season 1 and 2? does anyone have them links?

[@BushyHairedStranger]

An extra shilling a day!!!!

[@MrSimplesimon1987]

Have you got any episodes from the B/W era?

[@thiagoricardodemattos]

Looks like Buzz Osborne.

[@imrelorincz9881]

Toecutter…