[PCBH] PRISONER update #35

[Chris Hewitt]

Copied & pasted from attach pdf sent by:

  simon at partnersincrime.com.au

Chris

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PRISONER update #35
Yes, we’ve been AWOL almost as long as Jacki Nolan from Barnhurst, but 
we’re back with a bundle of news, both old and new. We won’t waste your 
time with excuses for the prodigious delay, because there’s just far too 
much to tell you as it is!
First things first…
Prisoner fan club
20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
HOST: MAGGIE MILLAR
DATE: SATURDAY JUNE 28
VENUE: TIGER TIGER BAR (Newgate Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne)
BOOKINGS: events at prisoner-cellblockh.co.uk
In 1988, TV viewing in the UK underwent a major change with the launch 
of through-the-night programming on the ITV network.
Late night TV became a melting pot of those bizarre and outrageous 
programmes that were deemed too daring for daytime TV.
Out of this eclectic mix one show emerged to take the ratings by storm, 
and in so doing created headaches for TV bosses and schedulers.
 From the archive of the Australian Reg Grundy Organisation, PRISONER: 
CELL BLOCK H (or Priz as it became known) slipped unannounced onto TV 
sets throughout the UK. From that moment on millions of viewers became 
hooked as the girls from the fictional Wentworth Detention centre 
rampaged and rioted in living rooms across the nation.
Indeed, passion for the show ran high, no more so than in the households 
of two Derby women, Roz Vecsey and Tracey Elliott, who decided to launch 
the world’s first fan club for the show – although it must be said they 
later confessed the fan club was launched in a spirit of fun after a 
night on the sherry.
However, as word of the fan club spread, Roz and Tracey were reluctantly 
propelled into the glare of the media spotlight as the Prisoner 
phenomenon spread like a virus.
What was to ensue was unparalleled in the world of fandom; what began as 
a quest for knowledge to uncover the good oil on their fave TV show set 
off a remarkable sequence of events spreading over two decades.
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Starting with the release of the Prisoner fanzine the H Block Herald, 
the fan club grew and membership hit the 10,000 mark, prompting the fan 
club to fly leading Prisoner cast members to the UK to meet their fans. 
Some actors were so popular a police presence was required to control 
the crowds.
Prisoner has taken its fans and the fan club on a remarkable journey – 
from the release of the fan club dance record (which sold 3000 copies) 
to the production of the Great Escape (a film made in conjunction with 
Chrysalis, which captures the only UK screen appearance of Australian 
actor Sheila Florance) – from the major SOAP campaign which saw Central 
TV repeat the series, to the 24-hour Priz-watch charity marathon – from 
putting Priz on the big screen in a Nottingham cinema, to organising 
tailored holidays so UK Priz fans can meet the actors and visit the 
studio – the fan club has continued to carry the Prisoner torch.
In order to acknowledge the 2Oth anniversary of the fan club and to 
celebrate 20 years since Priz first went to air in the UK, we are 
inviting fans to join us for this special event.
Prisoner star MAGGIE MILLAR (who played the iconic Marie Winter) is 
flying to the UK to host our celebration.
Maggie has a few surprises up her sleeve for fans, including heaps of 
messages from her fellow cast members.
Besides Prisoner, Maggie had a very successful run in Neighbours, and 
fans of both shows are welcome to come along and meet her.
The 20th Anniversary party is being organised by the official Prisoner 
website (www.prisoner-cellblockh.co.uk): Scott and Barry, who run the 
site, have also organised a number of meet-and-greet dinner evenings 
with Maggie, as well as arranging an appearance in Stockholm for Swedish 
fans (they gave us ABBA, so it’s only fair we give something equally 
iconic in exchange!).
Original fan club founder Roz Vecsey moved to Oz in 2001 and currently 
organises Prisoner events in Melbourne.
Full details of where and when you can meet MAGGIE MILLAR are as follows 
(for further details, please email Scott or Barry on 
events at prisoner-cellblockh.co.uk):
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***LONDON – ARRIVAL PARTY ***
Saturday 14th June, 7pm-10pm
Maggie arrives in London this Friday and, jetlag notwithstanding, looks 
forward to an intimate and exclusive arrival party with a limited number 
of fans at her hotel on Saturday. Arguably the most central hotel in 
London, the St Giles is located in the heart of the West End, at the 
foot of Oxford Street with the whole of London on its doorstep – 
Theatreland, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Chinatown and Soho are all 
in the immediate vicinity.
Meet and greet with Maggie, welcome her to the UK, celebrate Prisoner 
and meet other fans, with rare merchandise available.
Tickets extremely limited, first come first served. Please contact OTI 
direct for more details.
Venue: St Giles Hotel, Bedford Avenue (Tottenham Court Road tube - 50 
yards away)
***STOCKHOLM ***
Wednesday 18th June
Please contact OTI direct for details.
***EDINBURGH – PRISONER NIGHT***
Friday 20th June, 6pm+
Meet Maggie for an exclusive Prisoner Night, at one of Edinburgh's most 
stylish club bars at the heart of the city's 'pink quarter'.
• Join Maggie for photographs, autographs, Q&A
• See original Prisoner uniforms, including Joan Ferguson's and Lizzie 
Birdsworth's!
