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<big>'''Gretel Killeen Information Wiki'''</big>

[[Image:gk.jpg|frame|Gretel Killeen - mother, author, radio and voiceover star, TV show host.]]


== Background to Wiki ==


This wiki is brand new in 2009 and will be expanded more this year. For now, it starts with the great age debate and draws a different conclusion to what other sites suggest. A [[filmography]] has been added in February and will be expanded throughout March.


== The Great Age Debate ==


'''A bad policy'''

"Date of Birth: 3 February 1961, Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia." Source: [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0993110/ IMDB.com], retrieved on January 22nd, 2009.

Birth year: WRONG!

Correct information: Date of Birth: 3 February 1963, Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia.

Media writers are generally lazy and look to the often incorrect IMDB.com for birth year information about celebrities for their articles. There is just one problem with this: the IMDB has a bad policy on updating birth years. The editors refuse to allow such updates because they are frightened that it will make the celebrity's age younger (and bad luck if it actually is in reality).

'''The affect'''

Gretel Killeen is often the victim of laziness by journalists who use the IMDB (and the Wikipedia which often lazily uses the IMDB information, but since February 2009 has presented the correct birth year for Gretel Killeen; referencing this very wiki section here). The public often falls for the incorrect information used in their articles as a result. 

'''An experience with this affect'''

The great age debate is one that crops up in forums quite often. In 2008, during one such debate in the official ''Big Brother Australia'' forum, Ridge Rogue (an editor here) was told to look at the media articles using the incorrect age at the time and "be corrected" when stressing that Gretel was 45 and not 47 like some ignorant people believed. Those that choose to believe misleading sites can read the following and weep (and "be corrected" themselves).

'''References showing the younger age'''

NB: "Date unknown" indicates information came from a clipping with no date recorded on it, rather than the full publication.

* 1. Michael Sheather, ''A Funny Kind Of Life'', in publication: ''The Australian Women's Weekly'', ACP, July 2002.
** Quote: "At 39, her smile is wide and bright, her eyes engaging and expressive, her voice confident, strong from years of polish as a radio and TV professional - all the hallmarks of a person who knows who she is and where she is going." pp50.

* 2. Rachel Lloyd, ''The Secret Life of Gretel'', in publication: ''New Idea'', Date unknown, year 2002 (article discusses Big Brother 2 in 2002), pp33.
** Quotes: 1. "I would have gone pretty mad if I hadn't found a creative outlet," says Gretel, 39, whose latest semi-autobiographical book 'My Life Is A Boob Tube'', starring cult heroine Fleur Trotter, recently went on sale. 2. "When I first started writing about Fleur I was 29 years old. I'd just left my husband, and I had two children." (She married Mark Morgan in 1987 and was divorced in 1993 after she turned 30.)

* 3. ''Gretel & Saxon Shack Up'', in publication: ''NW'', Date unknown, year 2004 (article discusses Big Brother 4 in 2004), pp17.
** Quote: "Most recently Gretel, 41, and Saxon, 20, flew into Sydney together before driving up to his home on the Central Coast for a romantic catch-up." (NB: This was a total load of rubbish.)

* 4. Rachel Lloyd, ''Gretel's Reality'', in publication: ''New Idea'', Date unknown, year 2004 (article discusses Big Brother 4 in 2004), pp28.
** Quote: "I've given up on men," 41-year-old Gretel says with a sigh.

* 5. Erin Craven, ''Gretel Killeen'', [http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9638 ''NineMSN Health''], Thursday, June 3, 2004, retrieved on January 21, 2009.
** Quote: "Age: 41, Lives: Sydney with her children, son, Ezekiel (Zeek), 15, and daughter, Epiphany (Eppy), 13."

