The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 51

8 GREEN GUIDE 27 FEBRUARY 1997 Now Monica's home on Seven hands and knees in a pair of overalls on Play School. She is assured and confident in her role as presenter of infotainment programs. And, just as importantly, is self-made and self-employed. Yes, Trapaga, who says she's delighted at joining Better and Homes and Gardens (where she will work with Play School colleague Noni Hazelhurst) is busy. No point denying it.

"I wish I wasn't always as busy, but yeah, I think my greatest weakness is I like to do many things and I'm a bit undisciplined," she says. The youngest of a family of four children growing up on Sydney's leafy north shore, she never wanted for company or an audience for her impromptu musical performances. Her Spanish-bom parents her father was in advertising, her mother was a lecturer in South-East Asian studies believed strongly in the creative virtues of music and theatre. "Our house was a hive of activity," Trapaga recalls. "There were always things happening.

People thought my parents ran mad Spanish Harlem." Monica was the eldest in her age group. Says her mother, Margot Martin (who remarried after Trapaga's father died some years ago): "She would come up and say, 'This afternoon we're having a performance, Mummy'. And she would be busy making soft drinks and biscuits. She FOR MONICA Trapaga, it was an offer too good to pass up: Of course, she was interested in joining the team of presenters on Seven's high-rating show, Better Homes and Gardens. Who wouldn't be? did anyone realise she was knee-deep in her own, real-life house renovation saga? It wasn't a pretty story, either.

But, then, whose ever is? Seven didn't mind her chaotic home front at all. In fact, it liked the idea. Viewers could relate to it. Not an interior-design expert as such, but an experienced, hands-on, passionate enthusiast. The executive producer of Better Homes and Gardens, Michael Dawes, says Trapaga, who debuts on the show next Tuesday night (she will present tips on interior decorating) was the perfect choice for the job.

"She's incredibly professional, she's a very versatile personality, she's fun and she's entertaining," he says. What is not lost on Seven, either, is her ability to reach different generations. Trapaga is a communicator. Adults know her as a jazz singer, who has mooched her way around the club circuit for years; children know her as the popular host of ABC-TV's Play School and the husky voice behind the Bananas in Pyjamas theme song. But Monica Trapaga Incorporated doesn't stop there.

Like others in the flourishing world of Monica Trapaga makes her debut on Seven's Better Homes and Gardens next week, a far cry from the ABC's Play School and a lot of other things in between, writes LYNNE COSSAR children's entertainment, Trapaga has turned to writing her own songs, recording and releasing them. Three CDs and cassettes so far, another due out soon. Trapaga has also dabbled in videos and movies and then there's the guest appearances on several local television productions: GP, Raffer-rvs Rules and Police Rescue. As if that wasn't enough to keep her busy, Trapaga moved into clothing and textiles, in 1996, launching her own brand of funky children's clothing under the label, All this and mother to 11 -year-old Lily and two-year-old Atticus. The chaotic diversity of her career is what makes Trapaga somewhat of a role model to young mothers.

She looks great as the chanteuse in the tight cocktail dress, belting out a Latin song or two. She has fun singing nursery rhymes on her Monica Trapaga wants a full life and has one. COMrnJTM SYSTEMS- 11 upgrades ft ncwAmm NETYrOffKMQ INTERNET TECH MOLOUES ohm ial weo ttiidJiiaii-ttifirexmTiiiittmi PR I MAX Photo PC Syatom Scan photos quickly and easily fenoum IS, 32MD, Z. 1iD HLHJ, Penfcin 166. 32Mb.

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