-By Kim Parnell-
Australian comedian, scriptwriter, author, and now Hervey Bay local, Tracy Harvey grew up in a house where laughter wasn’t just encouraged, it was essential. With comedy in the air and creativity at every turn, her childhood was a lively mix of British sitcoms, spontaneous puppet shows, and hands-on artistic adventures that would shape her colourful path in life.
“My older sister and I would sit at the foot of our parent’s bed and watch all the British sitcoms,” Tracy recalls. “Some of my favourites were Reg Varney’s The Rag Trade, The Two Ronnies and anything Australian too, like Grahame Kennedy and The Mavis Bramston Show. I’m very grateful to Mum and Dad for that.”
It was a very practical, arty childhood. That sense of fun and spontaneity shaped Tracy’s outlook. “I learned early that having a creative focus brings real purpose and joy.”
Her father was a cartoonist, artist and puppeteer, who illustrated for Punch, a big magazine back in the 60s. Growing up, Tracy just assumed she would follow that path too and applied and was accepted into art school, figuring she’d become an art teacher, not exactly inspired by the thought.
In her third year, she and her friends put on a quirky Aussie-themed country music act in the cafeteria. Shy and just seventeen, Tracy surprised herself—dressing up, singing, and becoming a character was terrifying but very liberating because, during the process, Tracy could become someone else. Something clicked.
That spark led to the creation of The Whittle Family, a popular country-western musical comedy group that performed in pubs and theatre restaurants across Australia in the 1980s. The group were making waves. With outrageous characters and big laughs, they quickly became a sensation—especially at Melbourne’s iconic Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant and Zoo, where they ran six shows a week for three-month seasons.
When the group disbanded a few years later, Tracy was fortunate to get an Australian Film Institute Grant at art school and spent the next three years creating puppet films which also included doing the soundtracks and the animation using GI Joe dolls as the cast then doing the filming.
Television then came calling and Tracy landed a standout role in the mini-series Waterfront, set during the Melbourne dock strikes. More TV followed, including The Gillies Report and The Comedy Company. Tracy also wrote the book, Dear Mum, I’m on the Telly (Penguin), which led to an 18-month column in The Age.
“Through my colleagues from The Whittle Family and The Gillies Report, I got to work with some incredible satirists—Patrick Cook, Wendy Harmer and John Clarke, they taught me so much.”
Another great memory was performing in Mum’s The Word, a hit stage show created by six Canadian women who turned their raw, hilarious experiences of early motherhood into comedy gold. What began as therapy became a stage show sensation.
The Australian version of Mum’s The Word played to packed 800-seat houses, 8 shows a week at the Atheneum Theatre in Melbourne then toured Australia.
“It was bold, outrageous, and brutally honest — from squirting breast milk into the audience to candid takes on parenting and sex,” Tracy says. “My monologue opened the show—with me giving birth on stage every night.”
She laughs, “Some nights, if it was a small matinee crowd, I’d say, ‘Okay, maybe I won’t have all the contractions today.”
Tracy also had a small supporting role in The Dressmaker an Australian feature film, starring Kate Winslet and Australian acting legend, Judy Davis and describes the experience as tremendous.
After sixty-six years in Melbourne, the pull north grew stronger. Tracy laughs. “We’d visited Hervey Bay five or six times and always loved it — we even went for a moonless night swim our first evening here, the sharks were very good that night.”
Drawn by the arts scene and laid-back lifestyle, they knew they could create here. “We didn’t realise just how much was already happening in the arts, from stage to screen. At first, no one knew us, but we have now created a bit of a network, it’s been the perfect way to connect, and we are loving our new home. “
With five original musicals under their belt, Tracy and Greg know how to bring a story to life and they are doing it again—this time with the support of a vibrant new community behind them.
Their latest project is Queenie the Musical, a two-year labour of love that Tracy co-wrote, composed, and co-produced with Greg. “I wrote the lyrics, melodies, and orchestration myself, with guidance from amazing mentors like Sam See and Jack Howard back in Melbourne,” Tracy explains. “It’s not a solo act—we have seventeen incredible local performers bringing it to life.”
Greg, a seasoned director with experience in film and television, is steering the production with skill and passion. “He’s my biggest supporter and a fantastic creative collaborator,” Tracy says.
Recently, the cast had the privilege of working with Dancing with the Stars Jessica Raffa, who ran an intensive two-day dance workshop. “Jessica’s interpretation of our songs brought a whole new level of energy and movement,” Tracy says. “She’s so generous and passionate—it was inspiring. She reminded us that if something’s too hard, adapt it. Make it work.”
And that’s the magic of musicals—music, comedy, drama, and dance all coming together. “We hope people leave uplifted,” Tracy says, “and maybe take away our show message: a fair go for everyone!”
The show follows Terry Biggs, a loveable thug born into crime, whose string of killings finally lands him in prison—thanks to Supreme Court Judge Queenie. But in a quirky twist, his wife tries to broker an unusual deal to make the sentence more palatable: A night for two in jail every full moon with a continental breakfast.
“Ending it was tricky,” Tracy admits. “Prison felt too bleak, so we wanted to bring some hope. Like a good wine or sourdough, the script took time to develop and settle.”
And it’s still evolving. “New jokes land in rehearsal, others get scrapped. I rewrite drafts daily—thank God for AirDrop and email!” she says. “The cast is wonderfully flexible.”
“It’s been wonderful to see the community rally around. There’s real passion up here—people hungry for creative outlets that feed the soul. Whether it’s singing in a choir or knitting a tea cosy, creativity brings balance and relief from life’s pressures.”
She credits Rubie and Russell Vidler, whom they met at the Saturday Sippers Swim Group, with helping them connect to amazing local talent like Shane King, Portia Robertson, and Taylor Dunn.
So, what can audiences expect from Queenie the Musical?
“Bold Aussie entertainment,” Tracy says. “It’s funny, original, and just the right length—we want people exhilarated, not exhausted.”
The show also showcases the incredible commitment and talent of Fraser Coast performers, many of whom juggle day jobs to rehearse week after week, driven by passion and community spirit. It’s a leap of faith—and Tracy and Greg are thrilled to see people backing something new.
Show details:
Queenie the Musical
June 20 – July 6
Z-PAC Theatre
15 Zephyr St, Scarness
Tickets – www.zpactheatre.com.au
“Be quick as tickets are selling fast!”
Cover image – Photo by Zac Shaw – Tracy Harvey – Queenie the Musical
