When I was a student nurse between 1972 and 1975 I worked at Prince of Wales Hospital and I can clearly recall several times when Professor Fred Hollows would come in to see his eye patients. Often he would pop in on a weekend on his way to golf or something like that. Not dressed to the nines like most of the specialists but in quite casual clothes. He was a kind and generous man who always cared about his patients. Every time I see the ads on TV for his fund raising foundation it takes me back to those days when as a relatively young doctor he would visit the ward where I worked. He was also polite and friendly to every member of staff. The world lost a true gentleman and wonderful, caring person when he passed away.
In the early 1980s I joined an extras agency called Studio J and managed to get myself some work as an extra on some TV shows and the occasional movie. It was an exciting time for me. I played a nurse in the background of 6 episodes of “A Country Practice” and was there for Grant Dodwell’s last episode. I managed to get a photo of the whole cast including me which is proudly in my scrapbook album. I also did an ad for the Commonwealth Bank dressed as a nurse. I did one for Medibank Private playing a mum with 2 children and yet another ad for some house cladding. These things all paid very well but took absolutely ages to film. A whole day was not uncommon and the final result was about 2 seconds on TV. But by far the best thing I was in was …..
The Two Ronnies in Australia where Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker filmed a series of skits whilst over here. I got the call to show up at Channel Nine studios one day and along with a few other extras (some I had worked with on other projects) were herded into the wardrobe department and dressed up in evening wear. I wore the most gorgeous long mauve gown with a sequined diamond at the waist with glittery drop earrings. I was a lot slimmer then; weren't we all - lol. My job was to be a tipsy woman at a party standing in the background and holding a drink whilst the two Ronnies did their routine. I was so excited I could barely keep still. After filming was over I ran into Ronnie Barker in the corridor and asked if I could have my photo taken with him and he kindly obliged. I also have that photo proudly in my scrapbook album. Unbeknown to me, some of the other extras had been told not to ask for photo opportunities so obviously I made a faux pas that day and co-incidentally I never got any more work from Studio J. Oh well, at least I can say I did rub shoulders with some famous people and have the pictures to prove it.
My final claim to fame came in 1992 when, for a few years I had been doing the rounds of the various RSL and club talent quests singing mainly Jazz and Blues music with varying results and hoping to break into the big time. One of the most prestigious quests was run by the Campbelltown Catholic Club with first prize in the grand final of $10,000.00. Everyone got appearance money in all the quests which ranged from $10 but Campbelltown paid $25 which was pretty good at that time. I was lucky to win my heat which paid $100 then got a place in the semi final which put me into the grand final. I won the encouragement award of $500. The grand final was to be filmed onto video and all contestants would be given a copy. (I recently had my copy transferred to DVD so I will have it forever).
Well, at that time there was a group of 4 school boys in the grand final called “The Four Trax” and they were a tight and polished boy group very obviously destined for bigger things. They won the $10,000.00 first prize with a rendition of a medley of Michael Jackson songs very well choreographed , then followed it up with John Denver’s “Grandma’s Feather Bed” with all the appropriate barnyard noises. I was in the unfortunate position of having to follow these 4 guys in the order of contestants. They also won the audience award that night. A nicer bunch of fresh faced, talented and polite boys would have been hard to find.
These days you know them as “Human Nature” and of course they DID go on to bigger and much better things. I have the souvenir program and aforementioned video to remind me of that fun time.
As for me, I joined the First Fifteenth Royal NSW Lancer’s Band (Army reserves) based at Parramatta for a couple of years as guest vocalist and in 1993 did a 10 day tour of Fiji with the band. It was a 26 piece swing band and I really enjoyed myself. On that tour I learned to sing the Fijiian farewell song “Isa Lei” in Fijiian and performed it several times over there to great applause from the locals. I was taught the correct pronunciation by a member of the Fijiian army band and can still sing it today. The Lancers band also recorded a 5 track cassette in 1992 of which one of the tracks included me singing “Route 66”. I have that too but no cassette player to play it on. Old technology you see.
I also sang in a number of karaoke competitions around the pubs and won a few prizes and most recently I ran a couple of karaoke nights at the Cowra Bowling Club plus entertained there at a Christmas in July dinner.
Looking back on it all I feel very lucky to have done what I did and am now happy to sing in the shower and kitchen.
La la laaaaa - *coff*
Cheers
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