It's a bitterly cold and wet winter in Tasmania and contestants are hitting the ground to find food, drinking water, shelter and warmth on the latest series of outdoor survival show, Alone Australia.
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Contestants have "no scripts, no camera crews, no engineered challenges, no voting, no gimmicks, and no help from the production team", SBS's Alone Australia says.
But what they do have, according to contestant Duane Byrnes, is a chance to take home $250,000 and prove they have the survival skills to endure some of Australia's harshest climates.
Tasmania's winter will test the endurance and adaptability of ten Australian survivalists in an 11-part series starting Wednesday March 29 at 7.30pm on SBS.
Mr Byrnes, a First Nations Man living on Dharawal Country, told ACM he's not scared of living off the land. He feels the most protected when he's "deep in the bush with no one around".
"I know my ancestors were out there for thousands of years, but they had family and clans," he said.
In other news:
SBS head of unscripted television Joseph Maxwell said the US and Scandinavian versions of Alone were popular with Australia audiences.
"At its core, it's about people - what it is that challenges us, drives us, and motivates us as human beings," he said.
"The relentless effects of nature, hunger, and solitude, result in a very real examination of who we are as people," he said.
Mr Byrne, who works as a Water NSW catchment field supervisor, plans to rely on fishing skills to find a consistent source of food.
"I don't think any boy forgets when their father teaches them how to fish, I'm so thankful for that," he said.
The Thirroul-based man said he's confident in his chances of tracking fish through rivers and knows how to "read" the water for clues.
With no information about the the success or failures of other contestants, Alone's survivalists will push themselves to last in the wild for as long as they can.
Only when they hit their "absolute personal or physical limits" will they volunteer to leave the competition, until one survivalist remains.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for the Courier, dedicated to uncovering the stories that shape the city. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
