Young
Talent Time Uber Fan Debbie
Gray talks about why Young
Talent Time was so special for
her.
To be honest, I don't know where to start with my memories of
YTT. My whole
childhood revolved around them. I was your typical devoted fan.
I discovered YTT when my family moved from England to Brisbane in February
1982. I was 7 years old. There was an instant connection between myself
and YTT. A budding dancer myself, I really admired these kids who were so
talented and I just loved to watch them perform. At the time I didn't
appreciate that there was only just a couple of years between myself and the
members I idolised so much. I felt they were so much older than me and I
looked up to them.
I used to tape the shows each week and play them back continuously, dancing
round the living room pretending I was one of them. Vanessa was my first
favourite member. She was so bubbly and seemed to enjoy everything she did
so much. Then after she left, it was young Courtney who filled her place!
So full of life and such a strong voice for someone so young.
Over the years, I collected anything I could to do with
YTT. Scanlens
cards, albums, annuals, place mats, folders etc spending all my pocket money
on YTT stuff. My enthusiasm soon rubbed off - my mum was a fan too, her
favourites were Tina Arena and Lorena. She also appreciated the talent and
energy YTT radiated and joined in my enthusiasm for the team.
I remember they used to do free concerts in shopping centres but my first
concert, seeing them live, was in Albert Park in Brisbane. Just my
mum and I. I couldn't believe they were actually in Brisbane, and it was
free! We sat for hours in the sun making sure we kept the almost front row
seats we had, not daring to move! But during the afternoon, before the
concert, some of the team came up to the wire fence at the side of the
stage. I rushed over to try and catch a glimpse. I couldn't believe my
luck - here were my idols, willing to say hello and thanking us fans for
coming and sitting for so long. That was something the team always managed
to do - make you feel important, as if their fans really mattered to them.
I started writing to my favourite members. Courtney and Juanita were
first. Telling them how much I loved the show and how I never missed an
episode. Telling them what songs and dances of theirs I enjoyed the best.
It was a long wait, but the first time I got that envelope with "please rush
this letter from the Young Talent Team" across the top, I ran round to my
friend's house hardly able to speak or breathe, I was so excited. After
that, I wrote numerous letters to Courtney and Juanita and then Natalie too.
Sending birthday or Christmas cards and always got replies with fan cards.
I felt so special. I still have these letters (& envelopes!). Most of them
in their own handwriting. But even the photocopies had personal touches
added. The most special one was from Juanita. My friend and I had been to
the Concert at Boondall. We spent weeks making and painting posters for
Courtney, Juanita and Joey. In my letter to Juanita after that concert I
told her how we had made these posters and asked (rather naively!) if she'd
seen hers. To my delight, she added in her own writing at the end "thanks
for the posters, I did see them!".
The most treasured memory of all, is realising my dream and finally getting
to actually meet the team.
In 1988, when I was almost 14, my mum and dad announced we were moving back
to Britain to live. I was devastated. I would be leaving Young Talent
Time behind. I felt I was losing a part of me, I'd grown up with them, felt
I knew them all personally. Mum knew how much they meant to me so she
contacted them to try and arrange a meeting. She kept the whole thing from
me, right up until the day they phoned to agree to it. I couldn't believe
what I was hearing. I would be meeting my idols, one to one, just for me?
In one way, that almost made it harder to leave them behind, not easier.
They sent confirmation by letter along with a whole load of fan cards!
Mum bought me a whole new outfit to wear. I was determined to look trendy
and not embarrass myself. I felt sick for days with
excitement. What with all the hype around them coming to Expo and I couldn't tell anyone I was
getting to meet them. I thought I'd burst. The day I was to meet them was
on the morning of their concert at Expo 88. It was at Lennons Hotel in
Brisbane and I was only allowed to take one person in with me. Dad came to
take photos. I wasn't the only one getting to meet them. That Saturday
morning when we arrived in the Hotel, there was a little girl much younger
than I was with her mum. She looked like she had cancer or
leukemia. I
guess the team were making her special dream come true too. She's in some
of the photos I have. We were waiting in the lobby and I caught sight of
Mark coming in and drew my breath in out loud, in amazement. I was so
embarassed, he mimicked me jokingly. Then the team started to filter down
from upstairs. One by one but Juanita and Rikki came down together. I just
clammed up. I wanted so much to talk to them but could hardly open my
mouth. I did finally with Dad's help, manage to ask them to autograph my
scrap book I'd brought with me. They were actually nearly as shy as I was!
Bevan was good fun. He tried to break the ice and encouraged photos. All
too soon, it was over and they had to leave. We too left. Mum and Dad got
us tickets for Expo that day so that my friend and I could go to the concert
at night too. Walking over to Expo, the team bus drove past and I'm sure
some of them waved!!? We spent the day on the rides. We kept bumping into
the team around the park and they always smiled and waved. The concert that
night was just amazing. The atmosphere was electric - you could feel the
excitement in everyone around you. Then the lights went out and everyone
screamed their hearts out willing them to come on stage. Once it started,
with the biggest bang of fireworks lighting up the stage, we sang out loud
to all the songs, word perfect, doing the actions with each dance. Everyone
around us was the same! It had been a long day and I was totally drained by
the end of the night but what a brilliant end to a fantastic day!
I felt so privileged to have been a part of that.
I was gutted to hear they were axing YTT and still can't believe it wasn't
pulling in the ratings. I couldn't say what the secret ingredient to their
appeal is, but I know no other programme could copy it! They were genuinely
talented kids given the chance to shine with a host who was as familiar to
you as your own dad. It's one of those rare treasures Australia seems to
have buried somewhere where no one else can appreciate it anymore. What a
loss.
My mum moved back to Australia last year and told me about the documentary
just televised about them. She has taped it for me and it's on it's way
over to me but she did tell me about Juanita. My heart sank. It really
has taken the wind from me. I still can't believe it, my heart goes out to
her family. I now have a 10 month old daughter, Olivia, and do you know
what? She too will be shown the magic of YTT for as long as my videos will
last!
I was gutted to hear they were axing YTT and still can't believe it wasn't
pulling in the ratings. I couldn't say what the secret ingredient to their
appeal is, but I know no other programme could copy it! They were genuinely
talented kids given the chance to shine with a host who was as familiar to
you as your own dad. It's one of those rare treasures Australia seems to
have buried somewhere where no one else can appreciate it anymore. What a
