Most Friday nights, over the last 5 years, a program is shown at 8pm on the ABC Television channel called “The Collectors”.
As the name implies the half hour program features Australian personal collections. The first quarter of an hour covers a main collection and the three members of the panel then ask the collector questions.
In December, I had been filmed, along with my collection and had been invited to the studio in January. Before that we had a four-way hook up between Andy (the presenter), Adrian and Nicole (two members of the panel) and myself. I was very nervous but Andy said “We are pleased with the film already shot and are looking forward to seeing you in the studio”. They asked a load of questions and I did my best to give entertaining answers. After 20 minutes the nerve-racking call was over and I could breath again - oh what a relief.
January 15th came round all too quickly and I loaded my suitcase, full of unusual clothes pegs into the free hire car to the airport. The one-hour flight to Hobart passed uneventfully and DB and I were soon on our way to a motel in the heart of the small city. We had a quick walk around the city centre and then down to the waters edge for a meal.
We had an early breakfast before being picked up for the short trip to the studio. DB was concerned about being in the way but they assured us she would find the day interesting. I was just nervous but the day started well. I met and chatted to Andy in the car park, he put me at my ease and I began to relax a little.
After having a talk with Adrian and Nicole it was time to go to makeup for a light powdering to tone down my shiny forehead. Then we went into a preview room to see the excellent film that had been shot in December and then the panel listened to some of the humourous experiences I have had whilst collecting.
Still feeling a bit tense I was led into the studio where a clothesline was set up replete with a multitude of my more unusual pegs.
Under hot blinding lights and surrounded by at least 20 technicians operating cameras and sound equipment, Andy opened the show.
"What on earth are these huge pegs used for?”; "There is obviously a serious design side to pegs?"; "Which country has the most different pegs?” were just some of the questions fired at me during the half hour filming.
Back in the green room Adrian came and chatted with DB and me for at least an hour afterwards. He collects watches and we talked about my time at Smiths Industries in the UK.
Then, in a flurry of excitement, the next collector arrived. Franca Arena is a lovely lady who collects Chinese snuff bottles and in no time flat had us all entertained with these exquisite works of art so beautiful to look at and so expensive that we put them back in their box very carefully!
DB and I were driven back to the ABC headquarters and we had time for lunch and a few hours wandering around Hobart before headed to the airport for our short flight to a waiting car that whisked us back home.
We’d had a wonderfully interesting day and I am now waiting impatiently for the airing of the show.
If you are in Australia, watch the ABC at 8 p.m. on February 22nd 2008