• Buy rare Prisoner merchandise and other special items of memorabilia
• Meet heaps of other fans for a good old Wentworth celebration! Venue: 
GHQ - 4 Picardy Place, Edinburgh Ticket prices (each): £10.00
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***GLASGOW – COME DINE WITH… MAGGIE ***
Saturday 21st June, 6pm+
An exclusive opportunity for a very limited number of Prisoner fans to 
dine with Maggie Millar in a top class venue. Don't miss this chance to 
spend an intimate evening with one of Prisoner's best-loved stars!
The Carlton George Hotel in central Glasgow has been chosen not only for 
its delicious and award-winning food, but also for its wonderful Windows 
Rooftop Restaurant, providing a stunning backdrop for fans to enjoy some 
quality time with Maggie.
This intimate meeting will take place from 6.00pm until late on Saturday 
21 June 2008.
***THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT***
***GLASGOW – PRISONER PARTY 2008***
Sunday 22nd June, 6pm+
Prisoner fans unite to celebrate the series and everyone's memories of 
it! An evening of fun, Wentworth-style, with special guest Maggie Millar!
• Meet Maggie for photographs, autographs, Q&A.
• See original Prisoner uniforms, including Joan Ferguson's and Lizzie 
Birdsworth's!
• Buy rare Prisoner merchandise and other special pieces of memorabilia.
• Meet heaps of other fans and have a good old celebration!
Venue: Delmonica’s - 68 Virginia Street, Glasgow
Date/Time: Sunday 22 June 2008, 6pm onwards
Enjoy a fantastic night out at the newly refurbished Delmonica’s, one of 
the trendiest and popular bars in Glasgow City Centre. Every Sunday 
night is theme night, but on 22nd June it's a theme night with a 
difference – the bar is hosting its very first Australian Soaps Night, 
and a night dedicated to PRISONER!
Everyone attending the evening will be welcome to join in with all the 
regular events of this popular venue, but special guest Maggie Millar 
will be making her personal appearance in their private function suite!
Please note that tickets will be limited, and available on a first come 
first served basis, which will form a guest list for the evening. If 
you're thinking of making a weekend of it, why not book our 'Dine With 
Maggie' for the night before and receive a FREE ticket to the party!
Ticket Prices (each): £10.00
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***NEWCASTLE – COME DINE WITH... MAGGIE***
Friday 27th June, 6pm-late
For Maggie's Newcastle visit, a private dining area in the Malmaison 
Hotel has been booked. Mal Newcastle is a truly amazing hotel, situated 
on the banks of the Tyne and winner of Large Hotel of the Year in the 
North East England Tourism Awards 2006. Mal Newcastle carries fabulous 
imagery of the local character and colour of this legendary city. 
Adventures from the Bigg Market, the Quayside and dock areas provide an 
intriguing snapshot of this warm-hearted region.
This intimate meeting will take place from 6.00pm until late on Friday 
27 June 2008. £75.00 per person (Fan Club Members) / £85.00 per person 
(Non Members).
A deposit of £40.00 per person is required now to secure your place, 
although this can be negotiable - please email us if you would like to 
discuss your payment options. ONLY ONE PLACE REMAINING!
**Special Offer**
All guests attending our 'Dine With Maggie' evening will receive free 
tickets to our Newcastle Prisoner Party (details below)!
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***NEWCASTLE – PRISONER PARTY 2008***
Saturday 28th June, 6pm-10pm
Prisoner fans unite to celebrate the series and everyone's memories of 
it! An evening of fun, Wentworth-style, with special guest Maggie Millar!
• Meet Maggie for photographs, autographs, Q&A.
• See original Prisoner uniforms, including Joan Ferguson's and Lizzie 
Birdsworth's!
• Buy rare Prisoner merchandise and other special pieces of memorabilia.
• Come dressed up for a chance of winning a prize!
• Meet heaps of other fans and have a good old celebration! Venue: Tiger 
Tiger - The Gate, Newcastle City Centre (private room) Date/Time: 
Saturday 28 June 2008 / 6pm to 10pm*
*The private room is open to the public from 10pm so we expect to be 
finished by then. Please note that due to licensing laws we are only 
able to allow fans of 18 years and above to attend. Proof of age ID may 
be required. Entrance to our Newcastle party is by ticket only - you 
must book in advance, otherwise you will not be allowed entry. If you're 
thinking of making a weekend of it why not book our 'Dine with Maggie' 
for the night before and receive a FREE ticket to the party!! Ticket 
prices (each): £20.00 (Fan Club Members) / £25.00 (Non Members) Fan Club 
Members - Please Log In to access your booking page.
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Hopefully after reading the above you’ll all be reassured that the 
spirit of Prisoner is still alive and kicking after all these years – 
it’s particularly exciting that a Swedish visit has now been arranged: 
for a long time the Scandinavian Prisoner contingent has been one of the 
most loyal and ardent collection of fans, so we are delighted that they 
are finally being rewarded for their dedication.
Anyhoo, now it’s time to sit back with a cuppa char and jumbo pack of 
Tim Tams as we regale you with a year and more of gossip…
Spotted
As usual we could run a whole feature on KERRY ARMSTRONG [Lyn Warner]. 
