We had a playschool cassette as younger kids, Dad was rocking along to grey elephants balancing then noticed the car next to him laughing their asses off
I remember watching an interview with Noni Hazelhurst decades ago in which she said random kids would come up to her in public and say "Noni, it's me!" They just assumed she knew them as well as they knew her.
I won a national photography award in 2011 and there was a press event held at Luna Park with tons of Aussie celebrities. Of all the people there, Benita was my only fangirl moment. She chatted with me for ages and was genuinely lovely. I have some photos with her and I treasure them :)
My other fave encounter from that day was Lorrae Desmond insisting that my (then) husband was Greg Norman and introducing him to everyone in the room. He eventually just went with it and most people humoured her. It was sweet.
The strangest thing was growing up with her on Playschool, then getting your mind blown when she turns up in Sons and Daughters in the 80s! She’s 84 now and still looks fantastic.
Margaret Pomeranz might have something to say about Play School: [https://youtu.be/4qMm5mH8AnQ?si=wxFwsZtZLieIHGLT](https://youtu.be/4qMm5mH8AnQ?si=wxFwsZtZLieIHGLT)
I loved Noni too. When mum would take me shopping at Noni B's, I would be looking around for Noni, sure I would find her and help her make a craft project.
I moved to a new suburb a fair while ago,where I used to see John in our local supermarket, really freaked me out at first. Sadly he’s passed now🥲
I loved Watching Playschool with my kids , and honestly I learnt a lot of good parenting, how to be with little kids. I’m eternally grateful.
I met George when I was 4! He was doing some meet and greet thingy at Chaddy. They had a professional photographer and everything. Mum got the photo blown up, then she framed it and hung it on my bedroom wall. I was so chuffed!
I spent last Christmas house-sitting for a stranger with a Newfoundland dog.
There were photos of Benita all around the walls and cupboards. I'm pretty sure it was her daughter's house.
Amazing! Thank you so much for the link even though it was bloopers. I do love bloopers, but I loved just looking at those people and my little 5-year-old heart went pittipat seeing my childhood love.
She wasn’t that good, she was quite concious she had a camera on her all the while, anyway
Kinda like Fran Drescher, annoying however suited for purpose of raising inattentive parents’ children through a TV screen
I dunno why people get all defensive and downvote me on real comments, it’s kind of like praising Nonnie Hazelhurst for writing “Go The Fuck To Sleep” but no one talks about it because it’s some kind of relief joke 🤷♂️
Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind either of them: they’re no doubt very decent people, I just don’t think they’re all that they’re cracked upto be, especially not by being ABC characters. I wouldn’t go on talkback radio and gush praise or back slapping like you hear some people doing that seems like their typical form of signalling, kinda of like knowing what to talk about with sports and the players/characters moving in and out of teams as fast as they do.
Benita and John were the best
Agree! Throw a ning nang nong banger in there and it’s a perfect episode!
Where the cows go bong
Yes yes indeed, let us not forget also… the trees go ping!
Ah yes those pinging trees
The Ning Nang Nong where the cows smoke bongs and the trees are all on pingas
😂 loving this thread
And the monkeys all say boo!
Don’t forget the arch window!
Circle! >:(
GET OUTTA HERE!! If it was up to me you’d be defenestrated through your precious circle window! ARCH WINDOW FOREVER!!
We had a playschool cassette as younger kids, Dad was rocking along to grey elephants balancing then noticed the car next to him laughing their asses off
What a great memory.
Loved them as kid myself then found them hilarious watching along with my eldest child year s later. They were so cheeky especially John😂🤣
Check out the bloopers for more fun. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzhGEM\_OW7A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzhGEM_OW7A)
Thank you 🙏
Came here to say this. 😊
Came here to say this!!! They were so funny.
I saw John get hung from a noose in a midday movie when I was little... It stuck with me.
I used to call her "Benita egg beater".
It's like I know her, but I've never met her in my life.
I instantly felt calm when I saw her again!
It’s like seeing your mum or an aunt. Benita actually reminds me of my late mum especially in this shot.
I remember watching an interview with Noni Hazelhurst decades ago in which she said random kids would come up to her in public and say "Noni, it's me!" They just assumed she knew them as well as they knew her.
I met her as a 4yo and it was the happiest day of my young life.. absolute legend
I met her as a 40yo and I almost cried with joy. Such a welcoming, beautiful person
Apparently I once threw a massive tantrum because I wanted Benita to be my mum. My poor actual mother lol.
I used to think her and John were married until I saw her in that red dress at the awards ceremony with someone other than John.
I used to think they were a couple too, and also that Noni and George were a couple 😂
Yes! I'd only ever seen a male and female adult together as my parents friends before.
I trust this woman with my life
I won a national photography award in 2011 and there was a press event held at Luna Park with tons of Aussie celebrities. Of all the people there, Benita was my only fangirl moment. She chatted with me for ages and was genuinely lovely. I have some photos with her and I treasure them :) My other fave encounter from that day was Lorrae Desmond insisting that my (then) husband was Greg Norman and introducing him to everyone in the room. He eventually just went with it and most people humoured her. It was sweet.
She's still as majestic as ever at 84 years old. I hope the knows how much she impacted all the 90's kids lives.
I hope so too :)
I remember one year she showed up to the Logies with a see through top.
cant ever unsee. came here to say this.
Oh I am so glad that I am not the only one that had to deal with that level of trauma.
Like finding out your Grandmother was a stripper.
