Smith, Kerry

Broadcaster Kerry Smith passed away on the 20th April, 2011 following a battle with cancer.

As well as playing Magda in Gloss, she worked as a television announcer, weather presenter, was the host of home improvement show Changing Rooms, and worked as host on radio station The Breeze.

TV presenter was meter maid at Surfers

Press, 28 April 1983

Kerry Smith, who present? '“Preview 2,” made her first appearance on television as one of the famous golden bikini-clad Surfers’ Paradise meter maids.

In the early 1970 s Auckland-born Keny had visited Surfers and decided it was the place for/ her. Undeterred by the fact that she was a New Zealander, trained as a hairdresser, with no public speaking experience, Kerry went back in mid-1974 and applied for one of the four positions as Surfers’ least-dressed and best-known public relations representatives.

Although Kerry was turned down twice, and friends insisted a New Zealander could never get the job, perseverance paid off, and on the third try, after studying the Gold Coast, Kerry was accepted. Apart from acting as meter maid Kerry was paid by the business association to put money in expired meters rather than give tickets — the job of a “Golden Girl” meant travelling around Australia speaking at hotels and conventions promoting the Gold Coast as a tourist resort. It also meant extensive television interviews and after one of these Kerry was offered a job as a weather girl for Channel 9 in Tasmania.

While working as, a weather girl, Kerry was also reading breakfast news on Radio 7EX. This in turn led to a position on a children’s television programme, “Razzamatazz,” a twice-weekly one-hour show with a live children’s audience. One of the most popular segments of the show was a report from a large “absolutely marvellous” rabbit called Rupert, and Rupert and Kerry travelled all over Australia gathering material for these reports.

For three years Kerry presented “Razzamatazz” and in 1979 the public voted her the most popular female television personality in Tasmania. To accept her award, Kerry was flown to the Hilton Hotel in Melbourne, where the Logie Awards are presented each year in a star-studded occasion with invited overseas stars presenting the awards. In 1979 these included Muhammed Ali, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth (from “Days of Our Lives”), Robin Williams (“Mork and Mindy”), Cicely Tyson and David Hemmings.

Two years ago Kerry returned home and six months ago applied for the job of continuity announcer. She was offered the position as presenter of “Preview 2,” which began with the new season in February. Kerry is a keen actress, and when not on screen is a member of the Howick Little Theatre.

Last year she received the Actress of the Year Award for her part as Pansy Pickford in a comedy called “Snap.” This year she is considering auditioning for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Kerry also loves classical music and jazzercise, which she does twice a week.