Where to begin? In 2007 Ms Armstrong was photographed meeting – and 
being blessed by – the Dalai Lama in front of a 20,000 strong crowd at 
Melbourne’s Princes Park. She was then spotted at the opening night of 
the Melbourne International Film Festival, as well as been snapped at 
the opening night of her play The Glass Soldier, accompanied by her 
three sons Sam, Jai, and Callum. The Glass Soldier ran at Melbourne’s 
Playhouse theatre in August and September; although the play itself was 
not universally acclaimed, there was praise for Armstrong’s performance: 
“Kerry Armstrong does what she does best, demonstrating a deep well of 
womanly resilience and defiance in a speech attacking the glorification 
of war.” (The Age)
Armstrong then embarked on the publicity trail for the DVD release of 
the mockumentary Razzle Dazzle (for which she was nominated for an AFI 
Best Lead Actress award).
Armstrong then went on to star in the production Brave Men Run In My 
Family at Her Majesty’s theatre, Melbourne. Based on the life of – and 
starring – the much-loved Australian tenor Peter Brocklehurst, the show 
saw Armstrong assume the role of narrator. When asked what it was like 
to work with such a co-star, Brocklehurst truly did sing her praises: 
“It's a life changing experience, and a spiritual experience to get to 
know and work with that lady – that's really all I can say.”
As if all this did not make for a sufficiently jam-packed 2007 for 
Armstrong, she also squeezed in shooting a new six-part ABC drama Bed of 
Roses (in which she plays the lead character Louisa Atherton, a 
middle-aged woman whose world collapses around her), and also sped over 
to LA for a role in the film Reservations. Here’s to an equally eventful 
2008!
Incidentally Bed of Roses, which went to air last month, also stars 
CAROLINE GILLMER [Helen Smart] and JULIA BLAKE [Evelyn Randall/Alice 
Dodds/Nancy McCormack].
Meanwhile SIGRID THORNTON [Ros Coulsen] has also been making her mark. 
She was the talk of the town following her appearance in the Oz 
production of Alan Bennett’s highly acclaimed Talking Heads, which ran 
at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, and co-starred U.K. favourite Brenda 
Blethyn. Thornton undertook the role originally created by Julie Walters 
(Her Big Chance), while Blethyn had equally big shoes to fill in the 
Patricia Routledge vehicle Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet. Word is that in 
order to prepare for the role, Thornton flew to the UK to study with a 
voice/dialect coach.
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In and around landing such a prestigious theatre role, our Sigrid 
wouldn’t be Sigrid if she hadn’t been spotted out and about at a number 
of glamorous functions. Not surprisingly she was there to support her 
co-star Blethyn’s film Clubland at its premiere (a great film that I 
managed to catch in Sydney – Blethyn is on top form as on overbearing 
mother and club-singer with delusions of grandeur). Thornton also 
attended the opening night of Sleeping Beauty at Southbank (along with 
CAROLINE GILMER and JANE CLIFTON [Margo Gaffney]) and the opening night 
of Phantom of the Opera. More recently, she was spotted with the likes 
of Geoffrey Rush and Magda Szubanski at the opening of Tom Stoppard’s 
Rock ’n’ Roll at Melbourne’s Southbank in March (ALEX MENGLET [Ray 
Proctor] was one of the stars of the show).
On the charity front, Thornton turned up to Vision Australia’s Feelix 
Library to meet some of her younger fans – she has built up a whole new 
fan base since lending her voice to stacks of Talking Books for 
vision-impaired children.
Thornton was also honoured as Queensland’s Multicultural Champion for 
2007, and was in demand during 2007’s awards season, handing out the 
winning statuettes at both the Logies and the Helpmanns.
Thornton also appeared in an episode of the US miniseries Nightmares and 
Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King. The episode in question 
(Umney’s Last Case) was shot in Melbourne, was nominated for numerous 
awards (including the Emmys), and starred William H. Macy (aka Mr 
Felicity Huffman) in the leading role of Clyde Umney.
In April, Thornton joined a host of stars embarking on a 21-day walk 
along 228km of the Great Wall of China to raise funds and awareness for 
a holistic cancer centre at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital. Cancer-survivor 
Olivia Newton-John led the way, with the likes of Dannii Minogue, Joan 
Rivers, Ian Thorpe, and Sir Cliff Richard bringing up the rear. For more 
information, go to: http://live.greatwalktobeijing.com/
TRACY MANN [Georgie Baxter] and LOUISE SIVERSEN [Lou Kelly] were spotted 
at the opening night of the Australian Shakespeare Company’s open-air 
production of Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Siversen 
has also been shooting a new ABC telemovie Valentine’s Day, which tells 
the story of a small country town and its footy club, both of which are 
in decline.
Two more Priz faces seem to have joined Melbourne’s A-list circuit: 
TOMMY DYSART (sinister screw Jock Stewart) and wife JOAN BROCKENSHIRE 
(Tina Britten) were snapped by the Herald Sun at the opening nights of 
Respect and the musical Little Me.
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On Stage
The hit Wizard of Oz-inspired musical Wicked will receive its Australian 
premiere at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in July – with MAGGIE KIRKPATRICK 
[The Freak] in the coveted role of Madama Morrible, headmistress of the 
witches’ academy. As a further piece of piquant casting, Australian Idol 
runner-up Anthony Callea will play a munchkin.
