What is the Question – August

This month for What Is the Questions, Roland Rocchiccioli talks with Prue Bentley.

 

What is your name?

Prudence Bentley (but only my mum calls me that. Everyone else calls me Prue).

 

What is your occupation?

Editor, ABC Ballarat and Southwest Victoria.

 

What brought you to Ballarat?

The weather! Just kidding. I was lucky enough to land a job producing the ABC Ballarat Morning show with Steve Martin back in 2009 and I never looked back.

 

What is your favourite spot in the city, and why?

Anywhere along the Yarrowee Trail. I live nearby and run along it with the ABC Listen app in my earbuds, whenever I can. I’m always astounded by how uncrowded it is, despite being such a beautiful trail. It’s also where you’ll find me most Saturdays at the Wallaby Track Parkrun, which kickstarts my weekend, and fills me with joy.

 

What is your earliest memory?

Sliding down the bannisters at our family home, aged four or five. The best bit was falling-off at the bottom into the pile of stacked-up pillows. The worst bit was getting yelled at for playing on the stairs!

 

What is happiness?

A hot bath, a bowl of chips, and a great book.

 

What are you reading, currently?

I’ve always got a few on the go!

Geraldine Brooks’ The Secret Chord. I’ll devour just about anything she writes. This one is historical fiction about the life of David – of Goliath-slaying fame, and the complex web of stories, half-truths and family relationships that make up the life of a man who has become more legend than human.

 

What do you like to cook and why?

A feast of Indian curries. When I have the time, I like to make several different dishes – like daal or chicken curry or palak paneer, plus rice, pickles and raita and let everyone serve-up their favourites. It always makes a meal feel so festive.

 

If you could ask your pet one question, what would it be?

Why, oh why have you stopped using the litter tray???!

 

What or who inspires you?

Every volunteer in this city. Each week I meet smart, passionate people working tirelessly to improve their community in some small way. To me, this is true greatness, and the marker of a great place to live. Anytime I’m feeling sorry for myself I remember all the selfless folks keeping things ticking over, and it helps me refocus.

 

What person – living or dead would invite to dinner party?

Cleopatra – so we can finally settle the question “were you really poisoned by an asp or did the Romans do you in?” Also, I’d love to confirm her beauty regime, exactly how much assess milk do you need for your beauty bath?

 

What technological/scientific development boggles your mind?

The internet emerged as a real, tangible thing when I was in my late teens. I’m one of the last generations to remember life before the world wide web. For all its downsides, I now cannot imagine my day-to-day life without its influence in some form or another. It has truly transformed the world – for the better or worse? The jury is still out.

 

What qualities do you admire in other people?

Patience. As a parent of an inquisitive and talkative primary school kid, if they could bottle that stuff, I’d be first in line at the store!

Oh, and anyone who irons anything…

 

What was your first job?

Technically, it was mucking out stables at our agistment property for $5 a week. Dad called it “character building”. It made my next job working at KFC seem like a dream!

 

What did you want to be when you were growing-up?

An actor or a detective. Mum and I watched a lot of British detective shows together and I also loved performing… radio broadcasting is a nice hybrid of the two as it turns out!

 

What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?

Embrace the power of feedback. Seek it out from people you admire, and really listen. Invite critical feedback and use it to improve your performance. It can be hard to hear at times, but it can be one of the most important tools in your professional kitbag.

 

What is your favourite smell, and why?

Lemons. Even if your house is a tip, you can zest a few lemons and feel like the cleaners have been in.

 

What is something about you which is still the same as when you were a child?

I’m still a big old nerd.

 

What would your childhood-self think of you today?

She would be shocked I’m not cooler.