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Every since my mum died I’ve been contacted by her film colleagues and friends and it’s great to hear from these interesting and funny film and TV pioneers. The more I learn about mum’s career the more questions I wish I’d asked. When she was in her heyday as Australia’s first TV/film director at Artransa Park Studios, I was at school, then working abroad and then married and a bride and young mum in Hawaii.
Amongst some of the people who have contacted me is Warwick Freeman. “Wokka” was a young TV director who was the power behind Australian Bandstand with Brian Henderson. He was slight, pale, covered in freckles with a “just hatched” look. But in his quiet way he was a powerhouse behind making the pop music show, live every Saturday morning the hit it was. (Before Countdown.) Bandstand nurtured the careers of Col Joye, the Allen Brothers (Peter and Chris weren’t really brothers and of course Peter went on to carve a legendary career), Patsy Ann Noble, Little Pattie, Lana Cantrell . . . the list goes on. Station Manager Bruce Gyngell, (father of David who is currently Nine’s boss) a lovely man, kept a protective eye on us all. Yes, I was part of it, but certainly not as a singer! One Monday morning I rang up and asked if I could be on the show and they asked me over and bingo. So every Saturday I trekked to Channel 9. I was Brian’s sidekick, the Bandstand hostess and did ads and chat. During the school week it was lace-up shoes, navy tunic and straight hair. On Saturdays it was high heels, TV make-up and bouffant hair. I was 15 but Wokka just sent me a photo and I can’t believe it. I look well into my 20s.
I’m still amazed at just ringing up out of the blue and asking for a go. But, come to think of it, I’ve done that more than once in my life. Sometimes it works, some not. But heck, it’s worth a try.
Cheers
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