Having previously starred in Fiddler on the Roof with Topol himself, 
Kirkpatrick is clearly on a roll! 2007 also saw her reprise her role in 
the acclaimed two-hander The Shoe-Horn Sonata, this time playing against 
other soap legend Belinda Giblin (one of the few actors of a certain age 
who avoided time in WDC!). In an interview published last year in SX 
magazine, Kirkpatrick discussed the deep personal meaning the play holds 
for her:
It celebrates a generation of Australian women who are the ones before 
me – my mother’s generation – and these are women who were born in the 
First World War, survived the Great Depression and were then thrust into 
another war. Some of them lost husbands – in my case my mother was 
widowed some six months after I was born. So I’ve observed it first hand 
– I watched them come out of that grief and get on with it. I think 
they’re a remarkable generation, so I feel privileged to play the role 
of Bridie. She’s an amalgam of that funny, tough, larrikin thing that we 
celebrate in our men: she’s strong, stoic, and no-nonsense. I’d like to 
think I’m like her.
As if to clear up any lingering doubt, Kirkpatrick’s verdict on last 
year’s Where Are They Now Priz special is joyfully honest: “Boring as 
bat shit! I refused to do it initially because I loathe the title, as it 
smacks of ‘has-been’, but then they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, 
and I can be as big a whore as anyone!”
Incidentally, Maggie recently revealed that she is hooked on UK TV 
series Shameless – we always knew she had exemplary taste!
ANNE PHELAN has been treading the boards in Guys and Dolls at 
Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. The show also stars Lisa McCune and Magda 
Szubanski, so if nothing else it’ll be a feast for the eyes and ears!
COLETTE MANN [Doreen Burns] is now starring as Shirley in Priscilla 
Queen of the Desert – The Musical in its Melbourne run. The role was 
created by fellow ex-Prisoner GENEVIEVE LEMON [Marlene Warren], so Mann 
is keeping the tradition alive. BILL HUNTER [George Lucas] joined the 
Melbourne run of the show in January (in the role he also played in the 
film, that of Bob the mechanic).
GENEVIEVE LEMON clearly has the golden touch when it comes to 
film-to-musical adaptations. After her opening performance in the Sydney 
production of Billy Elliot (in the Julie Walters’ role of dance teacher 
Mrs Wilkinson), Lemon impressed composer Sir Elton John so highly that 
he requested a private meeting with her.
2007 saw MARIA MERCEDES (Irene Zervos/Yemil Bakarta) enjoy huge success 
at the Edinburgh festival with the show Seriously, based on the songs of 
the Pet Shop Boys.
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On Screen
Channel 7’s top-rating police drama City Homicide has seen a host of 
familiar faces return to the small screen. The series, which first went 
to air in August 2007, stars SHANE BOURNE and NADINE GARNER, both of 
whom cut their teeth with bit parts on Priz. Other familiar faces to 
have popped up in the show include AMANDA MUGGLETON [Chrissie Latham], 
JAN FRIEDL [Chrissie’s conniving sister-in-law Brenda], JULIA BLAKE, 
ALAN HOPGOOD [Wally Wallace], LOUISE SIVERSEN, and MIKE BISHOP [Harry 
Grosvenor]. We can also reveal that ELSPETH BALLANTYNE [Meg Morris] will 
be guest starring in season 2 of the show this year.
MAGGIE KIRKPATRICK [Joan] was reunited with JUDITH McGRATH [Colleen] 
when she made a guest appearance on All Saints earlier this year. 
McGrath is now the sole remaining original cast member of All Saints; in 
a recent interview with the Herald Sun she joked that her two iconic 
roles were “always in uniform,” and added, “I really appreciate it when 
people say, ‘Hello Judith.’ A lot can’t distinguish the actor from the 
character – it’s a bit of a worry actually.”
Keep your eyes peeled for the DVD release of the Channel 9 biopic (and 
multiple AFI winner) The King, based on the life of the late, great TV 
entertainer Graham Kennedy. The film was based on the biography written 
by Graeme Blundell, which was not only a fascinating study of Kennedy 
but also of the history and evolution of Oz TV itself. MONICA MAUGHAN 
[Pat O’Connell] appears in The King as Nanna Scott, the grandmother who 
raised Graham.
A plethora of DVDs of interest have been released lately, among them the 
original Skippy (seasons 1 and 2), Number 96 (groundbreaking Oz soap), 
Graham Kennedy’s Blankety Blanks (featuring a very young PETA TOPPANO 
(Karen Travers) on the panel), and boxed sets of 50 Years of Australian 
TV and Sons and Daughters – all now available from www.emasters.com.au 
at a very reasonable price.
Also the ABC have released a huge range of Oz dramas that are well worth 
a look www.abcshop.com.au
Since losing Neighbours to Channel 5 and buggering up All Saints by 
screening the series from season 5 (1-4 were possibly just a 
shower-induced dream) the BBC endeavoured to acquit themselves by 
commissioning new Aussie drama Out of the Blue, to fill the early 
afternoon weekday slots. The good news is that the series stars 
(alongside the obligatory pretty young things) the wonderful DIANE CRAIG 
[Jacki Nolan/Anita Selby] and MAGGIE DENCE [everybody’s favourite 
sociopath Bev Baker]. With actors that good, and with the exemplary 
setting of Sydney’s Manly resort (I can vouch well for its charms) how 
could it go wrong? Whatever the reason, ratings have not been overly 
favourable, and the Beeb has already shifted the show to an afternoon 
slot on BBC2 – if that’s not a kiss of death I don’t know what is…
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In Print
IAN SMITH [Ted Douglas] graced the cover of the Herald Sun TV Guide in 
January for a feature on his much publicised decision to quit (more or 
less) Neighbours (he was finally persuaded by the producers to take time 
off and return to the show as an intermittent guest). In the article 
Smith makes a point of praising his fellow cast (and former fellow 
Prisoner stars): “I’m just an actor earning a living. I couldn’t have 
done any of this without great people like Anne Charleston, Tom Oliver, 
and Jackie Woodburne […] Harold can’t be the silly old fool he is unless 
he has people willing to stand in front of him and let him do it and 
feed him. These people are very unselfish and they do it very nicely, 
thank you.”
