Noreen Welsh         

                                            

By Tapfuma Machakaire

It may sound strange, but it is a fact that at times society adopts the obstinate propensity of preferring to remember public figures through their blips and blunders rather than the immense contribution of the individual to the country. Broadcasters, by virtue of their extensive exposure to the public, are some of the most susceptible to such kind of human conduct.

On the list of most prominent individuals after the attainment of independence in Zimbabwe, were the new crop of broadcasters working for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). The corporation was transforming from one that catered for the interests of a minority, to a public broadcaster.

Being the only broadcasting station then, and with no  competition from outside stations, meant ZTV was assured of maximum viewership from all who had access to television sets and within radius of its signal.

ZTV had continued to work with a number of white broadcasters from the previous Rhodesian era. Some among them had assumed a high level of professionalism, ethical conduct and, above all competence. They had to be brave enough to work with a team that comprised many ex-freedom fighters occupying positions up to the highest level in the system.

Noreen Welsh, one of the remaining white news anchors, blended well with the new team of talented broadcasters, the likes of Joseph Madimba, Mike Munyati, Shingirayi Tungwarara, Tsitsi Vera, and others.

Each time I engage in a discussion on these great anchors, I get a reminder of the day Noreen Welsh and Tsitsi Vera were suspended for giggling on air as they delivered a sad story.

In television broadcasting, there is a golden rule that requires journalists to be in sink with the mood of a story and adjust tone and body language accordingly.

Tsitsi Vera and Noreen Welch are on record for losing their composure when the former read a report of a woman who gave birth in the bathroom of a train. The script told of how the new-born fell through the toilet onto the track but survived. The incident was shocking and the two co-anchors faltered resulting in a flood of complaints from the public.

“Who could forget the suave and polished presence of Colin Harvey? Nor the powerful tag team of female anchors Tsitsi Vera and Noreen Welch? What I will never forget is that infamous giggling incident as they read the evening news.Wrote author,” Sukoluhle Nyathi.

It was reported that for the glitch, the two anchors were suspended from appearing on the small screen for three months

Despite the unpleasant incident Noreen’s brilliance in delivering news continued unperturbed. She remained one of the admired anchors on the main news bulletin. She would tell the story of events unfolding in the newly independent nation with ease and in a refreshing manner. One could not discern the colour difference between Noreen and her tag partner Tsitsi as focus would be on the content and the manner in which the two presented the stories.

Impressed by the work that she was doing, one viewer wrote, “Noreen, thank you a million times for what you are doing for Zimbabwe. I know you suffer many uncalled-for remarks from unknown sources, but we are so grateful for you being one of our very few honest news links to our country.”

Noreen was born in Capetown, South Africa in 1943. At the tender age of 7 she moved to New Zealand where she acquired her high school education at Chris Christ Church High School. She returned to South Africa in 1975 and joined the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal, touring South and the then Rhodesia in the musical Chicago.

In 1976 she moved to Rhodesia now Zimbabwe and was employed by the local broadcaster on Radio Jacaranda and Radio One.

Noreen was widely known for her ethical media reporting and has often been referred to as a super media heroine. Noreen continued to gain the confidence of the ZBC leadership which saw her being appointed to Deputy Controller Radio one, a position she held until she retired in 1996.

Her associates describe her as having a wicked sense of humour. She often got into trouble with the hierarchy at ZBC, but was such an asset to the corporation that she was always forgiven.
Noreen Welch has a daughter named Alex and a granddaughter named Khayla.

She is back in New Zealand where she lives on North Island in Ohope Beach.