The successful journalist, columnist, radio broadcaster, TV host, author, playwright and comic performer said this year’s theme, ‘Embrace Equity’, is something we should always strive for and is proud of how far we’ve come.
“In the entertainment industry, women were always the butt of jokes and the comic roles were scarce; you were either a French maid being chased by a man or a woman in hair rollers with a rolling pin chasing him,” she said.
“But there’s been a huge explosion in amazing roles and opportunities since women started writing their own scripts and sitcoms; the landscape is really different now and this is what happens when you give women ‘equity’.”
Wendy said she’s been lucky to be in the box seat and watch so many women rise up through the industry and become comedy favourites like Magda Szubanski, Marg Downey, Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Maryanne Fahey and Judith Lucy.
“We can get a bit serious on International Women’s Day but I plan to make it fun in Revesby and a bit of a hoot; I’m looking forward to a few drinks, a good laugh and a memorable celebration,” she said.
But for the next couple of weeks, Wendy is continuing on with writing her memoir.
“I should have done it 30 years ago, it would have been easier,” she said with a laugh.
“And like Mikey Robbins once said to me when he was writing his memoir, ‘I’m 30,000 words in but I hate the lead character’ … I’m pretty sick of myself at the moment.”
The lunch will be on Wednesday, March 8, 11am. Tickets: $110 (including three-course lunch).
Bookings: rwc.org.au.
