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BARBARA LLEWELLYN

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 Featured Product
 


Speaking of Love - positive and uplifting short stories and poems about Romance, Marriage and True Love.

- Speaking of Love -
positive and uplifting
short stories and poems about
Romance, Marriage and True Love.

If you're in love with love,
then join the club -
everyone who wants a brighter day and a brighter world belongs to the exact same club
and we're all looking for ways to make our hearts sing and our eyes shine.

LUCKY for us,
Speaking of Love
manages to do both.
Give yourself or
someone you care about
a real treat and read
Speaking of Love
now.
You deserve it.
You deserve to feel wonderful.
You deserve
to feel wonderful right now.

More information ...

 

 

 Featured Product

Parenting Myself & My Spiritual Home - when you want unconditional love forever

You can now have
the perfect parents
you've always wanted,
living in the
perfect
 eternally nurturing
environment for
your emotional and spiritual growth.

With Parenting Myself
and My Spiritual Home
to guide you, you will
always have quick
access to your most
nurturing and
inspirational aspects.
 
You now have the tools to be the best
person you can be.

More information

 

The 7 Little Australians and Father

Barbara Llewellyn BDA (NIDA)

Barbara in her 30s

Barbara and her husband, Rod Kirkham

Bright Light Products featuring 
Barbara Llewellyn:

Married and Loving It! Written by Barbara Llewellyn (with Rod Kirkham)

The easy to read and use handbook for a Successful Marriage, written by Barbara and her husband,
Rod Kirkham.

More information ...

 

Deep Relaxation and My Place of Tranquillity written and performed by Barbara Llewellyn

Click "Play" to listen to Barbara's soothing voice

Your Place of Tranquillity is waiting for you.  Experience inner peace and growing self-esteem as you visit your own inner sanctuary.

More information ...

 

Breathing Deeply CD - created & performed by Barbara Llewellyn

Breathing Deeply is

 the natural way to

 consistent good

 health and

happiness.

More information ...

 

Making Decisions & Future Choices CD - written & performed by Barbara Llewellyn

Explore the potential outcomes of your choices and decisions with the assistance and protection of your Higher Consciousness.

More information ...

 

Click "Play" to hear a short audio sample of Barbara gently guiding you through this visualisation.

Barbara as Meg,
riding side saddle

Barbara as a child

Barbara Llewellyn
as Meg

 

Barbara Llewellyn is Meg from Seven Little Australians

Getting the Role of Meg        The General        

Yarrahappini        Small Miracles - "Keep the Cup"

Want to know more about Barbara?

Getting the Role of Meg

As a NIDA graduate, I had done some training at the ABC Television studios, learning the different methods needed for acting on television and film, which was so similar and yet so unlike stage acting.  I took to it like a duck to water.  It was “my” element and I looked forward to flexing my acting muscles for the camera.

However my first roles after leaving NIDA remained on the stage.  I co-starred in a pop opera and did a stint with the Queensland Theatre Company.  I was thrilled to be working and learning, and getting paid for it, but I was still hoping that my art would return me to my “natural” element.

It did!  As my contract ended with the QTC, I was contacted and contracted to portray the female lead in “The Curate in Bohemia”, which was part of the ABC’s Norman Lindsey series. 

“Florrie” was a delightful character, and I was fortunate enough to be complimented for my work by my director and crew.  I was also fortunate to be working for and with the top quality crew and director (Alan Burke) the ABC always attracts.

With no more film or television work in sight, I went to Perth to play the female lead in a music hall review.  I sang, and did comedy and had direct contact with the audience, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  

My muse continued to look after me and, as my contract finished in Perth, my agent phoned telling me to come back to Sydney immediately.  The ABC was about to produce the classic “ Seven Little Australians” and they wanted me to be “Meg”, as long as I successfully passed through one screen test. 

The Screen Test

The screen test was with Elizabeth Alexander who was up for the role of “Esther” – Meg’s stepmother.  The ABC wanted to make sure we looked “right” together.  I was slightly older than Elizabeth, yet would be portraying the younger, and more emotional role.   Luckily for me, I’ve always looked younger than my own age.

Elizabeth and I were outfitted by Wardrobe to match our character’s age groups and time setting, and then we were placed inside a set made for another ABC period piece.  We were asked to improvise a series of possible encounters between “Esther” and “Meg” – such as when they were happy together, and when they agued.  Liz and I both had training in improvisation and were able to immediately relate to our characters and each other.  

It was a hoot.  Everyone watching our screen test said they felt we were already stepmother and daughter.   It was very positive praise.  We both knew we had won our roles by the end of the day.

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The General

The General was played by a delightful four-year-old boy – Christian Robinson.  I don’t think he was quite aware of the role he was playing in television history, but he was certain of one thing … he loved the platinum haired beauty who was playing his big sister.  Her name was Tanya.  Her character’s name was Baby.   

