Matthew and Son is a 1984 Australian television film about a single parent who is a police surgeon.
[1] The film was one of several projects Paul Cronin made when at Channel Ten, and was done for Johnny Young's company.
Cronin: It was based on the life of Dr John Birrell, the police surgeon, who was instrumental in the .05 and seatbelt legislation.
It was a very, very well constructed show, but Johnny's company collapsed after that, and I left channel Ten.
[2]The cast includes Cronin as Matthew Caine, Paula Duncan as social worker Barbara Dean, Darius Perkins as Matthew's son Stephen, and Nicole Kidman as Stephen's friend Bridgette Elliot.