Smith also reveals a side of him that would surprise those who know him 
only as bumbling Harold. In 1994 his mother Connie Smith told him that 
he was adopted. “I was having a mental breakdown at the time,” Smith 
says – having suffered with anxiety and depression, the sudden discovery 
that he had been given up for adoption 54 years ago threatened to 
shatter his world. Smith did successfully track down his biological 
mother. “She’d had no idea who I was. She’d not watched Neighbours,” he 
recalls. They hit it off straight away, but further heartache was in 
store. Smith’s adoptive mother lost her battle with leukaemia in 1997, 
and then his birth mother passed away in 2005. “To lose one parent is 
bad enough; to lose two was downright awful.”
Despite taking a sabbatical from the show, Smith was happy to promote 
Neighbours’ switch from BBC to Channel 5 in the UK. Never one to do 
things by halves, he brought London’s Trafalgar Square to a surreal 
standstill in February as he fronted a 330-strong brass band with 
Harold’s infamous tuba to give a blazing rendition of the Neighbours 
theme tune.
Incidentally, the new Channel 5 deal has seen an increase in the 
Neighbours’ budget, and it seems that a bigger revamp is on the way, 
with Ramsay Street itself rumoured to be on the move…
Neighbours is currently made at the Global Studios in Nunawading (the 
same site where Priz was filmed); however Fremantle Media, who produce 
Neighbours, have confirmed that they will soon be leaving Nunawading for 
an all-purpose venue. The new site will feature studios, post-production 
suites and interactive features, along with a merchandise outlet and a 
museum… sounds a bit like the Coronation St tours that Granada have been 
doing for years, and about time too!
Home and Away’s LYNNE McGRANGER, another of the few Aussie actors of a 
certain age who didn’t appear in Priz, recently confessed to the Herald 
Sun that she frequently encounters fans who tell her how much they loved 
her in Priz – any prizes for guessing which Priz character she gets 
mistaken for?
WENDY WHITELEY (mother of the late Arkie – Donna Mason) recently 
featured in the Rewind section of Sunday Life magazine – the flashback 
year was 1971 and they used a lovely photo of Wendy, Arkie (aged 6) and 
her father Brett, the late artist.
Arkie Whiteley died of cancer in 2001, aged 37.
Page 12 of 19
Women of the Week
CAROLINE GILLMER [Helen Smart] was recently named Woman of the Week by 
the Sunday Herald Sun for her “outstanding” performance as notorious 
gangland matriarch Judy Moran in the controversial Underbelly – so 
contentious, in fact, that it has been banned from Victoria’s screens. I 
was lucky enough to catch an episode when I skipped the border to NSW 
earlier this year, and have to say it was one of the best new Aussie 
dramas I’ve seen. Based on the true story of Melbourne’s bloody 
underworld feuds, the show has been denounced as “fictitious and stupid” 
by the real Judy Moran, whose husband and sons were among the 27 
fatalities of the gang warfare. Gillmer admitted to being nervous 
knowing that Moran would be watching her performance, but added, “Loss 
is loss and blood is blood, and it’s hard not to feel for her. Any 
mother who loses children is a big subject.”
Prior to beginning filming for Underbelly, Gillmer found time for a 
reprise of Menopause – The Musical, and was also spotted at the opening 
night of Kerry Armstrong’s play The Glass Soldier with Menopause 
cast-mate DEIDRE RUBENSTEIN [Janet Dominguez].
Gillmer is by no means the only Priz luminary to have won the Woman of 
the Week accolade. 2007 saw JUDITH McGRATH [Colleen Powell] and ANNE 
PHELAN [Myra Desmond] receiving well-deserved credit. McGrath was 
recognised for her work with the National Breast Cancer Centre, and also 
for her Silver Logie nomination at the 2007 Logies.
Annie Phelan’s tireless charity work was acknowledged in the Queen’s 
2007 Birthday Honours list with an Order of Australia. A stalwart of the 
Actors for Refugees organisation, Phelan is also a long-time patron and 
very active fundraiser for the Positive Women charity.
Annie also popped up on TV in 2007 lending her support to the Choir of 
Hard Knocks. The Choir is an amazing project: professional choirmaster 
Jonathon Welch has brought together people from Melbourne’s homeless and 
dispossessed communities to form the Choir of Hard Knocks.
The progress of the choir – from the first informal gathering to the 
first live performance (with an invite to perform at the Sydney Opera 
House thrown in for good measure) – was caught on camera and turned into 
a documentary series on the ABC.
In the final episode the Choir are filmed performing outside Melbourne 
Town Hall (busking to raise funds to be able to perform inside) and are 
joined by Annie, who shakes her booty for the camera along with a 
charity tin.
