Script One:Don’t put it off until later
SFX: community football game (cheering, ref’s whistle etc)
Narrator:
“Hey, g’day you mob! Good of you to join us!
“As you can probably hear, there’s a footy game on today, and it looks like most of the community has turned out to support the local team…
“You see that bloke there – the one waving his arms at the ref? He’s come to cheer his youngest son Billy on… in between giving that poor bloke with the whistle a bit of stick.
“That’s his wife there near him trying to keep him a bit calm, and that fella next to him is his brother Jack.
“Come on – let’s listen in to what they’re yarning about…”
Dad (fired up):
“Oh come on, boys! My Auntie Thelma could tackle harder than that!”
Jack (laughing):
“Settle down, mate! They’re playing alright…”
Dad:
“Are you kidding? If they let in one more try I reckon I’ll pull my old footy jersey on and get out there myself!”
Mum:
“As if you’d fit into that old shirt! Anyway, I used that dirty old thing as a rag years ago…”
Jack:
“Ah, I dunno… maybe the old bloke has one last game left in those old legs of his. We used to run circles around the other team back in day, hey mate?”
Dad (laughs):
“Yeah, we sure did. But I don’t know if I could run one circle these days, let alone the length of the field.
“We’re getting on now, Jack. I’m getting aches and pains in all sorts of places I never used to. The other morning I woke up with a sore back – which is a bit scary. Who knew sleeping would be dangerous when you get to our age?
“And now I’m supposed to do all sorts of extra health tests – I got one of those bowel screening tests in the mail the other day…
(distracted by the footy action) “Tackle him Billy! He’s yours!”
Jack:
“Nice one Billy!
“But mate – that bowel kit you mentioned – you did it, right?”
Dad:
“That thing? No way!
“I think it’s still lying around at home somewhere. I don’t need to do that!
“I might have a bit of a sore back every now and again, but apart from that I’m in good shape…”
Jack (laughing?)
“Yeah, mate – if fishing or watching TV ever become Olympic sports, you can represent Australia!
“But seriously – you should do that bowel test and send it back. I did mine when I got it a few months ago. It was pretty simple to do, and look – you can’t muck around with something serious like bowel cancer.
“Remember Uncle Frank? When we were younger and he got real sick and passed away? That was bowel cancer…”
Dad (more serious):
“Yeah, I remember. You’re probably right then.
“I’ll get around to doing it soon, then…”
Mum:
“Yeah… like you’ll get around tofixing that ute and finishing painting the kitchen…”
“But Jack’s right… you’ve got to get that test done.
“I’ll make sure he does, Jack, don’t worry…”
SFX: whistle and cheering
Dad:
“Awesome Billy! What a goal!”
Narrator:
“That was an awesome goal. He’s not bad, that Billy!
“Well, let’s leave them to the game, and hope Dad listens to Jack and gets his bowel cancer screening kit done.
“It’s an important thing to do. Did you know that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Australia?
“And because it can be hard to tell if you have bowel cancer, doing that screening test is the best way to detect it early on.
“So like Jack says - the best thing you can do is just get the test done, and post it straight back.
“If you’d like to find out more about bowel cancer screening, you can visit your local doctor or health service. You can also visit australia.gov.au/bowelscreening, or call 1800 11 88 68.
“But anyway – I gotta go. So thanks again for stopping by, and make sure you come back soon and see what Dad, Mum, Jack and Billy are up to…”
Script Two:It’s easy, quick and free
SFX: car idling, male voices, things being moved (loading a car)
Narrator:
“Hey, g’day! Nice to see you again.
“You’re probably here to check up on Dad and the rest of the family. You remember – last time we caught up with them, Dad had received a bowel cancer screening kit in the mail.
“Like lots of us, he’d kind of started making excuses for why he wasn’t going to do it.
“But with the help of Mum and Dad’s brother Jack, he’d promised he’d get it done soon.
“I wonder if he has?
“As you can probably hear, there’s plenty of action at the house today. Dad and his son Billy are loading the car up for a fishing trip.
“Lucky blokes – it’s a beautiful day to be out on the water…”
Dad:
“That’s almost everything, I reckon!”
Billy:
“I hope so, Dad – you’ve got half the house and all of the contents of the fridge in there! We’re only going out for a day of fishing, you know!”
Dad:
“Well… a man’s gotta eat something in between hauling in those monster fish!
I’ve got a good feeling about today – I’m gonna catch plenty!”
Billy:
“That would be awesome, but if we put all this stuff and Uncle Jack in the boat, there’s only going to be room for a couple of very small fish!
“And last time we all went out all you managed to do was get your hook stuck in your elbow, and then you fell out of the boat trying to get untangled…”
Dad (laughing):
“Yeah – I remember. I’ve still got the scar from that!
