Lorrae Desmond 1929 – 2021 ‘There wasn't anyone who didn't love her'

The A Country Practice favourite is remembered by her friends as a class act with a wicked wit

- Craig Bennett.

Despite being frail and mostly bedridden, beloved showbiz legend Lorrae Desmond was a trouper until the end, smiling and making friends laugh as she faced her final bow at the grand age of 91. “She was a shining star right up until she took her last breath. When she slipped away on Sunday, May 23, it was with a beautiful smile on her face,” says longtime friend, actress Gael Ballantyne.

“Lorrae had a tight circle of performers who she trained at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in the ’70s – we were like her ‘showbiz kids’. There was me, Lynne Emanuel, Gail Lee, Carolyn Richards and Marc Laurenson. All up, over 40 years of fabulous friendship.

“In the last few months as Lorrae grew weaker, our Gold Coast apartment was busy with friends, former co-stars, carers and her much-cherished family members dropping by. She always made sure she had some lippie on and loved a cheeky Sambuca. There were always plenty of laughs and a bottle of champagne being opened,” says Gael, 65.

BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES