Wendy Harmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wendy Harmer
Wendy Harmer in 2014
Born	Wendy Brown (1955-10-10) 10 October 1955 (age 69) Yarram, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	Writer, comedian, journalist
Nationality	Australian
Years active	1982−present
Notable works	It's a Joke, Joyce (1989)
Spouse	Brendan Donohoe
Children	2

Wendy Harmer (born Wendy Brown on October 10, 1955) is a well-known Australian writer, comedian, journalist, and TV and radio personality. She is famous for her funny performances and for writing popular books, especially for children.

Growing Up and Starting Out

Wendy Harmer was born in Yarram, Australia. She grew up in many small towns across Victoria, including Warncoort and Geelong. Her father was a teacher. Wendy studied journalism at the Gordon Institute of TAFE and Deakin University. She then started her career as a reporter for the Geelong Advertiser newspaper.

Her Career in Comedy and TV

Wendy moved to Melbourne to work for The Sun News-Pictorial newspaper. While working there, she discovered a comedy group and decided to try stand-up comedy herself. She is known as one of the first Australian women to become a stand-up comedian.

Wendy quickly became a popular comedian, performing in her own shows like Faking It and Sunburn Bloody Sunburn. She was also part of the first Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1987. She has served on the boards of important theatres like the Belvoir Theatre.

TV Shows and Festivals

Wendy first appeared on TV in a children's show called Trap, Winkle and Box. She then joined the funny political TV series The Gillies Report. Later, she became the host of the ABC TV show The Big Gig, which featured many famous comedians. She also hosted her own talk show, In Harmer's Way.

Wendy performed at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland four times. This included her one-woman show Love Gone Wrong, which was very successful and even moved to a theatre in London. She also appeared on the UK TV show Friday Night Live.

In 2005, Wendy was featured in an episode of Australian Story. This show followed her trip to Fiji with a medical team from Interplast, helping people there. She also performed her stand-up show Up Late and Loving It in Sydney.

Radio Star

In the mid-1980s, Wendy started her radio career at 3AK. In 1993, she joined 2Day FM and co-hosted the popular breakfast radio show The Morning Crew for 11 years.

In 2016, Wendy returned to radio, presenting the morning program on ABC Radio Sydney with Robbie Buck. They decided to leave the show in October 2021 after working together for three years.

Writing Books

Wendy Harmer is a successful author for both adults and children. She has written seven books for adults, including It's a Joke, Joyce (1989) and Farewell My Ovaries (2005). Her books are often described as light, humorous novels.

Pearlie the Park Fairy

Wendy is especially famous for her series of children's books called Pearlie the Park Fairy. There are 17 books in this series, and they are very popular in Australia. They have been published in ten countries around the world.

The Pearlie books were even turned into an animated TV series, which has been shown in Australia, Canada, and America. Wendy also adapted the first book, Pearlie in the Park, into a play that toured Australia.

She has also written novels for teenagers, such as I Lost My Mobile at the Mall (2009) and its sequel, I Made Lattes for a Love God (2012).

Other Writing

Besides her books, Wendy has written two plays: Backstage Pass and What Is the Matter With Mary Jane?. She also wrote the words for an opera called Lake Lost.

Wendy has written for many Australian magazines and newspapers, sharing her thoughts and opinions in columns.

She also contributed to books like Destroying The Joint: Why Women Have To Change The World. In 2011, Wendy started a website called The Hoopla, which was a news and opinion site for Australian women. It closed in 2015.

Television Projects

Wendy hosted The Big Gig and her own chat show, In Harmer's Way. She also co-starred in the World Series Debate with Andrew Denton. In 2008, Wendy produced, wrote, and presented a four-part TV documentary series called Stuff for ABC TV. The same year, she started writing for the animated Pearlie series, based on her books. She wrote many episodes and even voiced a character.

Her Views and Beliefs

Wendy Harmer has shared her political views, describing herself as someone who believes in fairness for everyone. She has spoken about her concerns regarding public services and taxes. She believes that different political views are important for progress.

Supporting People with Disabilities

Wendy was a member of the National People with Disabilities and Careers Council. This group advised the Australian Government on how to help people with disabilities. She was also an ambassador for Interplast, an organization that provides medical help.

Personal Beliefs

Wendy grew up in a family that didn't follow a specific religion. Her father was a humanist, meaning he focused on human values and reason. However, Wendy has said she is interested in different religions and beliefs. Her two children have been confirmed into the Catholic Church.

Personal Life

Wendy Harmer is married to Brendan Donohoe, and they have two children. She is also a co-founder of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles' Angels, a group of women who support the local rugby league team.

Awards

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards recognize achievements in live entertainment in Australia. Wendy Harmer won one of these awards.