Bruce, the Kangaroo Rider in the Ayerstone-Opal Expedition: An Australian animal fantasy

In a 1950s era Australia, Sydney is under siege by giant carnivorous animals from the outback. A new expedition is planned to uncover the secret of the powerful Ayerstone which caused vast magical changes in the wildlife, along with attempting to find a fortune in valuable opals. A meeting is organised and in attendance are the allied leaders of the city: the boxing champion of the kangaroos, the Lord Mayor of the wombats, King Larrikin of the kookaburras, and Prime Minister Koullas of the humans and koalas. The proposed route of the expedition is explained by a soldier during the briefing: The ten expedition members are comprised of a mixed assortment of humans and animals. ‘Wallaby Bruce’ Buckley, a 14 year old from the Sutherland Shire, whose uncle removed the Ayerstone thirty years ago. ‘Outback Jack’ Macdonnell, an adventurer, obsessed with finding the lost opals from Wangaratta. Darren Eagle, an Aboriginal soldier and bush tucker expert. Myles Mulligan, an Army captain and rifleman. Rachel Shearer, a wildlife expert from Taronga. Walter Diggins, a wombat, warrior and wombattalion leader. Larry Larrikin, a kookaburra and guard of King Larrikin. Carlo Koullas, the koala, medic and cousin of the prime minister. Preston Pierce, the platypus, commando with the SAS. Maru Hopper, the grey kangaroo, Bruce’s mate from way back. Together the expedition marches into the dangerous lands outside of Sydney, going through a variety of environments; deep canyons, underground caves, grassy plains, tall forests, snowy mountains and fast moving rivers. The group have adventures dealing with bushfires, floods, storms, bad weather and other forces of nature. They soon find the bushland has many threats, while towns have been destroyed and are now overrun with giant spiders and insects. It seems these changes in the landscape were caused by the piece of Ayers Rock which was removed, which increases their desire to find it. They encounter many animals, both helpful or a hindrance: flying foxes, bats, birds, snakes, lizards and marsupials.