LISTENING to the voice of Kendall centenarian Kay Mayne, you can't help but become drawn in with her articulation, intonation and resonance, legacy of a radio and acting career.
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Thankfully at last week's 100th birthday celebration at Kendall Services Club I was able to grab a few minutes in between countless words of congratulations, hugs and kisses to chat to her about some of the things she has achieved in her life.
Truth be told I would need considerably longer to really do the life of Kay Mayne justice.
Kay was born at Maclean on the North Coast of NSW on August 22, 1914. She lived at Ulmarra on the Clarence River with her parents Sydney and Ida Cook. The day she was born was just a few days before World War I began.
Kay went to public school in Quirindi and later to Brisbane Girls' High School, studying English, arithmetic, history, geography, algebra, music and sewing.
"The classes were very straightforward," she said.
"They certainly were not taught in the interesting manner that they are today."
She also played netball, tennis and later golf, participated in athletics and was a dancer.
Kay first went to the cinema when she was 10 years old. Her grandfather, Samuel Cook, who had been general manager of the Sydney Morning Herald, had a retirement job as manager of the Empire Theatre. She remembers vividly watching the silent stars such as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino and Tom Mix of Hopalong Cassidy fame. The first talking movie she saw The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson.
Kay's first job was at the Australian BroadÂcasting Commission is Brisbane as a voice actor in plays and serials. She was paid two guineas a week, close to $4 in today's money. She also recalled taking to the stage acting professionally with some of the popular international thespians to visiting Australia.
Kay was not going to commit to listing the most memorable things that have happened in her life.
"Everything is just so fast paced now. Whether or not that is a good thing is irrelevant. Things change. It's that simple."
What hasn't changed, however, has been the love she has for, and from, her family.
Kay and husband John had three children, Robert, Peter and Gillian. Kay and John were married at St Mary's Church, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, in 1940.
Kay lived with Gillian at Kendall until Gillian died in 2011. There was really no question about Kay moving from Kendall, so one of her six grandchildren, Gillian's son, Shannon, became her carer and she remains where she loves.
"I love Kendall so much. The community, the people. It's incredible. I would not want to live anywhere else," Kay said.
