Colleen Rae talks about presenting the 2YA Children's Hour from 1953-1958

Rights Information
Year
1994
Reference
262419
Media type
Audio
Ask about this item

Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item

Rights Information
Year
1994
Reference
262419
Media type
Audio
Series
[Jim Sullivan - Sounds Historical interviews and other broadcast material]. 2014-04-10.
Categories
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio interviews
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Duration
00:11:06
Credits
RNZ Collection
Sullivan, Jim, 1946-, Interviewer
2YA (Radio station : Wellington, N.Z.)
Radio New Zealand National, Broadcaster

Jim Sullivan interviews Colleen Rae.

Rae explains how her strength in storytelling, interest in acting, experience with young children and typing skills assisted her in getting the Children’s Organiser position on 2YA’s Children’s Hour. Rae was responsible for writing and performing many of her own scripts and was able to record Outside Broadcasts when something of note happened like a visiting circus or ballet.

She says high points in her career were interviewing Baroness Von Trap and her son [prior to the Sound of Music fame] and Sir Edmund Hilary. Rae explains that YA [as opposed to YZ] had high English language expectations and was very careful with their content; theirs was a philosophy of education as much as entertainment.

Rae enjoyed receiving letters from listeners, of whom many were rurally based children, both in New Zealand and overseas. From these letters she was able to understand who her audience was and provide inclusive content. She shared her love of Shakespeare by adapting and simplifying plays, created competitions for children to enter and opportunities to visit the studio. Rae acknowledges New Zealand children appreciated homegrown material best.

She describes how she gave singer, Peter Bailey his first professional gig. Rae comments on the effects of the modern child’s “TV diet” and says she believes the child of 1994 to be more confident and articulate.