Eight decades - that's worth a good round of applause

By Lawrence Money
Updated February 7 2016 - 5:08am, first published 5:00am
Jeanne Pratt with her new statue at Raheen. Photo: Eddie Jim
Jeanne Pratt with her new statue at Raheen. Photo: Eddie Jim

At first, the thought of turning 80 years of age had Jeanne Pratt wanting to "crawl back into bed, pull the blankets over my head and forget about it". But when the big day came this week at her Raheen mansion, Jeanne decided that 80 clicks was bonzer. "My family gave me a book of messages from friends," she told Spy, "and a statue of me to stand beside Richard's." That heroic Peter Corlett bronze  – dating back 20 years to her late husband's 60th birthday – shows him welcoming guests at the door. The new statue of Jeanne is applauding. The elfin Jeanne launched the Production Company in 1999, giving jobs to hundreds of singers in budget-priced musicals, so there were plenty of showbiz groups wanting to pay homage. No less than three orchestras offered to stage a Jeanne Pratt concert – the Melbourne Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the Israeli Philharmonic. "But no," says Jeanne, "when I thought of all the pissed-off faces as to where I'd seat everyone I didn't want to do that. It was very low key. The staff just gave me a cake." Jeanne says she is enjoying "the supper time of life", deeply involved with the Production Company, the Carlton Football Club and Visy, the family company.  "The message is that it is terribly important to have a purpose in life, to have a loving family and friends," she says. A top lady.

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