I don’t have any celebrity tales to tell, except this one. Jackie Weaver is a moderately famous actress in Australia. She appeared in the classic film “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and many others. Her stage reputation is supreme.

Jackie must have a love for regional Australia, and I admire her for that. She recently came through North East Victoria performing a one-woman theatre production.

I didn’t see the show, but it reminded me of her visit to Gippsland in the late 1980s. There’s a picture of me with her above at the Tinamba Hotel, between Maffra and Heyfield.

I can’t remember why she was there. It might have been something to do with the Maffra Mardi Gras, of which my friend Damien was chairman of the organising committee.

Anyway, here I am sitting next to this gorgeous (but short), famous, sexy doll of a woman. And my conversation skills completely dried up!

I think we chatted about her husband Derryn Hinch, who received a jail sentence around that time for contempt of court (he was a radio broadcaster and journalist). They’ve since divorced.

Then I was lost for words. What a waste!