Doco on life as a doctor’s ‘wife’

Dr Vincent Cornelisse and former Q News editor Jonathan Duffy made the big move from Brisbane to the inland town of Burnett two years ago and have filmed their adventures as part of a new documentary on their experiences moving from city to country.

The Doctor’s Wife is a film by Duffy that explores the experiences of homosexual people living in rural and regional Australia.

The film began production in September 2008 when Cornelisse decided to leave Brisbane and move to country Queensland in order to further his career. However, Vincent wouldn’t do this without his partner, Duffy.

Neither of the two had ever lived in a country town and were excited about the scene change but nervous about how they would be received.

A friend jokingly suggested that Jonathan should film their experience in case they were murdered. Jonathan decided to do this, not because he thought they would be in danger, because he believed that it was going to be a positive and enlightening journey.

The Doctor’s Wife explores their journey through Jonathan’s eyes and asks the question, “Would their experience be the same if Vincent wasn’t the town Doctor?”

The documentary, currently in postproduction, is set to be released in March next year.