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Five surprising things you'll learn in A Country Road, the ABC's documentary series about the Nationals

Long before the diverse mix of personalities currently found in the Senate came together, you needed to look no further than the National Party to find some of the nation's most colourful and laconic politicians.

National Party politicians like Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Doug Anthony, Tim Fischer and Barnaby Joyce have become bywords for the party's maverick spirit.

But while embarking on the ultimate political road tour of rural Australia, the ABC's Heather Ewart unearthed some stories and footnotes that may surprise you.

_'A Country Road: The Nationals' can be seen on Tuesday at 8:30pm on ABC, or later on ABC iview._

1. Clive Palmer honed his media skills as a former Nationals member


2. Former deputy PM Doug Anthony once ran the country from a telex machine in his caravan, and he still has the cable



3. Pauline Hanson's definition of 'redneck' is wide-ranging, and she even claims to be "the biggest redneck in Australia"



4. There was once a Mexican stand-off for the party leadership because all the potential leaders were considering retiring



5. Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen, the wife of former Queensland premier Sir Joh, is still alive at 94 and was once in Parliament herself