Gwen Plumb
Gwendoline Jean Plumb AM BEM (2 August 19125 June 2002), was an Australian performer of international appeal, actress and comedian active in literally every form of the art genre, (except circus) including revue, pantomime, vaudeville, interviewing, stage, radio, game shows, live appearances, television soap opera and mini-series and made-for-TV film. She was considered the Grand Dame of Australian entertainment, best known to local and international audiences in serial "The Young Doctors" as gossip Ada Simmonds, the ill-fated "Richmond Hill" as Mum Foote and the pilot of "Home and Away" as Doris Peters. Career. Gwen  started her career in 1930, with the Gwen Meredith drama club, she had her first well-known role as Emmie in the longest-running Australian radio serial "Blue Hills", and hosted a radio program on Australia's Macquarie Radio Network from 1945 to 1974. She also had a radio show in Sydney opposite Gordon Chater. She was well known for her celebrity interviews, including travelling to Europe to conduct recordings. Plumb had a long career in the theatre, was a cast member of the debut season of the Old Tote Theatre Company, travelled extensively overseas to interview celebrities for her  own radio programme, and once quipped that she "played in just about every form of public entertainment "except the circus"". She is probably best remembered for the Australian soap opera "The Young Doctors" as Ada Simmonds for its entire November 1976 – March 1983 run. She released a cook book, "What's" "Cooking with Ada," under her characters name in 1980"." Other notable roles were in the mini-series "The Harp in the South" and "Poor Man's Orange" in the mid 1980s. She acted in "Neighbours" as Mrs. Forbes in 1985, appearing in scenes opposite Alan Dale, with whom she  had starred in "The Young Doctors". She later played the key role of in the serial "Richmond Hill" as Mum Foote in 1988. Having agreed to act in the planned new series, Plumb was offered, and played in the pilot of another proposed series "Home and Away" as Doris Peters. When "Home and Away" also went into production, Plumb opted to honour her earlier agreement to do "Richmond Hill". The role of Mum Foote had been specially written with her in mind by show creator, Reg Watson. "Richmond Hill" had a run of just 12 months, and Plumb stayed with  the series for all of that time; "Home and Away" on the other hand is still running today. In 1995 Plumb returned to "Home and Away" for a number of episodes, playing a different character. Plumb also appeared in the mini-series "Stark", based on Ben Elton's novel of the same name. Personal life. Plumb's lifelong partner was Australian radio, stage and screen actress Thelma Scott, best known for serial "Number 96" as pompous socialite Clair Houghton. Plumb wrote her autobiography, "Plumb Crazy" which was published by Pan Macmillan in 1994. British and Australian honours. Plumb was awarded  a British Empire Medal in 1973, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993. Both awards recognised her community and charity work.