The girl from Oz

COLLEEN HEWETT is enjoying a well-deserved break following back-to-back seasons of the smash hit musicals, The Boy from Oz, in which she performed alongside Hugh Jackman, and Shout! with Tim Campbell, Mark Holden and John Paul Young.

For the much-loved veteran performer, whose singing career began on her 12th birthday when she took the stage at her local town hall in country Victoria, unwinding means gardening, sewing, spending time with her three children and “slopping around in sulus (a traditional dress like a sarong) and thongs” on her property in Fiji.

Career

Colleen was one of the most popular and successful artists in Australia during the 1970s.

In 1970 she won Bandstand's ‘Best Female Newcomer of the Year’ award and was signed to Festival Records. In 1971 she joined the cast of Godspell and her second single, Day By Day, went straight to Number One.

She was voted ‘Queen of Pop’ twice, has starred in several stage productions, including Pippin with John Farnham, released seven albums and continues to perform whenever her manager and first husband, Danny Finley can convince her to do so.

Confessing that she possesses very little ambition she chuckles, “I fall into things totally by accident or get talked into doing them.”

Colleen: Since 2000 I’ve been waiting to move to Fiji for the rest of my days. I am still waiting. (The move was put on hold due to the coup against the elected Fijian government and has continued to be postponed because of her career demands.)

SL: Do you long for the Fijian lifestyle?

Colleen: Actually, I don’t long for anything. I never have. I always do what I love and from a very early age I have absolutely loved singing.

Motherhood

No persuasion was needed to convince Colleen that the roles she was offered in The Boy from Oz and Shout! were made for her.

Colleen: It was the fact that they were both mothers (Peter Allen’s and Johnny O’Keefe’s). I wanted to play mothers with huge hearts.

SL: Did a lot of research go into those roles?

Colleen: Not at all. I am a mother; I know how mothers tick. I know how they encourage their kids and instil into them all the positives in life and try to keep them on a straight path.

I should have had 12 kids. That’s what I wanted but I never got the time.

SL: What is the key to good parenting?

Colleen: I think I was just honest with my kids and whatever they wanted to know or try I was there and we did it together.

I don’t know if I did it right or wrong. All I know is that they are all well, happy and lovely people to be around.

SL: What is one of the most important things you’ve taught them?

Colleen: I have always said, if it feels wrong in your gut don’t do it.

Philosophising

Colleen describes her childhood as “incredibly happy.” In order to make ends meet both parents worked very hard but she never heard them complain. She laments the passing of an era in which there was a strong work ethic.

Colleen: In general there is no work ethic today but this industry (entertainment) is an exception. A strong work ethic and discipline go with the territory.

SL: You’ve taken several breaks during your career.

Colleen: Sometimes I simply needed to regroup and other times I couldn’t get work. The mortgage, the car payment and school fees had to be paid and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get a job.

The problem was that I’d been around for so long doing the same songs over and over again and there came a time where I had to say no. Then when I needed to work again it was hard to crank it up.

SL: Does ageism exist in the entertainment industry?

Colleen: No. I am 57 and have just done two of the biggest shows in my life.

SL: Who do you credit for helping you get to where you are today?

Colleen: From a personal perspective I’d have to give full credit to me for making the right choices. I am pretty proud of myself for coming through all the highs, the lows and the crooked bits unscathed.

From a performance perspective the credit goes to Danny Finley.

Retirement?

Retirement, although not on Colleen’s agenda, is not a dirty word.

Colleen: I plan to be busy, busy, busy!

I won’t allow my hair to go grey, I won’t wear dentures if I can help it and I’ll take everything on the chin.

SL: What’s your recipe for staying young?

Colleen: Keep life uncomplicated. Always have something to look forward to and if you have a problem roll with it and deal with it.