Katherine Hynes, a former Jacaranda Queen and announcer for 2GF, is pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. David Bancroft, her former colleague and editor of the Daily Examiner, recently spoke to Katherine about how her experience at 2GF has helped her acting career. Katherine says the skills she learned from her radio job, such as speaking confidently and presenting herself professionally, have been valuable in Hollywood.

1. User: david_bancroft Time: 03-25-2010 09:43 Product: EDE PubDate: 20-03-2010 Zone: All Edition: Main Page: CL_LIFE_04 Color: C
K
Y
M
Former Jacaranda Queen and 2GF announcer Katherine Hynes is slowly carving out an acting career in one of
Letters the most competitive places in the world. Katherine’s former colleague and Daily Examiner editor David Land of
of love Bancroft recently caught up with the aspiring actor who says her days at 2GF have come in pretty handy...
plenty to do
and war
Reporting from L
ately at work New
Zealand seems to
Title: Au Revoir My be the flavour of
the month. Every
Title: Darling second person walking
GRAFTON
TRAVEL
Author: Heather through the door wants to
inquire or go to New Zea- Corey Bertalli
Author: Haughton land. So I thought it would
Publisher: New Holland
Hollywood
be a good chance to write a their New Zealand walking
little bit about our next holiday and what has be-
Price: $26.95 door neighbours and why come known as the ‘Flash-
S
so many people are in- packer’ experience.
EPARATED by war but terested in holidaying If you are not into ad-
bound by love, Eileen across ‘the ditch’. venture holidays and pref-
and Ken McFarlane David Bancroft
What do you think of er a slower paced break so
wrote to one another when you hear someone you can recharge the bat-
T
every week of his six-year ser- mention a holiday in New teries then the Marlbo-
vice in a war hospital during HE voice on the America and something went you need to learn how to do Zealand? Do you think it is rough District of New
World War II. other end of the off in my head and I thought your make-up’ – I was crushed. for the ‘older’ generation? Zealand might be for you.
Their letters, since inherited phone, half way ‘she’s right and that’s some- “So the next thing he hands One that is happy to sit on It is well known for its fine
by their daughter, are both funny around the world, thing I’d like to do with my me the name of the make-up a coach and be taken from wines and excellent cui-
and moving, a richly descriptive was unmistakable. life’,” she said. artist that I have to go and see, town to town visiting bo- sine. It’s a bit like the Hun-
reflection of the experience of Even a decade after most in “I couldn’t leave it alone, it then he hands me this card tanical gardens and in bed ter Valley with a winery
the Clarence Valley last heard
being separated from those you
love for a lengthy period of time. of her and close to two decades
was just this thought in my
head and I said to my husband I can’t tell you and said ‘this is Anastasia of
Beverley Hills. She does Ma-
by 9pm? Or is it a place
where you land at the
every few kilometres. They
offer wine tasting tours
Stationed first in Victoria
before being sent to Syria, Pal-
since her voice was familiar in
kitchens around the Clarence
‘would you ever be interested
in moving to Los Angeles?’.
how many donna’s make-up and I want
you to go to her’.
airport, jump in a car or and a cellar door for you to
campervan and head out to sample and purchase their
estine and New Guinea, Ken
vividly conveys the physical and
Valley, there was no mistaking
the assured, clear and cultured
“I’ll pursue acting and you times I’ve “That’s how I got a start in explore what the country wares. Accommodation is
pursue your directing and we this market.” has to offer? Maybe you mainly B & Bs where you
emotional hardship of wartime, voice of Katherine Hynes as thought about it for a few days auditioned Katherine said it was the see New Zealand as a place will get to know the locals
his yearning to be reunited with she spoke of her leap of faith and thought ‘you know what, experience she got while work-
his family never far beneath the into the Los Angeles acting let’s give it a go’.” (and got the ing as a radio announcer at
where you go for a ski
holiday. Whatever you
while you relax in your
own little cottage or room
scene.
surface of his writing.
Eileen’s letters, equally mov- It is a leap that, for now at
So they both entered the
‘Green Card lottery’ to get role) ... 2GF that helped get many of
her roles, particularly her
believe one thing is for
certain, it has got some-
overlooking the vineyards
and mountains in the back-
ing, tell of the challenges so
many war wives faced, adopting
least, is paying off.
Going to Tupperware par-
approval to work in the United
States and three years later
because of my latest role as a newsreader in
Empress Vampire.
thing for everyone. ground. You might even
If you like the great feel you are in France
the role of breadwinner and
caring for their families on their
ties on the beach with Brooke
Shields, lining up with the now
were in Los Angeles looking voice and that “I can’t tell you how many outdoors and adventure instead of New Zealand.
for work. times I’ve auditioned and it’s then New Zealand has For me, a trip to New
own. Taking up poultry farming demure former Sex Pistol It is four years this month (2GF radio) been because of my voice and some of the finest walking Zealand involves seeing as
to provide an income, she must Johnny Rotten and getting since they made the jump and that training on air,” she said.
