The Audrey Story

Description

The hallmarks of Audrey Ewan's long and colourful career in journalism were an innate understanding of people and a good deal of common sense, peppered with a wicked sense of humour. The first woman press secretary from the Tourist and Publicity Department to be appointed to a cabinet minister - at the time Tourism Minister Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan - Mrs Ewan started working at Parliament in 1974 and struck up a lifelong friendship with the first woman parliamentary secretary, Margaret Haywood. Dr Haywood recalled Audrey getting on a small plane with Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan. Rob Muldoon, then leader of the opposition and later prime minister, was also a passenger, accompanied by his close parliamentary friend, Colin McLachlan. Mrs Tirikatane-Sullivan believed at the time that Mr Muldoon was having her followed, and alluded to that in the House, but it was strongly denied. Sitting beside Mr McLachlan on the plane, Audrey saw him lean over to Mr Muldoon on the other side of the aisle and ask, "Is the fellow following Whetu getting on this plane, too?". Glaring at Audrey, Mr Muldoon replied, "Shut up, you fool". Whenever Audrey passed Mr Muldoon in a corridor afterwards, he would glare at her - until he finally realised she was not going to do anything about it. Audrey learned the wisdom of "keeping mum" early on while working for Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan. Writing carefully worded speeches for the minister, she became accustomed to her boss ditching her speech notes halfway through an address and ad-libbing, leading Audrey to fearfully glance at newspaper stands on her way to work to see what fires she would have to put out. She also worked for National ministers, including Harry Lapwood, John Falloon and Warren Cooper. Along with growing up on a farm In Reefton, Audrey Ewan's Irish ancestry instilled a great sense of practicality in her along with a wicked sense of humour. On leaving school Audrey decided to become a teacher, but after her fiance died the week after their engagement, Audrey's career changed paths and she set her sights on journalism, which in turn led to ten years in Parliament. When She later returned to a colourful career in journalism with her no-nonsense attitude occasionally making headlines. About five years ago, she discovered she had cancer. It went into remission but returned about a year ago. Displaying her trademark courage, she remained cheerful and communicative with friends to the end.