So, to support a bloody good cause, and to get to see Annie getting down 
on it, order a copy of the Choir of Hard Knocks DVD from 
www.abcshop.com.au; whilst you’re on the site, check out the huge range 
of other ABC productions that are now available, as there are heaps of 
Priz faces to be found!
Page 13 of 19
JULIA BLAKE was featured recently in The Age magazine in a piece 
celebrating women who refuse to dye their hair. The 70-year old recalls 
that she made the decision 20 years ago to stop tinting her (now silver) 
hair, and hasn’t looked back since! “Men are always saying, I love your 
hair!’” she says – not least Donald Sutherland, with whom she starred on 
the remake of Salem’s Lot: “it’s unusual for American actors to see 
women who look like me.”
VAL JELLAY [Mabel Morgan etc] was featured in the Sunday Herald Sun 
earlier this year in a piece on childhood memories of the 1930s. Times 
were hard, and Jellay, an only child, hit on a plan not only to amuse 
herself but also to earn a few shillings for bread and milk: “I always 
worked as a child performer. I did impressions of Gracie Fields, 
followed by a comedy dance routine with a big finish cartwheel. I was 
often a child mannequin in mannequin parades, but never thought of that 
as work.”
COLLEEN HEWETT [Sheila Brady] recently starred in the show Shout! at the 
Victorian Arts Centre. In an ‘On the spot’ interview in The Age, she 
confessed that she once told Deborra-Lee Furness [who played the small 
role of Connie in Prisoner, and is now Mrs Hugh Jackman] that Hugh 
couldn’t sing…
COLETTE MANN [Doreen Burns] popped up in the Herald Sun as the featured 
name of the ‘5 Minutes With…’ column on Mother’s Day last year, 
answering a barrage of inane questions – the most interesting titbits 
she revealed were that her childhood nicknames were Cauliflower and 
Cutlet, and she reckons she’s now too thin to wear her Priz overalls. 
Unfortunately (as is her wont) she was a tad disparaging about the Priz 
fan mail she gets from the UK; then again she is (as we are often 
instructed) a ‘comedienne’.
Page 14 of 19
Awards
Since our last issue (if anyone’s memory can stretch back that far…) 
Australia’s two major awards nights for the entertainment industry have 
taken place.
Logie Awards
This year’s Logies sadly saw a dearth of Prisoner alumni amongst the 
nominees. On the plus side, Rowena Wallace was spotted enjoying the 
proceedings.
The 2007 Logies did at least see JUDITH MCGRATH [Po-Face] nominated for 
her role in All Saints, and RICHARD MOIR’S [Eddie Cook] intense doco The 
Bridge at Midnight Trembles was also nominated. In addition, the late 
ESME MELVILLE and JUSTINE SAUNDERS were featured in the tribute clip.
Helpmann Awards
In August 2007 Sydney’s Capitol Theatre hosted the Helpmann Awards, 
celebrating live theatre and performance across Australia.
The ubiquitous Ms Thornton popped up to present an award, and COLLEEN 
HEWETT [Sheila Brady] scooped the gong for ‘Best Female Actor in a 
Supporting Role in a Musical’ for The Boy From Oz, thus beating 
GENEVIEVE LEMON, who was nominated for her role in Priscilla. Hewett 
also gave a very moving rendition of Don’t Cry Out Loud (from The Boy 
 From Oz).
AFI Awards
Meanwhile in the AFI (Australian Film Institute) awards for 2007, the 
late ESME MELVILLE [Beryl Hudson/Granny Wilkinson etc!] was nominated 
for a posthumous award for Best Supporting Actress (Film) for her role 
in Romulus, My Father (in which she starred alongside fellow veteran 
ALETHEA McGRATH [Dot Farrar], not to mention one Eric Bana).
Other Priz alumni who were nominated (but alas left empty-handed):
MONICA MAUGHAN [Pat O’Connell] - Best Guest Or Supporting Actress In 
Television Drama for King.
KERRY ARMSTRONG [Lyn Warner] – Best Lead Actress for Razzle Dazzle;
FRANKIE J. HOLDEN [Brad Henson] – Best Supporting Actor for Clubland.
St Kilda Film Festival
The 2007 St Kilda Film Festival featured Australia’s top 100 films, 
culled from over 700 submissions from around the country. On the opening 
night Paul Harris, the Festival Director, paid glowing tribute to 
St.Kilda local ESME MELVILLE, acknowledging her outstanding contribution 
to the industry and to local film-making in particular. Audiences could 
sample this for themselves in the shape of Cry From The Past, a short 
animation featuring the voice of ESME MELVILLE. The piece is “a true 
story portrayed from an old woman’s point of view. She remembers the 
extraordinary partnership between the killer whales, and the whalemen, 
of Twofold Bay, Eden.”
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Also on display was Kerry Armstrong’s flair for comedy in the hilarious 
Car Pool (yes, it seems she’s had time to make another film not already 
mentioned!).
Among the other Priz faces spotted on the featured films:
DIANE CRAIG in the short comedy Marti’s Party.
LOUISE SIVERSEN in What’s The Matter, a darkly satirical drama.
DI GREENTREE [Sister Franklin] in Pig Latin, a short comedy.
ELSPETH BALLANTYNE [Meg] in drama Twenty-Five Cents (shown as part of 
the Images of Ageing collection). In the words of the program, 
Ballantyne plays, “A woman [who] attempts to tell her story to those she 
meets through her day, but in this busy world she finds only deaf ears.”
