Australian Singer
F you were tuned in to 2YA Wellington on July 7, or July 10, you may have heard in the evening programme an Australian singer, Miss Etta Bernard. Miss Bernard (who is, in private life, Mrs. R. S. Searle, of Melbourne), arrived the other day with her small daughter, Avril, from England, where since 1934 she has been doing concert work and broadcasting almost continuously, with the exception of a tour of Australia in 1938. Petite, bright-eyed, with a pleasant voice and a charming smile, Miss Bernard seemed to have successfully eluded the cares and worries of the war-torn hemisphere; in fact she gave the impression, in an interview with The Listener, that it would take much to defeat her native optimism. When she spoke of life to-day in England, she mentioned more the humorous and lighter sides, rather than the intense peril which daily threatens English men, women and children.
Miss Bernard’s fine contralto voice won her many engagements in England. In 1936 she sang with the British Opera Company at Covent Garden during its season. The highlight of her experiences at Home was when she sang at the Coronation, representing Australia. When Miss Bernard left London (alone, for Mr. Searle has stayed behind to join the Air Force if he is able), the Germans were nearing Calais. During the voyage, many tragic things happened, but the actual journey was very quiet. There were moments of sadness and pathos, moments of excitement. Leaving two days earlier than scheduled -"everything was very hush-hush" — the ship proceeded down the Channel.
Wrecks could be seen from time to time. Two hours after the ship left, the Channel was heavily bombed.
Yes, gas masks were not very comfortable, said Miss Bernard. For her little daughter, there was a "Mickey Mouse" gas mask, painted in bright royal blue and red. Many of the London children took to the masks as new toys. She will be glad to be back home again, and hopes to do a tour of the stations in Australia soon,
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 56, 19 July 1940, Page 9
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341Australian Singer New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 56, 19 July 1940, Page 9
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