The Secret of Goanna Gully

School or Youth Theatre Musical. 2010. Script by Judith Prior Music and Lyrics by John Williamson. John Williamson is one of Australia's premiere music artists. His song writing brilliance coupled with his comedic lyrics and dry wit makes for great entertainment. Script by Judith Prior. Judith Prior is an Australian comedy script writer with over twenty scripts in print, her work is widely performed by community theatre groups and schools in Australia and New Zealand. The story of Goanna Gully is set at a holiday camp for school and other youth groups, in Australia. “Camp Kookaburra.” which is located at a fictitious place somewhere in the Australian bush. The camp has been a very popular haven and retreat for school students and other groups of young people for at least three generations. As our story evolves the students at the camp are all from Sydney and Brisbane, they have travelled to the camp in various groups to enjoy music, bush walks, bird watching, camping, fishing, observing native flora and fauna and to learn more about Australian history and folklore. Some of the campers are enthusiastic and excited about the camp. Some are not happy campers. But “Camp Kookaburra” has become a family tradition. Here the students learn to cope with living in a rural setting with no mobile phone coverage, no television, no wireless internet. Making new friends and finding interesting ways to entertain themselves is a priority at Camp Kookaburra. “Goanna Gully.” Is a heavily timbered, very steep gully not far from the camping area. The students are forbidden to go there, because it is a very dangerous place. A small group of the younger students, disobey instructions and venture deep into “Goanna Gully” and become lost. While they are missing the camp leaders fear for their safety and a search is organised. Eventually they are found safe and sound, but during their escapade they have accidentally discovered something very important about “Goanna Gully”. While they are at the camp, the students, through their association with a local farm boy, discover that “Camp Kookaburra” is about to be closed permanently. The local Council, headed by the Mayor, intend to close the camp, pull down the old buildings and redevelop the site for something more profitable. The students rally together and try to put a stop to the councils plans and save Camp Kookaburra. The secret of “Goanna Gully” may very well hold the key to their rescue plan…… http://www.judithprior.com