Background

In February 2003 Director David Batty and producer Jeni McMahon were in northern NSW researching characters for their documentary series Inventions from the Shed. Following a suggestion from his mother, Betty Batty (nee, Elizabeth Taylor), David decided to detour to Murwillumbah and look up his second cousin Phil Taylor. As David had never before laid eyes on Phil, it was an ideal opportunity to meet a little known member of the Taylor family so David rang and arranged to meet Phil at his car yard.

Upon meeting Phil and his son Warren, the family connection was immediately apparent and a genuine rapport between the cousins was obvious. David was family and that was the be-all and end-all as far as Phil was concerned. Likewise, David was delighted by the wonderful warmth, generosity and good humour of Phil and Warren. He was totally captivated by the comings and goings at Taylor Made Car Sales and Hire.

David thought he knew a thing or two about cars, but these guys were car nuts. Being big fans of “Bush Mechanics,” Phil and Warren jokingly suggested to David he should make a film about the car yard. Coincidentally, David had the same idea. The seed for Taylor Made was sown.


Production

David went to Murwillumbah in June 2003 and stayed with Warren and Phil for a week. It was during this time he decided to base the film around the family’s involvement with the Banana Festival.

With producer Jeni McMahon, he returned in August and shot the film over a twelve day period during the festival and the grand finale, the street parade. David both shot and directed the program and shares sound recording credits with producer and camera assistant, Jeni McMahon. The film was edited by Paul Bell with original music by Michael den Elzen.


Location

Murwillumbah is a picturesque town in the heart of the Tweed Valley in Northern NSW. Nestled in the shadow of Mt Warning and with a population of around 7000, Murwillumbah sits between Byron Bay to the south and Coolongatta to the north, but is a world away from either location. It is the kind of country town that exudes a sense of belonging to another time and place.

A fixture of the town is the annual Banana Festival. It was started 42 years ago by Phil’s father “Banana Bill” Taylor and remains one of the longest running community festivals in Australia. The Banana Ball is the highlight of the Murwillumbah social calendar and functions as an important fund raising event for the community. The Banana Festival culminates with the annual street parade in which the Taylor family has entered a float for the past 42 years.


Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor was born in Murwillumbah in 1949 and has lived in the town his entire life. His interest in cars began at age eight when he began pumping petrol at the family garage, Taylor’s Corner. He bought his first car at fifteen and has been buying and selling vehicles ever since. He established Taylor Made Car Sales and Hire in 1984 and it is a fixture of the Murwillumbah landscape.

Situated on a prime corner block next to the Tweed River, it functions more like a community drop-in centre than a thriving second hand car business. Phil hates to see a car go to the wreckers and would rather pay someone $100 to spare a vehicle this fate. Consequently, he now has so many cars scattered around the place that he simply doesn’t have the time to look at them.

Phil is a devoted member of the Murwillumbah community and involves himself with many clubs and charities in the Tweed Valley. Friends of the pound, the Historical Society, Vintage Car Club, Rotary, Lions, Freemasons and Scouts are but a sample of Phil’s many community involvements. He is a tireless fundraiser and delights in being a part of the many activities and functions that these organizations provide. Phil definitely sees all members of the community as part of his extended family – from the down-and outers to the bastions of Murwillumbah society.


Warren Taylor

Warren is 26 and is the eldest of Phil’s two sons. He works in the family business and also lives with Phil in their ramshackle home. Warren is equally obsessed with all things automotive and spends much of his time scouring the countryside for old cars that may come in useful for spare parts. He was badly hurt in his parents divorce and still mistrusts women. He spends most of his time at the car yard or hanging out with mates and checking out second hand cars. He is at times a reluctant consort in his father’s antics, particularly when it comes to the Banana Festival parade.

Warren doesn’t want to take over the family business and doesn’t display quite the same level of devotion to the many community groups that Phil supports. He views his father as slightly eccentric but remains a very devoted and loyal son