When Wagga played host to the late actress Penny Cook last year, residents were quick to recognise the woman who had graced their TV screens hundreds of times.
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Ms Cook, a Logie award-winning actress known for her role as Vicki the vet on ‘A Country Practice', died of cancer at the age of 61 on Wednesday evening.
Her second, and now last, feature film role was in ‘The Merger’, shot in and around Wagga, which tells the story of a struggling football team.
Wagga’s Peter Simpfendorfer was an extra in the film and said Ms Cook had been friendly and "very approachable”, always making time to take photos with fans.
“I knew of her from A Country Practice and other TV shows, and I first met her in the early days of filming The Merger out at Ganmain, or ‘Bodgy Creek’ as it’s known in the movie,” he said.
“I was walking down the street in a scene.
“She was very friendly, very relaxed, and she made you feel at ease.”
Mr Simpfendorfer said Ms Cook cast was one of the most popular cast members with Wagga residents.
“People recognised her and knew her, and she was very gracious,” he said.
“She was always happy to have her photo taken with people.
“I don’t know where Penny was born but she came over as a country girl to me and I believe she had a farm out at Matong.
“She was just a beautiful lady who had time for everyone. I remember she told me ‘’I’ve got to make time to see what they’ve got in the Op Shop’.”
The merger director Mark Grentell told The Daily Advertiser that Ms Cook had many fans in Wagga who got to meet with her while the cast and crew were filming at Robertson Oval.
“Penny was amazing to have in The Merger. We were very lucky too have her in the cast and every body who met her loved her, cast and crew alike,” he said.
“When we were in Wagga people would want to come up and get photos and she was sweet and lovely.”
The Merger lead actor and writer Damian Callinan used the film's official Facebook page to pay tribute to his friend and former colleague.
“If she wasn’t on set, she’d have dinner ready for the entire make up department with whom she was sharing a house,” he said.
Ms Cook has asked that no flowers be sent but donations could be be made to her beloved Monkey Baa Theatre.
Rex Martinich
Journalist for the Daily Advertiser in Wagga Wagga covering politics and data. Mobile: 0437 853 137 Email: rex.martinich@dailyadvertiser.com.au
Journalist for the Daily Advertiser in Wagga Wagga covering politics and data. Mobile: 0437 853 137 Email: rex.martinich@dailyadvertiser.com.au