Oh yes, and one KERRY ARMSTRONG also popped up in Wobbegong, a short 
drama set on the northern beaches of Sydney.
Australia Council
JANE CLIFTON [Margo Gaffney] has been awarded an Australia Council 
fellowship to travel abroad and revisit her former homes as part of the 
Address Book project. Born in Gibraltar and raised as a British Army 
‘brat’, Clifton recently travelled to Europe and hung out at Ireland’s 
Tyrone Guthrie Centre (a famous meeting place for artists).
Clifton recently fronted a series of events during August-September at 
the Melbourne Age Writers Festival. For each evening of the festival 
Jane hosted The Shallow End, which featured a selection of live 
interviews, quizzes, readings, slams and stand-up and improv.
Page 16 of 19
Other News
Congratulations to Melbourne party queen TOTTIE GOLDSMITH [Gloria Payne] 
on her engagement to James Mayo. Mayo proposed in January, and a 
reportedly “thrilled, surprised and excited” Goldsmith did not hesitate 
to accept. So expect the celebrity pages to be even more replete with 
tales of our favourite It-girl in her quest for the perfect wedding 
dress! Still there should be no lack of wedding inspiration, for 
Tottie’s father Brian Goldsmith is also getting hitched (again). 
According to The Age gossip column, when Tottie told her daughter Layla 
that grandpa was trying for fifth time lucky, Layla’s wedding gift 
suggestion was for matching tombstones!
Goldsmith was most recently seen on TV as a celebrity judge on Foxtel 
show The Singing Office. Things aren’t all a bed of roses however, as 
Goldsmith was spotted dining out on Valentine’s Day with a less than 
desirable fashion accessory – a pair of crutches (courtesy of a recent 
hip op).
Congratulations also to MARION DIMMOCK [Andrea Radcliffe] and her 
husband John, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! 
Marion was a great guest at last year’s Priz party – as anyone who was 
there can testify, Marion is a self-confessed chatterbox. It therefore 
came as a great surprise to her family when she landed the role of the 
(largely silent) Officer Radcliffe – “My children couldn’t believe I 
could go without speaking for so long! They would see me standing in the 
background, and kept telling me, ‘I bet you were dying to say something!’.”
A little birdie also tells us that congratulations are in order for 
Genevieve Lemon – wedding bells are in the air!
ROWENA WALLACE [Anne Griffin] has relocated from Melbourne to 
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, where she now teaches drama. Wallace was 
last seen on our screens as Scary Mary in Neighbours, but is of course 
most famous for her portrayal of Pat ‘The Rat’ in Sons & Daughters. In 
recent interviews, Wallace has talked extensively – and with unnerving 
honesty – about her 2005 court case (she received a six-month suspended 
sentence for social security fraud) and her lifelong battle with depression.
PAULA DUNCAN [Lorelei Wilkinson] is the new face of weight loss company 
Jenny Craig and is spearheading the ‘Get Real’ program. A spokesman 
said: “Paula is a household name in this country and she also epitomises 
the Australian woman who aspires to be the best she can be.” Nuff said.
TERRY GILL [Inspector Grace] – in conjunction with Carole Ann, his wife 
of 43 years – now writes, directs, and performs at their Tivoli Theatre 
Restaurant in Melbourne. Not only do they produce a rock ‘n’ roll 
musical and a comedy show, but they also put on variety shows for 
pensioner groups, and run four children’s theatre seasons every year. As 
if that’s not enough, Gill has also been a 20-year regular at Vision 
Australia’s Carols by Candlelight.
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One of our Sydney insiders caught up with MARGOT KNIGHT [Sharon 
Gilmour/Terri Malone] last year for a chat about old times. Knight 
revealed that her first stint in Priz was a little unnerving – largely 
because of the violence inherent in the show (FYI Marion Dimmock also 
told us that she initially fought shy of staying on in Priz because she 
didn’t like all the nastiness). Knight recalled that in some of the 
scenes were someone was being bashed or roughed up, the fear wasn’t 
acted – it was real! On the positive side, Betty Bobbitt took her under 
her wing and taught her the ropes – working with her was the high point 
of Knight’s time as Sharon Gilmour.
Those of you looking to purchase soap-related memorabilia might be 
interested to learn that soap svengali REG GRUNDY (whose fortune is now 
estimated at $805 million) has put up his luxury yacht for sale. 70.5 
metres in length, with 7 bedrooms, a cinema, a rooftop pool and (surely 
the icing on the cake) “beige and salmon-pink soft furnishings”, the 
yacht Boadicea is reputedly worth in the region of $120 million. Serious 
bidders only need apply…!
Sheila Florance Biography
In case this little gem of a book has passed you by, I strongly urge you 
to snap up a copy NOW!
Helen Martineau (Sheila’s former daughter-in-law and author of the book) 
has recently informed us that she is down to her last few available copies.
This biography is a wonderful read that gives a warts-and-all picture of 
the life of SHEILA FLORANCE, loved by millions as Lizzie Birdsworth.
Copies can be ordered directly from Helen’s site www.helenmartineau.com.
I know that copies of the book have already been listed on eBay and they 
are rapidly becoming collector’s items, so this is your last chance to 
obtain a copy at the regular retail price.
