A Country Practice star Lorrae Desmond dies at 91
Tributes are pouring in for the two-time Logie award winning actress Lorrae Desmond.
Two-time Logie winning actress and singer Lorrae Desmond has died aged 91.
The Australian showbiz icon was best known for her role as Shirley Dean Gilroy on hit TV show A Country Practice, where she appeared in 816 episodes from 1981 to 1992.
Born Beryl Hunt in 1929, Desmond was raised in Mittagong, NSW, but moved to Britain with her family at age 10.
After carving her career as a young performer on shows scattered across the BBC, Desmond represented the UK in the 1957 Eurovision song contest before returning to Australia in 1960.
While her role in A Country Practice secured her position as a household name in Australia, she was already well established in showbusiness.
She became the first woman to win the TV Week Gold Logie in 1962, being recognised for her own musical variety program The Lorrae Desmond Show.
Her performance in A Country Practice landed her a second Logie as Best Supporting Actress in a Series, in 1984.
Desmond also had a brief stint on Home And Away in 1997, when she played Donald Fisher’s mother, Isobel Dupre.
An Order of the British Empire was awarded in 1970 to Desmond for her services to entertainment, after touring Vietnam to entertain troops.
In January this year, she received an Order of Australia (AM) for her services to the performing arts.
New Zealand singer Dinah Lee, a close friend of Desmond, released a statement on Sunday to offer her condolences.
“My beautiful friend and a true Australian legend passed away today,” Lee said.
“We toured Vietnam together in 1967 and remained friends to this day.
“My thoughts and love to your family, friends and your many fans.
“Rest in peace Lorrae Desmond.”
Shane Withington, a fellow cast mate on A Country Practice who played nurse Brendan Jones until 1986, tweeted: “Vale Lorrae Desmond. Enormous heart. Enormous talent.
“We all loved her.”
Wendy Strehlow, who won a Logie for her role as Sister Judy Loveday on the show, said Desmond “was my mentor, my friend and an unending source of wisdom, grace and style”.
Third senior exit at CFMEU administration
The exit came as confidential documents show the union’s national office was in deficit and the SA branch insolvent.
Flood warnings issued as Cyclone Zelia downgraded
Tropical cyclone Zelia has been downgraded but heavy rainfall continues to lash parts of northwest WA, where severe weather and emergency warnings remain in place.