LOCAL NEWS
DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH HELEN PERRY Helen Perry has been a journalist most of her life and is the magazine editor for Times Media. How has journalism changed over the years? Hugely - language constantly alters; it’s far less formal than 40 years ago. News priorities have changed in some areas and women’s place in journalism has progressed in leaps and bounds. Sadly, print advertising has slipped resulting in staff cuts for many publications thus reporting standards and range of news are not what they once were. How have you survived the pandemic? I certainly have survived Covid-19 but has my life changed? Not dramatically – I worked from home during lockdowns, enjoyed socially distanced street meets and I didn’t succumb to the fury of baking which beset so many! However, curtailed travel means I’ve sorely missed get-a-ways to Oz and the Pacific, but then I’ve had more opportunities to explore beautiful Aotearoa. What was your childhood like? Being a baby boomer, life was pretty simple and very happy. Living off Richmond Road, we didn’t have a car; we took the bus everywhere or walked. My mother sewed and knitted for us. The cake tins were always full, and on Thursdays Dad gave me a bag of sweets and 2/6d (25 cents) for my money box. At school, we banked weekly with the Auckland Savings Bank, drank supplied milk – cold in winter, hot in summer – and seldom wore shoes. We attended the Saturday matinee at the Esquire picture theatre (Richmond Road) or the Cameo in Surrey Crescent; 1/.6d (15 cents) bought a seat and an TT2 (ice block). I was presented with my first Louie heeled shoes when I was in Form 2 at Pasadena Intermediate, and suddenly I was all grown up! Dream holiday? Europe, but if I have to narrow it down - France, Italy, Greece, and I like a bit of luxury - no camping and no rising at 6am to ride on a bus all day. Hotels or apartments for me, plus a pool, good food, wine and plenty of sunshine together with a bit of history and local exploration. Bucket list? To live long enough to see my two grandsons (12 and nine) settled into careers. What other job would you like? Drive a tour bus. I’m a people person with the gift of the gab. I love our country and I love showcasing it to visitors. How would you like to be remembered? As a mother who loved her family, as a journalist who didn’t write half badly, and as a friend who would come to the rescue if she could. If you were an ice-cream, what flavour would you be? Neapolitan - I never liked that flavour but as my life is one third family, one third work, one third fun, it kind of fits. But forget the strawberry; I am definitely not the strawberry shortcake type and although I can be vanilla bland, at times there is a dark side to my nature and thoughts which I seldom share! Biggest disappointment? Never seeing the Beatles when they came to Auckland in 1964. Dream home? Not too big, (who wants to clean all day?) less of the ostentation, big windows, beautiful view, some natural stone features, more living space, less in the bedrooms and definitely a walk-in shower. Favorite hero of fiction? Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings - such an unpretentious little Hobbit who reluctantly takes on a Herculean task and, against all odds, accomplishes what must have seemed impossible. Who would be on your dream guest list for a dinner party? Golly, as a journo there’s a myriad of greats and not so greats I’d love to dine with, including the inimitable David Hartnell who would, of course, unseal his lips and regale us with many a tale. In addition, my table of eight might include the late Billy T who knew how to laugh at himself and was a very kind man; author Irma Bombeck whose books and outlook on life were practical and humorous; naturalist (and much more) David Attenborough who values every aspect of our planet and has shared it so magnificently; actress Brenda Blythen, who must bring Vera to the table too (and because we both love game shows); local singer Lisa Lorell whose international cabaret style covers songs from many decades and virtually every genre - what a performance she could give and, finally, I’d have to toss a coin between poets James J Baxter and Hone Tuwhare. I love their words and we would surely debate society and the world at large. (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM) PN
16 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)