'''Conclusion'''

Remembering that Gretel was born in February and had celebrated her birthday months before the above article at 1 was published, adding it all you get the following:

* 2001 when Big Brother (cycle 1) started, Gretel was 38
* 2002 when Big Brother (cycle 2) aired, Gretel was 39
* 2003 when Big Brother (cycle 3) aired, Gretel was 40
* 2004 when Big Brother (cycle 4) aired, Gretel was 41
* 2005 when Big Brother (cycle 5) aired, Gretel was 42
* 2006 when Big Brother (cycle 6) aired, Gretel was 43
* 2007 when Big Brother (cycle 7) aired, Gretel was 44
* 2008 when Big Brother (cycle 8) aired, Gretel was 45
* 2009 Gretel turned 46 (and still looks gorgeous)

Now who are you going to believe? The IMDB? Or Gretel-Killeen.com quoting these articles which all mention an age two years younger than the sites with bad policies on updating birth years?

In an update to the above, the ''Wikipedia'' has for several months this year (up to May 2009, when this point was added) referenced this very wiki here at Gretel-Killeen.com and the media articles this year have stated the correct age as a result. This only leaves the IMDB outdated by 2 years with her birth year.



== Books & Instructional Videos ==



A list of books written by Gretel Killeen, as well as ones she has contributed to, plus instructional videos is provided on the [[books]] list page. Covers are provided for some as well.

Gretel Killeen's current book available in July 2009 is ''The Night My Bum Dropped'' (which is actually a metaphor about change). Gretel talks about it on [http://9am.ten.com.au/video.htm this video] on ''9am ...'' (enter her name in search box).


[[Image:the-night-my-bum-dropped.jpg]]



== Theatre ==


Gretel Killeen has appeared in the following threatre production.


*''The Rocky Horror Show'', role: "Narrator". Sydney: Star City - Star Theatre - 13 February to 17 August 2008 (Gretel performed from June 25th to the middle of July, 2008 - Derryn Hinch assumed the role until August 17th when the season ended). Director: Gale Edwards.


*''The Rocky Horror Show'', role: "Narrator". Melbourne: Melbourne's Comedy Theatre - October and November 2008 (Gretel had 10 performances from 11th to 20th, 2008). Director: Gale Edwards.
**Internal link - document (PDF file): [http://www.gretel-killeen.com/wiki/gretel_killeen_rocky_horror_melbourne_media_release.pdf Media Release about Gretel joining cast]].



== Filmography ==


The [[Filmography]] page covers TV and movie appearances by Gretel Killeen. Sadly, there were many of Gretel Killeen's critics, in the years between 2001 and 2007, that were ignorantly under the impression that she was just born when ''Big Brother'' (BB) began in 2001 and this is where her fame came from. This was far from the case because she was famous long before then (BB only took her fame to a slightly higher level). The filmography will offer a list of earlier roles from the era when she was famous before BB.

Here is the answer to a popular question.

Q: Why did Gretel Killeen leave ''Big Brother'' in 2007?

A: Contrary to some incorrect media reports, Gretel Killeen left ''Big Brother'' to pursue other projects. Here is one media interview quote in 2007 about her decision.
*"Although I only did Big Brother for four months of the year, it was accompanied by a very public existence that made it all-consuming for me and the kids," she said. "After seven years, I really wanted this year off to find the old me, do some writing and be invisible for a while." <ref>Staff writer, [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24572843-5012974,00.html ''Gretel Killeen enjoying her stay out of the limelight''], ''Herald Sun'', 10-30-2008, retrieved 1-31-2009.</ref>


== Photo Gallery ==


The [http://www.gretel-killeen.com/gallery photo gallery] is a presentation that documents the appearance of Gretel Killeen over the years from 2003 to 2008 (at this stage). A few photos of her as a teenager and a younger woman are available on the [http://www.gretel-killeen.com/information.html information] page of this site.



== Forum ==

The [http://www.gretel-killeen.com/forum forum] offers the latest news and other areas of discussion related to Gretel Killeen. Examples of discussion in February through to May of 2009 included Gretel's hosting performance at the Logies and as a guest panelist on ''Good News Week'' on Ten after that.

==References==

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