Here concludes (almost) this bumper update. We promise we won’t leave it 
so long next time…
Toodles
Simon and Roz
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Actors Farewelled
We close this update with a reflection on the lives of those stars no 
longer with us.
JUSTINE SAUNDERS Feb 20 1953 – April 15 2007
Hailing from the Kanomie clan of Keppel Island in Queensland, Justine 
Saunders was forcibly removed from her mother and raised in a convent, 
as per government policy at the time.
Being part of the Stolen Generation kick-started Saunders’ vociferous 
activism, campaigning for the rights of Australia’s Indigenous Community.
Saunders’ acting career spanned three decades, and included prominent 
roles in the films The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith (1978), The Fringe 
Dwellers (1986) and the 1981 mini-series Women of the Sun.
Her TV appearances included Number 96 in the 70s, Prisoner [as Pamela 
Madigan] in the 80s, Blue Heelers in the 90s, and more recent 
appearances in Farscape and MDA.
As an actor, Saunders hated being typecast in Aboriginal roles, but in 
her role as activist she helped set up the Black Theatre and the 
Aboriginal Theatre Trust.
In 1991 Saunders was awarded an Order of Australia for services to the 
performing arts and the National Aboriginal Theatre.
She died in a Sydney hospital after a battle with cancer.
NORMAN KAYE JAN 17 1927 – MAY 29 2007
To quote from the obituary in The Melbourne Age:
Behind closed doors, Norman Kaye, a man blessed with a remarkable array 
of artistic gifts, would describe himself as ‘Norman Kaye, star of stage 
and screen, star of Carson's Law, Prisoner and Cop Shop’. The ironic 
twinkle in his eye and his playful emphasis on those roles for which he 
will be least remembered were typical of a gentle, self-effacing 
individual who quietly contributed much to Australian cultural life.
Born during the Depression, to a mentally ill mother and Boer war 
veteran father, Kaye triumphed over early adversity when his musical 
precocity was recognised by the organist of Melbourne’s St Paul’s 
cathedral. After a period of study at no less a venue than Notre Dame de 
Paris, and awards for both the organ and conducting, a homesick Kaye 
returned to Australia to work as a school music teacher and choirmaster. 
This steady employment enabled him to branch out into another passion, 
that of acting. Unfazed by the lure of commercial success, he was happy 
playing in small theatres, but it was in these very places that he 
became known to the artistic circles of the day. They recognised his 
natural talent and the rest was history. A list of Kaye’s TV work is 
like an encyclopaedia of Aus TV through the ages: just a selection his 
shows includes Division 4, Homicide, Power Without Glory, Flying 
Doctors, A Country Practice, Bangkok Hilton, Water Rats and Murder Call. 
In Prisoner he played Ron Watkins (son-in-law of ‘Mum’ Brookes). He was 
a life-long friend of Australian film director Paul Cox, and went on to 
appear in many of Cox’s films, including Lonely Hearts, Man of Flowers, 
and A Woman’s Tale (Sheila Florance’s final
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film). For Man of Flowers Kaye won the AFI Best Actor award in 1983; as 
a measure of his self-deprecating whimsy, he used the award as a 
doorstop. Not content with appearing in films, he was a notable composer 
of film scores. In 2006, with Kaye in the advanced stages of the 
Alzheimer’s disease that had brought his career to an end, Cox paid 
moving tribute by directing the SBS documentary The Remarkable Mr Kaye. 
Kaye’s partner of 35 years, opera director Elke Neidhart, was by his 
side at his death. In the words of Fabian Muir:
He was more than a man of flowers, actor and musician. He was a man of 
compassion, humanity, modesty, spontaneity, wit and wonderful 
imagination, and a man who could fly a Tiger Moth, place a pinpoint drop 
kick and bowl a befuddling flipper. For those living in an age fixated 
on the artifices of short-lived celebrity, Kaye's death, at 80, gives 
pause to reflect on another loss to a more humble generation and the 
lasting legacy of a true gentleman actor.
DAVID NETTHEIM 1925- MARCH 16 2008
We were sad to learn of the recent death of veteran actor David 
Nettheim. Born to founding members of the Independent Theatre, Nettheim 
and his four siblings all appeared on stage at some time over the years. 
After a stint in radio theatre (where he worked with future Goon Michael 
Bentine) and scriptwriting, Nettheim became involved in creation of the 
Mercury Theatre, the Metropolitan Theatre and the Phillip Street Theatre 
(for whom he wrote popular revues). In 1956 he relocated to London, and 
worked solidly for two decades, mostly on stage (he played Chaucer in 
the West End for three years), but also on many of the popular TV shows 
of the day: The Adventures of Long John Silver, The Saint, The Baron, 
The Avengers, Doctor Who, The Prisoner and Z-Cars to name but a few.
Nettheim returned to Australia in 1977 following a successful tour with 
John Thaw and Sheila Hancock. His later TV appearances included Sons and 
Daughters, A Country Practice, and Wildside. He played three characters 
in Prisoner: after small roles as a teacher and then a magistrate (at 
Lizzie’s arson trial) came the infamous George Logan, the crooked 
businessman who torched his ‘shoe factory’ for the insurance money and 
framed Barbara Fields for the crime.
In addition to his stage and screen work, he was actively involved in 
Actors Equity, first as Federal Treasurer, then Co-Vice President, and 
also dedicated himself to raising money and awareness for the Actors' 
Benevolent Fund.