The vessel was used in the highly popular and long-running 1970s and 1980s Channel 10 television serial
Prisoner.
Prisoner details the lives, struggles and plots of the prisoners and guards ('Screws') in Wentworth detention centre, a high-security women's prison in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The
Wattle, with name proudly displayed on a donut life preserver, was in episodes 641 to 643. The plot line was that trainee officers had arranged for work release for four prisoners at a time, under the captain's instructions and guarded by a senior officer. The idea was to learn ship-maintaining skills and get 'fresh air and sunshine'. The leader of the female prisoners, 'Top Dog' Rita Connors, plans to use the temporary freedom to kill her rival, a guard called Ferguson, or the Freak. In episode 642 the ship has its inlet valve sabotaged by Rita, who is familiar with all engines and drifts for a time. There are numerous excellent film shots of the ship – looking as it was at the time in its role as a day cruiser. One particular segment set to music is of value to researching its appearance circa 1985. ==References==