FIRST PERSON

RHONDA BURCHMORE ENTERTAINER

I was happiest when … I used to spend school holidays at our weekender by the beach with our extended family down on the south coast of NSW. We’d swim, fish, play on the beach for hours and do daily bushwalks and feed the kangaroos in our backyard.

You wouldn’t know it but … I’m a very keen fisherwoman. I throw off the sequins and false eyelashes and get into my shorts and T-shirt and go fishing – it’s my fave R&R. My most embarrassing moment … was falling over after singing the national anthem at the Melbourne Cup to an estimated 65 million audience when it was televised all over the world. The last time

I cried was … today – I miss my beautiful sister and mum who have recently passed away. The last book I read was … Peggy Lee’s autobiography Fever. My favourite films are … Titanic, Jaws, The Bridges of Madison County, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? I

really want to … have my own crazy sitcom or reality show on TV with my bestie Lara Mulcahy – we are hilarious together. My guilty pleasure is … French champagne. Life has taught me … you’re only here for a short time – make it count! I’m about to … go on tour around the country with my bestie Lara in

ABBAsolutely Fabulous. Our first dates are in Tasmania – I can’t wait to spend time with the locals.

My first job was … selling toffee apples and fairy floss at the Royal Easter Show when I was 15. My most

memorable work-related moment is … squeezing into my white Lycra jumpsuit and platform boots and belting out 23 ABBA songs with Lara – we celebrate friendship and girl power. What I enjoy most about

my work is … the love and response I receive from the audience when I perform live.

Rhonda Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy’s show ABBAsolutely Fabulous will be on at Launceston’s Country Club on Friday, September 28, at 8pm and Hobart’s Wrest Point on Saturday, September 29, at 8pm. Tickets from $61. ticketmaster.com.au