Andy Thorpe

Andrena 'Andy' Thorpe (born 17 November 1929, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), is a former model and radio personality who worked at several Australian radio stations in the 1960s and 1970s. She is remembered most for her long running partnership with Bob Francis.

She was a successful model in Melbourne modelling for noted photographers such as Helmut Newton and Athol Smith before making the switch to radio after being spotted at a dinner party when outspoken women were still a rarity in Adelaide at that time. She was offered a morning chat program at Adelaide's 5DN with Lionel Williams. In 1966 she moved to 5AD she was initially paired with Rob Lynch although after a couple of seasons she was paired with the conservative Bob Francis. Despite a frosty start the pair came to work very well on air with a fiery 'odd couple' relationship that was a ratings hit for almost a decade.

Andy left 5AD in 1976 and took a break from radio that involved extensive travels in India and a flight in a cropduster from Adelaide to London.

Returning to Australia she worked in Melbourne for 3DB and 3RRR and in Sydney with 2SM as well as with ABC Radio in Adelaide. She moved into public relations working for the South Australian Museum and the Victorian Tourism Commission for former South Australian premier Don Dunstan.

References

* [http://www.nfsa.gov.au/docs/collectionguide_oralhistory_radio.pdf 'ScreenSound Australia Oral History Recordings']