Every word they said about Rebecca Gibney is true - she’s extraordinary, and extraordinarily nice.

I’ve written before about the short time I spent on the Packed To The Rafters story team, and the kindness Rebecca Gibney showed me during table read-thrus and on the odd occasion we crossed paths in the production office. 

Listening to the testimonials from Georgie Parker, Hugh Jackman, Peter O’Brien and co. prior to Rebecca being inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame was a nice reminder of the genuinely kind character she is. 

One of the first lessons a fictional storyteller is taught is that our character is not what we look like, the job we do, or the family or friendship group we’re apart of, it’s the decisions we make in every day life, particularly when under pressure. 

For example, if a group of people are treating an individual unjustly, do we side with the mob, or do we stand up for the individual? The decision we make contributes to the character we are. 

My grandmother taught me many lessons growing up, with one of the more significant one’s being, ‘do unto those as you would like them to do unto you.’

Part of this is treating everybody respectfully, regardless of their status or position. When faced with this circumstance, and therefore decision, I was to be courteous to all, and never biased to some. As a result, I’ve always made it my mission to treat the cleaner the same way as the king. It’s a metaphor, but one I hope you’ll understand. 

Hearing Rebecca say while on Sunday night that a rule she followed was to simply, “Treat people the way you wish to be treated,” made me smile, not just because it mirrors what my grandmother taught me, but because I know it to be true, because it was clearly evident in the way she treated me in the short time we knew each other. 

On Rafters, she was very much the King, or rather the Queen - she was of course the biggest star on the show. While I was there, I was very much the cleaner - I was the script intern for a season. Yet not once in our dozen or so encounters did she behave in a way that was anything other than exemplary towards me. 

Her kind heart played a big role (pardon the pun) in making me feel genuinely a part of the team.

And for that - her kindness that sparkles as much as her smile - she should absolutely be recognised and celebrated. 

Congratulations Rebecca.