Christian’s eyes lit up every time he saw Baby.  He would follow her around, and sit near hear – awestruck by her presence.  Christian was not even vaguely impressed by all the adults taking everything they were doing so terribly seriously, but he was certainly impressed by Tanya’s long hair and blue eyes, and her gentle, nurturing attitude.

Tanya was the only person in the cast and crew who could make The General do whatever he was meant to do in any given scene.  If the director, or his mother directed his actions there was a 50/50 chance that Christian might eventually do what they wanted him to do.  He also sometimes listened to his television brothers and sisters, and tried to fit in with our antics, but Tanya was the only person he wanted to impress.

Luckily the director of Seven Little Australians was the brilliant Ron Way.  He was aware of the personal dynamics being displayed, and he knew exactly how to handle the situation.

Lots of Love

I was a twenty year old actress portraying the sixteen-year-old Meg, the eldest of the seven children.  I loved all of the children in my television family, and I think they loved me back.

Tanya/Baby would sometimes sit on my lap and tell me wonderful make-believe stories, or just be comfortably still inside the cocoon of my affection.  Ron Way was aware of the sibling involvement created by our characters and the intense and extended amount of time we shared together.  He used that knowledge to everyone’s advantage. 

For example, one long day, where every technical problem that could occur seemed to rear its time-delaying head, we were filming a scene involving only the seven of us.  The scene required The General to do something that Christian had decided he didn’t want to do.  Christian’s decision was not open to discussion, or cajoling or scolding.  He had made up his mind and the rest of us were superfluous to his thoughts and actions.

Ron Way sized up the situation, and took a directing path that made the scene work like a dream. 

"Think Like Meg"

“Barbara,” he said as he took me well away from the hubbub that so often occurs when a group of children are together and bored, “I want you to think like Meg, and convince your sister, Baby, to somehow make her little brother behave.  Do you think you can do it?”

It was an unusual direction, but I understood the intent and felt sure I could do what was asked of me.  Baby and I walked away from the set and I explained the situation to her – we would all be stuck in the same set with the same tumultuous boredom until Christian did exactly what The General was meant to do.  Tanya/Baby didn’t like loud noises and raucous behaviour – she also wanted to have this particular scene over and done with.

Baby sauntered up to The General and stood right in front of him.  His attention was immediately fixed and focused upon his young goddess.  I no longer remember exactly what Tanya said to Christian.  I only remember how well behaved Christian immediately became.  He did the scene perfectly.  He received a smile from the “woman” he loved and she even held his hand.  It was obvious this was the greatest reward he could have asked for.

Christian is now a full grown and handsome man is his thirties.  He and Tanya no longer remember the infatuation that helped make all our lives so much easier, but I can still see it when I look at the series.   It’s strange – I look at the beautiful adults that Baby and The General have become, and yet part of me cannot shake the overlaid image my memories place on both of them.  I still feel love them and they stay eternally young in my heart. 

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Yarrahappini

The location for Yarrahappini was a magical area of the world just outside of Queanbeyan which is just outside of Canberra which the capital of Australia.

The homestead chosen as Ester’s childhood home and the seven little Australians holiday retreat is a historical beauty, chosen for its historical accuracy, its charm, its beautiful gardens and its extensive and glorious surrounding lands.

Everyday cast and crew would land on its doorstop and make great use of its enormous beauty.  Its lands extended to further than the eye could see and, as a working property, it still had true stockmen who would not see another human being for weeks at a time while checking its outlying areas. 

I remember meeting one such stockman, who was understandably a little shocked to be surrounded by all “us city folk”.  He was as quiet as a mouse, and yet charming in his determination to help us in everyway he possibly could.  He visibly lit up every time I asked him about his work.  He didn’t say much in words but the intensity of his love for the land he patrolled and protected was palatable through the few words he spoke.

The folk who owned the property that became Yarrahappini were also wonderful.  They accepted their roles as our hosts and regularly made sure we were all comfortable, as we tramped around their land.  We could ride for hours and still be in their property.  We climbed a small mountain, and looked over a tree-filled vastness that still belonged to them.  They were caretakers of a heaven-on-earth, and they had the good sense to know it.

I remember the sadness they felt, telling me about having to sell off huge tracks of their land in the near future.  Looking back, I guess they were happy to have us taking such a loving and romantic look over their world.  They knew we were recording a piece of their own, as well as Australian history.

I went back there many, many years later.  I wish I hadn’t.  The heart-warming acreage had become suburban blocks, with little houses and under-developed gardens.  The homestead itself remained intact, protected by laws and history.  You can now pay a small amount of money and go for a general wonder over the small area still left of its once great empire.  I’m sure that is a fine experience for anyone interested in beautiful old houses and gardens … but oh, when you have seen great beauty, it is hard to see that great beauty stripped to a nub of itself.

Thank goodness, Seven Little Australians was filmed there.  I watch the series and feel joy that the truth about the area is forever captured for everyone to see.  I look into my heart and memories and feel even greater joy that once upon a time, I had the honour of sharing the endless acres, and the endless peace.

