Introduced by musician and mentor John Butler Lachlan McCarthy first came to John Butler's attention in 2005 when he applied for a grant from a seed fund run by the musician. Captivated by the then thirteen year old's application and the story behind it, Butler provided some much needed money for violin lessons. Five years later, Lachlan McCarthy's single-minded ambition to overcome the twin demons of poverty and the memory of a family tragedy led to him to become the first in his family to try and finish high school. His mother Cherie is doing all that she can to nurture his talent, but as Australian Story follows Lachlan through his final year at school, will his dream to study music at university survive tumultuous times?
—Australian Story