“Which reminds me, I wonder how Mum’s going with finding the first aid kit?”
Mum (emerging from the house and slamming the door, angry):
“Yeah, I found it! Stuffed down the back of the cupboard in the bathroom behind a load of your other junk.
“That’s not really the perfect place to keep a first aid kit – if there was an emergency we’d take all day trying to find it!
“And look what I found in there while I was looking for it!”
Billy:
“What’s that, Mum?”
Mum:
“That’s the bowel cancer testing kit Dad got in the mail. The one he said he was going to do…”
Dad (trying to laugh it off):
“Ah, that’s where that’s got to. I knew I put it somewhere so I wouldn’t forget to do it.”
Mum:
“So you put it somewhere so you wouldn’t forget to do it, and then forgot you put it there?
“Look – you said you’d do it, and it’s important that you do. Bowel cancer is serious, and even if you drive us mad around here sometimes, we want you to be healthy for as long as possible.
“While that kit’s been hiding in the cupboard, I’ve got one, done it, and sent it back. It was quick and easy…”
Billy:
“She’s right, Dad. You need to get that done – if not for your own sake, but for me, and Mum and Tahlia and the rest of the family.
“And the community – how are those under 12s you coach at footy going to keep losing so badly if you’re not around to give them the benefit of your experience…”
Mum:
“Speaking of your daughter – here’s Tahlia now. Maybe she can talk some sense into you…”
Billy:
“Hey sis, what’s up?”
Tahlia:
“I just stopped by to put in my order for a big feed of fish. And to make sure you take a first aid kit this time – in case Dad catches and releases himself again!
“Although it doesn’t look like there’s any room left in that car for anything…
“What’s that you’ve got there, Mum?”
Mum:
“That’s the bowel cancer test kit thingy Dad said he was going to get done – which I found stuffed in a cupboard not getting done…”
Tahlia (sighs):
“Dad! C’mon – you know that’s important!
“You remember I was telling you about bowel cancer and the people who come to the clinic who’ve got it? You need to get that test done, no excuses!”
Dad:
“Alright, alright… but can it wait until after we get out on the water? Those fish are calling me, and they won’t wait around all day…”
Tahlia (laughing):
“Okay, fine. But I’m coming back this evening to tell you more about bowel cancer and why you need to get that test done.
“While I’m here, I can grab a few fish, or maybe just stitch up your elbow again if I need to…”
Narrator:
“Well, let’s leave them to finish packing the car and hope they get that boat in the water soon!
“I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna stop by with Tahlia tonight and see how many fish Dad and Billy got.
“I’m also keen to hear what Tahlia tells Dad about bowel cancer and the screening kit.
“The great thing about getting a screening kit in the mail,like Dad and Mum did, is that you can find out if there’s a problem as early possible - simply by doing a quick, free test in private at home.
“And because it can be hard to tell if you have bowel cancer, doing that screening test is the best way to detect it early on.
“If you’d like to find out more about bowel cancer screening, you can visit your local doctor or health service. You can also visit australia.gov.au/bowelscreening, or call 1800 11 88 68.
“But anyway – I gotta go. I might go wet a line myself while the weather’s so good.
“So thanks again for stopping by, and make sure you come back soon and see what the family are up to…”
Script Three: Getting tested is important
SFX: mealtime (cutlery clinking), laugher, some kitchen noises
Narrator:
“Hey, g’day! Nice to see you again.
“You’re probably here to check up on Dad and the rest of the family. You remember – last time we caught up with them, Dad, his brother Jack and his son Billy were heading off for a day of fishing.
“But along with the first aid kit she was looking for in the bathroom, Mum found the bowel cancer screening kit Dad had said he was going to do – but hadn’t.
“Well, the boys came back from fishing with a decent catch, and now the family are having a feed to celebrate.
“But Billy’s sister Tahila, who works at the health clinic, wants to make sure Dad knows that getting his kit done and posted back is important.
“Let’s listen in – and gee, doesn’t that fish smell good…”
Dad (laughing):
“That first one I got on the line was so big I reckon it thought it had caught us, not the other way around.
“It was so big you could have mistaken it for an island…”
Billy:
“Uncle Jack here says Dad suffers from a rare form of eye problem – when the fish are at the end of the line they look huge to him, but when he reels them in and gets them in the boat, somehow they’ve shrunk…”
Jack (laughing):
“It’s true, he’s there bracing himself up against the side of the boat and making all this fuss and then he pulls in a fish barely as big as the hook…”
(everyone laughs)
Dad:
“Oh, be fair… I caught a few good ones today!”
Billy:
“Yeah, along with Uncle Jack’s hat, and the propeller – twice!”