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Small Miracles - "Keep the Cup"

Seven Little Australians is wonderfully heart-warming story that translated extremely well onto screen.  I was fortunate to portray the eldest of the seven children, even though I was slightly older than the actress portraying the children’s step-mother.  Everyone connected to the production knew we were creating a magical classic that would even be accepted and appreciated by the extremely talented writer, (Ethel Turner) who had first seen the story in her mind.

The 10 part series took 3 months to shoot, and cast and crew become a family during that time.  But productions finish and actresses have to move onto the next acting adventure.  I worked for the Tasmanian Theatre Company as Cecily in "The Importance of Being Ernest", then moved back to Sydney for the musical “Godspell” and then become part of the revolutionary soapie “Class of ‘74”. 

Schoolgirl Blues

“Class of ‘74” was the first soapie to be aimed directly at the teenage viewing audience, and we were an instant hit.  Unfortunately my character, Nora Hayes, started the series as a pregnant teenager, which the “powers-that-be” declared to be totally inappropriate for a teenage audience … even though the show was only telling the truth about the pregnancy problem in schools at the time. 

“Nora” was now in limbo, with all sorts of increasingly silly story lines confusing her character.   I left the show a little confused myself, and thought this was good time for me to take six months off and see the world.

Off to See the World

Flights to England in those days took over 30 hours, and I was too excited to sleep a wink throughout the entire journey.  I arrived at Heathrow airport in the early hours of a grey English day, with a small amount of luggage ... and a postcard from a friend.  

My friend was NIDA colleague who was now working for a theatre in a town near London.  He had asked me to come and stay with him, if ever I made it to England – I was about to accept his offer.  Being young, and therefore immortal and infallible, I hadn’t bothered to let my friend know I was about to visit him – I wanted to surprise him!

I gave my postcard to a bus driver at the airport, asking what I was supposed to do to make my way to the destination shown.  The bus driver assured me I just had to catch a certain train and I would be there in no time. 

I caught the train.  I’ve always enjoyed train travel.  I watched the countryside fly by, thinking how green and beautiful everything was.  Time passed, and I still hadn’t arrived at my destination.  I thought this a little strange as I knew my friend was living somewhere “not too far out of London”, however my senses were a little befuddled by lack of sleep, and my constant curiosity, and more time passed with me still fascinated by the scenery flashing by. 

"Not Too Far Out of London!!"

It wasn’t until I saw a big sign saying we were now entering Wales that I knew something was most definitely wrong.  Wales was the homeland of my father, but it was most assuredly not the home of my friend.

I alighted from the train at the next stop.  It was a small station with meadows and greenery all around it, and no sign of civilization.   I was the only person to leave the train at that station.  For a long moment, I thought I was the only person in this part of the world, then I caught sight of the Stationmaster on the opposite platform. 

The Stationmaster was staring at me with his jaw dropped and a slight expression of shock on his face.  I wondered if it was really that unusual for strangers to leave the train at his station.  I walked up to him, and asked him where I was, and how to get to where I wanted to be.  He seemed to be in a daze as I gave him my train ticket.  I thought giving him a big smile might help too.  He then spoke and I realised I’d walked into a small miracle.

“You’re Meg!  Aren’t you?  You’re her from that “7 Little Australians”.

I admitted I was indeed Meg from “that 7 Little Australians”.

"We Loved It!"

I was then informed by my stationmaster how much his family enjoyed the series.   They were avid fans and thought it one of the best show they had ever seen.  His little girl loved Meg.  Would I please give an autograph, and I must have cup of tea, and yes, I was nowhere near where my friend lived and I would have to catch a train to the bottom of England to connect to a train that would eventually land me at the right place.

The Station Master was still saying, “I don’t believe it.  I don’t believe it” and I was still sipping my tea, as the train I was now meant to catch trundled into our station of small miracles.  I tried to return my white porcelain cup and saucer to my newfound friend, but he wouldn’t hear of it.  He threw my luggage into the train, and herded me onto a seat, all the time saying “Keep the cup, keep the cup.”

The train pulled away.  I waved goodbye.

"The Right Place at the Right Time"

The miracles didn’t stop there.  Many hours later I eventually landed at my destination, which is indeed just outside of London.  I went to the theatre where my friend worked only to find he had left that job a couple of days ago.

I felt a little shock wave run through me as I realised I had no idea what to do next.  I decided worrying wouldn’t help so I trudged back to the train station, to have somewhere to sit and think, and eat a sandwich or two. 

Almost immediately after finishing my food, I walked over to the stairs leading away from the station.   I had no intention of leaving the station – I just felt the need to look down the steps for some reason.

Now it was my turn to be amazed, and have my jaw drop.  Jumping up the stairs, two at a time, was my old friend.  He had returned to somewhere near the theatre one last time to pick up a few things.  If I had been any earlier, or later, I would have missed him.  I had arrived at just the right time.

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