The second line front

Opening title indicates that the film received third place in the International Gold Cup Australian Amateur Cine Society. Close up of red Australian flag. Title 'Second line front'. Introduction reads; 'This film is dedicated to the men and women fighting on the farm front'. 'In the darkest period of Australian history when the Japanese beat at the gates of this island continent the men and women of the soil answered the call of the nation and fought hard on the farm front to feed our gallant boys thrusting back the barbarous hordes; and the heart of our soil beat strong under mighty effort of our green fingered ones, drawing forth its abundance to send the heroes of the Southern Cross to attack strong with fruitfulness'. Farmer Robert (Bob) Welsh awakes dresses and rides out on his horse to round up the cows for milking. Various scenes in the dairy. Farmer washes his face after milking. Isabel (nee Cousin) his wife calls him for breakfast. Bob and Isabel Welsh owned the Jersey Cattle stud Ermelo at Talarm via Macksville. Bob Welsh reads the Nambucca Bellinger News newspaper (the news paper was owned and operated by George Brunsdon and family) over breakfast and notices an article 'Second line front' on the Women's Agricultural Security Production Service (WASPS). In the article a prominent Food Control official praises the NSW WASPS branches contribution to the war effort. Farmer shows his wife the article and after a discussion he rings up the WASPS for help. Miss Betty Klein is the local girl at the Macksville telephone exchange. Title 'Tilling the soil'. Various scenes of farm work ploughing with a horse and harvesting beans, tomatoes, peas and cabbages. WASPS members at work in the fields. Ploughing with a tractor showing Bonnie Brandford riding on the Mouldboard Plough. Bonnie and her sister setting up an irrigation plant. Women harvesting carrots. Title 'End of a perfect day'. Close ups of kettle boiling and a roast dinner. Over dinner Isabel Welsh asks (captioned) "Don't you thing we could do a little more, dear?". Bob Welsh answers (captioned) "Yes dear, buy war sayings certificates'. Close up of a fifty pound Commonwealth of Australia War Savings Certificate. Bob Welsh falls asleep while reading. Title 'The end'. During the war years Bob Welsh could not get pickers for his beans and peas. All the local shops in Macksville would close on Wednesday afternoons and the staff would change into their old clothes and be taken out to the farm to do the picking. They were paid pickers wages per kerosene drum full. [Information kindly provided by the Macksville and District History Group]