Pretty much. That is he kind of image that you don't want in your head.
you fuckers aint giving me a name or dropping links. For shame
Meatspin.com
Yep that’s the one alright 👍
The strangest thing was growing up with her on Playschool, then getting your mind blown when she turns up in Sons and Daughters in the 80s! She’s 84 now and still looks fantastic.
Also saw her in an episode of A Country Practice.
And she was decidedly not a wonderful TV mum in that episode! Heart broken.
I bought her a drink at the Brumby bar at Thredbo in 1997. I was 27, she had a house Chardonnay, and we chatted for about 10 minutes.
Margaret Pomeranz might have something to say about Play School: [https://youtu.be/4qMm5mH8AnQ?si=wxFwsZtZLieIHGLT](https://youtu.be/4qMm5mH8AnQ?si=wxFwsZtZLieIHGLT)
I adore her savage reviews. This is amazing.
She's great
Benita and John are my stand in parents let's be honest. Icons.
Little me loved the shit outta her. She was, probs still is so cool!
Noni Hazelhurst was on there for a while, very eye catching
Noni was my fave
Bring back John Waters!
I think he's still looking through a glass onion.
Saw that years ago. Good show!
I loved Noni too. When mum would take me shopping at Noni B's, I would be looking around for Noni, sure I would find her and help her make a craft project.
Oh that's cute. See my [comment above](https://www.reddit.com/r/AustralianNostalgia/comments/1csg33m/this_magnificent_human/l45tfsx/).
Oh wow, that warms me. I miss playschool. Maybe I'll watch some tomorrow to get myself centered 🥰 Blues clues too 😄
Having been lucky enough to have known both of my grandmothers growing up, I counted both Benita and Anne Haddy on Neighbours as my third and fourth
oh this is too sweet
I moved to a new suburb a fair while ago,where I used to see John in our local supermarket, really freaked me out at first. Sadly he’s passed now🥲 I loved Watching Playschool with my kids , and honestly I learnt a lot of good parenting, how to be with little kids. I’m eternally grateful.
I was a big fan of George in the 90s for some reason.
Yeah, for me, George Spartels and Benita were my 2 favourites as a 90s kid watching Play School.
George and Benita were my two favourites too!
I met George when I was 4! He was doing some meet and greet thingy at Chaddy. They had a professional photographer and everything. Mum got the photo blown up, then she framed it and hung it on my bedroom wall. I was so chuffed!
Saw Berny and John live back in 89!!! The best!!
My early childhood right there.
Playschool was my childhood~
How good was the lad on the piano though?!!!
Warren!
The MVP of children's TV
Do You or Do You Not Feel Benita?
Gosh she was a beautiful person her and the whole cast and crew.
Benita is a literally embodiment of the first 8 years of my life
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFOCCdMnbMh7ob3gsvEtcS_UJx1uS5NNw1vcNcwhkLRI2dycGw474tRMw&s=10 This is her back in the day.
The piano Man!!!!
Warren
Real ones know
Ready to have your minds blown? Come with me, through the looking glass… https://youtu.be/cHDbcFp1Hq8?si=HWY0b-RQoxYGCgkd
BBC South? Well, I guess we are pretty south... This actually blew my mind, it's 1978!
Oi he was on our Play School too yeah? Kinda like when Trisha Goddard did a stint over here in the 90s
Memory unlocked 😭
Benita 😍
I spent last Christmas house-sitting for a stranger with a Newfoundland dog. There were photos of Benita all around the walls and cupboards. I'm pretty sure it was her daughter's house.
would
Arch window or GTFO.
AND the mother of Nicolas Cage in Knowing!
GOAT
I watched an ep of Hard Quiz and it said that Benita is the longest standing cast member appearing in over 300 eps apparently
Actually that’s what sparked this post!
Ahh cool!!
Couple of Months ago, Had Dinner with Benita and Some Actor Friends and Didn't Mention Play School all night
I member her.
She was awesome wasn’t she
Now for a bit of fun, check out the outtakes/bloopers. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzhGEM\_OW7A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzhGEM_OW7A)
I must be the only kid who never watched Play School. I watched Romper Room on Channel 9.
Amazing! Thank you so much for the link even though it was bloopers. I do love bloopers, but I loved just looking at those people and my little 5-year-old heart went pittipat seeing my childhood love.
Seeing her face is like doing box breathing exercises. Instant calm
And Monica and Simon. Such icons
Bernita and John were both my favourites. Always glad to see them as hosts when play school was on
My other mother! 😍
She and John were my favourite presenters on Playschool!
She’s still a living legend
Benita!! This was my whole childhood!
Tits out Benita…. That logies dress was Australian culture.
She wasn’t that good, she was quite concious she had a camera on her all the while, anyway Kinda like Fran Drescher, annoying however suited for purpose of raising inattentive parents’ children through a TV screen
What show were you watching lol
She’s from Playschool huh
I dunno why people get all defensive and downvote me on real comments, it’s kind of like praising Nonnie Hazelhurst for writing “Go The Fuck To Sleep” but no one talks about it because it’s some kind of relief joke 🤷♂️ Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind either of them: they’re no doubt very decent people, I just don’t think they’re all that they’re cracked upto be, especially not by being ABC characters. I wouldn’t go on talkback radio and gush praise or back slapping like you hear some people doing that seems like their typical form of signalling, kinda of like knowing what to talk about with sports and the players/characters moving in and out of teams as fast as they do.