FINALS OF ORPHANS' TALENT QUEST AT 2ZB

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 49, 31 May 1940, Page 48

FINALS OF ORPHANS' TALENT QUEST AT 2ZB

First Prize Goes To 11-Year-Old Girl ELMA BLICK, a girl of eleven years of age, topped the poll in the Orphans’ Talent Quest. Her. singing of Brahm’s "Lullaby" gained her a cheque for £5/5/-, which has been deposited to her account in the Post Office Savings Bank. Reg. Morgan and Bryan O’Brien are’ quite sorry to end the quest. They -visited seven orphanages in all, and: were extended ‘much courtesy at each,..The last three Homes. visited, were _the Presbyterian Home, in Berhampore, — St. Joseph’s Orphanage, Upper "Hutt, and the Levin Memorial Home, Berhampore. Second prize was awarded to Neil Mulholland, of’ St. Joseph’s Orphanage, Upper Hutt, for his song "Londonderry Vale." Third prize went to Noel Daley, of the Anglican Boy’s Home, ‘who sang "Paddy McGinty’s Goat." + The Children’s Session at 2ZB was crowded out. one . evening recently, » when yan O’Brien, Lady Gay and Reg. Morgan all assisted in the prize-giving. There were children everywhere, and numbers of them crowded into the main studio to gain a place near the microphone. Reg. Morgan, ably ‘assisted by Bryan, thanked’ all. the listeners for their support, the Matrons of-the Homes for their co-opera-

tion, and the children for entering into the spirit of the quest so well.. The seven children who had gained a place for their Homes came into the studio "and

stood around the microphone. Records of the first. three voices were played,. and while the decision of the judges was being awaited, one or two items were rendered by the children.

Great applause greeted Reg.’s announcement that Velma Blick had won first prize. Velma spoke to listeners over the air, and to the children in the studio, and thanked Reg. and Bryan for their kindness to her, and 2ZB for their generosity. Bryan presented all the children with Post Office Saving books, with their prize money deposited, Just at that moment, a message was brought to Reg. in the studio, and he announced that he would like to read it out to listeners, as it contained such good news: "Tell Reg. Morgan and Bryan O’Brien that I think they have done great work, and this is one of the nicest gestures put over from 2ZB. I would like to show my appreciation by doubling the prize-money of the runnersup in. your. competition-yYours sincerely, Ben. Sutherland." Warm applause’ greeted this message, for it meant that: the children who came second and third received £2/2 each, and the four consolation prizes were then £1/10 each. It was a very happy ending to a successful talent quest from 2ZB. A note of special interest was given to the contest by the fact that Linda Ware, one of the stars in the Paramount Picture; "The Star Maker," is an orphan herself, and sne gave instructions. to Paramount’s New Zealand office to pay a cheque for £5 5s om her behalf to the winner of the ZB. contest.