learn to build chicken sheds, acting roles in commercials the experience has been training on air. Despite her success in LA,
tracks around. The pictu-
resque Queen Charlotte
much as I can with the
time available and if there
deal with recalcitrant chooks, and movies has meant the 1986 ‘amazing’. Katherine said her children track, the challenging was a chance for a game of
quell family tantrums and con- Jacaranda Queen is finding “I guess if you are embark- an agent or agents – an essen- kept her feet firmly on the Milford track are but two golf then I wouldn’t say no.
trol her two precocious daught- her feet in the world’s most ing on something as drastic as tial ingredient to success in ground. of many. I had friends come Driving through the ever
ers. cut-throat show business this you are opening yourself Los Angeles. “They give you a lot of ba- back from walking the changing countryside,
Bringing the Australian home scene. up to all sorts of things – good After sending out about 150 lance in your life,” she said. Queen Charlotte track at seeing mountains with
front to life, Au Revoir My Dar- And she credits a large part and bad – but I thought I don’t letters, headshots and resumes “Even though I’ve got scripts Christmas and the photos snow covered tops,
ling is a moving ing tale of a love of that success to the educa- want to get to age 80 and never she got a call from one of the to read and things to do work- they took of the scenery streams and rivers that are
and entertain- tion and training she received have given it a go,” she said. biggest commercial agents in wise, my main concern is ‘what made me want to jump on crystal clear, stopping in
that lasted a while in the Jacaranda City. “So even though I think we LA, the Daniel Hoff Agency, am I going to do for dinner a plane and head there small towns, and meeting
six year sep- Katherine, now married to become adults, we get married and auditioned alongside 150 tonight?’.” immediately. They said the the locals at the village
aration under film director Ian Stevenson and we’ve got kids, I think it’s others in front of camera and No discussion with Kathe- walk was not hard and hotel in the evenings is
the hardest of and with two children – Amira still important to have some thought she would hear no rine Hynes would be complete they only averaged about 8 what makes a good holiday
conditions, Stevenson-Hynes, 11, and Noah aspirations or some dreams, or more. without talking about the to 10 kilometres a day for for me.
told first Stevenson-Hynes, 9, got the just wanting to get more out of Then she got a call asking Jacaranda Festival documen- five days. Some women I The best thing is New
hand inspiration to move to the life and I’m so glad I’ve done her to meet Daniel Hoff and tary Purple Haze that brought know would do that in a Zealand is not an expen-
through the United States while doing that.” this time there were only two her infamy among many in sold day’s shopping. The sive destination for us
letters that acting training in Sydney. But you can’t just land in more in the office. Grafton who objected to the friends stayed in accommo- Aussies to visit thanks to
kept that The lecturer asked who Hollywood as a stranger and “He said every month he way it portrayed the festival. dation, got up in the morn- our exchange rate and with
love alive. wanted to work in film hope for the best. To get work would get about 2000 submis- Although many loved it, ing and enjoyed a hearty it only being about three to
and most students put requires work and Katherine sions from want-to-be actors in others didn’t and she admits Breakfast and then set off four hours away by plane
up their hand only to soon realised she had to learn Los Angeles, he said ‘I choose she is still surprised by the to the next stop along the you can travel there for a
be told if they want-
win.
the lay of the land in order to up to 200 people to audition, reaction. track. These people have short break or a month.
ed a career in film get into the industry. sometimes I would choose zero “I’m very sensitive and always enjoyed adventure Whatever you do I’m sure
they were in the When she arrived in Los from that pile and sometimes I really sorry that some people holidays, walking and once you’ve had a taste of
To win a copy of this book fill out the wrong country. Angeles Katherine enrolled in would choose up to three, and were upset about the film backpacking through many what New Zealand has to
coupon and tell us one of places Ken “She said acting school and started you’re my three for this because I just know that pe- overseas destinations. offer, you’ll keep going
was stationed. Send your entry to you need talking to people who ran month’,” she said. ople who know me know that I They thoroughly enjoyed back for more.
The Daily Examiner by next Wednes- A promotional photo of former Jacaranda Queen Katherine Hynes. to be in those schools about how to get “He said ‘Katherine Hynes, wouldn’t intentionally go out
day. A winner will be announced in to send somebody up or hurt
next week’s Clarence Life. somebody,” she said.
And finally, what do you buy
Name:............................................ at a Brooke Shields Tupper-
ware party?
Address: ........................................ “You buy as much Tupper-
ware as possible and while
Phone: ........................................... you’re there you also have a
couple of pina coladas from a
Answer: ......................................... Tupperware tumbler and make
WINNER: WINNER: The Immortal sure you grab some of those
Life of Henrietta Lacks was won yummy cucumber boats
by Sura Jenks of Grafton. Books stuffed with lobster. Oh boy,
can be collected from The Daily As a newsreader in Empress Vampire. Katherine Hynes in Empress Katherine and family with former With Maureen McCormick aka Katherine Hynes with Brooke did I have a great day that
Examiner office. Vampire. Sex Pistol, Johnny Rotten. Marsha Brady. Shields. day?” ■ The vineyards of Marlborough, New Zealand, just
one of the diverse country’s attractions. PHOTO: AAP
22 27