Meet the LADIES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 25, 15 December 1939, Page 48

Meet the LADIES

Spencer Digby, photograph ONY LEE (" Shona" to her fans) : is petite, dark-haired and darkeyed, and with an_ attractive " pixyish" manner. "Shona" was born in Auckland, and educated at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School. On leaving school she acquired a job with an Auckland jewellery firm and remained there for several years. Then she went into business on her own account. It was a home cookery shop-and "if," she said emphatically, "anyone wants a death sentence-take up that work." She had to work very hard indeed, and it was with relief that she at last gave it up and joined the Commercial Broadcasting Service in 1937.

To begin with, "Shona" trained in Wellington as a receptionist during that year, until about September, when she was transferred to Dunedin as _ receptionist, and there she remained for twelve months until transferred back again to Wellington as Head Receptionist, In the morning "Shona" did her work as receptionist, and in the afternoon she worked on accounts, in that section; and even now, when she has her sessions to prepare as well, she still finds time for her accounts work. It was in November, 1938, that she went on the air in the children’s session with Bryan O’Brien. That year she .relieved Suzanne of her Shopping Reporter’s Session while the latter was on holiday, and then when John Batten went to Auckland in June, she took over his afternoon session, and has been doing it ever since. This session is purely a commercial one, a quarter-hour session at 4.30 every week-day afternoon. She has seven advertisers-which is a big increase on the number she started with, and she writes all copy and contracts these advertisers herself. She certainly handles this informative quarter-hour with success and efficiency — and fans seem agreed in approval of her sincere voice. Besides this regular session, she is now conducting the Christmas Shoppers’ Session every morning at 10.15 until Christmas. "Shona’s" biggest interest is her work-and her favourite pastime is gardening. She says she’s never™ happier than when. in .the garden. She is fond of children, and says that she quite understands. why they like to pull up plants-because she always wants to do so herself just to see how they're growing!