Tahlia:
“Alright you three– enough. The main thing is you had a good time, and we got a great dinner out of it. Thanks for cooking it up, Mum…”
Mum:
“No worries, Tahlia. Always good to have you around. Especially if you can talk some sense into your father about things like looking after his health…”
Dad:
“Oh no, I can see where this conversation’s going. Can’t we talk about that bowel cancer kit another time?”
Tahlia:
“Well, I reckon that’s the problem with this stuff. Everyone wants to put off talking about it till another time.”
Mum:
“Just like you’ve put off doing that simple test that could save your life…”
Tahlia:
“Look Dad, we can get back to your fishing stories in a minute. But you know I work at the health clinic, so I get to see first-hand what something like bowel cancer can do to someone’s health, and the impacts it has on their family.
“Bowel cancer affects a lot of our mob, and it can be really hard to tell if you have it.
“That’s why that test is so good – it’s quick and easy to do, and you can get it done in private here at home.”
Jack:
“She’s right, mate. I did mine no worries, and sent it back. I’d rather know as early as possible if there’s a problem, but for now it looks like I’m all good…”
Dad:
“Okay, you lot. If you’re not ganging up on me about my fishing skills, you’re all onto me about this bowel screening thing. I’ll do it tomorrow, alright?”
Mum:
“You promise? First thing in the morning?”
Dad:
“Well’ I’ve got to clean out the boat, and sort out the esky…”
All others together:
“Dad!”
Dad:
“Alright. Fine. First thing in the morning. I know it’s important for you, and for me…
“Now, Mum and Tahlia, let me tell you about the last fish I almost caught today. That thing was so big that it would have taken…” (fade out as narrator comes back)
Narrator:
“Well, let’s leave them to finish their dinner and to listen to Dad’s crazy fishing stories.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna stop by again soon to make sure Dad’s done that test.
“But for you lot listening – it doesn’t have to be a big fuss.
“If you get a bowel cancer screening kit in the mail,just get it done and post it back.
“Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in this country, which meansabout 80 Australians die from it each week.
“And because it can be hard to tell if you have bowel cancer, doing a bowel screening test is the best way to detect it.
“It’s a simple, free and private test that could save your life.
“If you’d like to find out more about bowel cancer screening, you can visit your local doctor or health service. You can also visit australia.gov.au/bowelscreening, or call 1800 11 88 68.
“But anyway – I gotta go. I might head home and cook up some fish for myself.
“So thanks again for stopping by, and make sure you come back soon and see what the family are up to…”
Script Four: Completing the test is simple, and gives you piece of mind
SFX: community football game (cheering, ref’s whistle etc)
Narrator:
“Hey, g’day you mob! Good of you to join us!
“As you can probably hear, we’re back at the footy.
“If you haven’t met that rowdy mob on the sideline before, or if you can’t remember what they’ve been up to lately – that’s Dad, Mum and Uncle Jack.
“Dad’s son Billy is the one with the ball at the moment, which is probably why they’re screaming their heads off.
“They’ve been through a lot since Billy’s last game – including convincing Dad that he needed to do the bowel cancer screening test he was sent in the mail.
“It wasn’t easy, because Dad’s a bit stubborn sometimes, but the family told him how important it is.
“Ah, and I can see Dad’s daughter Tahlia arriving at the game to see how he’s going. Let’s listen in…”
Dad (yelling):
“Good stuff, Billy! Well done, son!”
(to Mum and Jack):
“He reminds me of a younger version of me, the way he’s playing today!”
Jack:
“Yeah, but one that can actually kick straight, and takes marks with his hands instead of his face…”
Mum:
“I seem to remember you spent a lot more time on the sidelines yelling advice to the rest of the team – so a bit like today, really…”
Tahlia:
“Alright, you two, stop giving Dad a hard time. I remember seeing him play a few times when I was little – he was pretty deadly out there.”
Dad:
“Tahlia! Good to see you girl!
“It’s nice of you to come and support Billy, and to support me when these two start running my old footy stories down…”
Jack:
“The problem is those stories seem to get confused with games you’ve watched on the TV, and you think you’ve won a dozen grand finals, rather than kicked two or three goals for the local team…”
Tahlia (laughing):
“Anyway, Dad – how’d you go with that bowel cancer test. You did it and sent it off, right?”
Dad:
“Yeah, no worries. It was pretty quick and easy to do.
“I got the results back, and yeah, no worries. All fine and healthy for now…
“In fact, I reckon I’m healthy enough to strap the old footy boots on again if I want…”
Jack (lauging):
“Yeah, but you might need someone to help you tie the laces – I don’t think you can reach that far these days.
“But that’s great. Good on you for getting that test done.”
Dad:
“I had no choice, the way you lot kept carrying on about it!
“No, seriously, I’m glad I did it, and it’s a good to know I’m alright. And I’ve been telling all my mates to get theirs done – because I reckon if you do have a problem, it’s best to know as early as possible.”
Tahlia: