Dealing in dreams

By Jane Ross

LEE-ANNE McLean, this is your deal!
As her chance came up on Prime’s Deal or No Deal game show with host Andrew O’Keefe, the Leongatha mother of three was so overcome, she burst into tears.
The tapes stopped rolling for 10 minutes while she calmed down.
Before her lay the chance that a dream she had held since she was 15, would finally come alive.
In that heart-stopping moment, Lee-Anne was so excited, her emotions took over.
She went on to win enough money to allow her to study as a paramedic.
She had tried to enroll in the course some years ago, but the rules for admission changed with candidates having to pay for their university study rather than being employed by the ambulance service and paid to train.
That ruled her out and Lee-Anne was heartbroken.
But her decision to have a girls’ time out with her friend Liz Knight from Korumburra, has changed everything.
The two women thought they’d have a go at auditioning to be in the Deal or No Deal audience.
“We thought we’d have a bit of fun to see if we’d be chosen,” she said. “If either of us was called down, that would be a bonus.”
The audition involved filling in a two-page questionnaire before being interviewed.
Lee-Anne and Liz took their time.
“We wrote heaps,” she said. “We tried to make ours stand out.”
The ruse worked.
Lee-Anne and Liz were called to a table to chat with one of the show’s producers.
“He said, so tell me about yourselves and what you would do with the money if you win.”
“It was funny, we had a great rapport.”
They were told they might hear from the show “in a couple of months”. Five days later, they were summoned.
“That was a huge surprise,” said Lee-Anne.
A total of 175 people attended for the taping of five shows on one day; one person being chosen as the lucky contender in each show.
“It’s extremely exciting and has opened so many opportunities for me.”
Lee-Anne has applied for a scholarship to study through Monash University’s Frankston campus. If she’s lucky enough to be successful, she’ll use her winnings to buy books and help keep her family going while she is studying.
If not, the money will pay for the course.
“I have to get in yet!”
But she is hoping her great deal is an omen.
Her husband Bret, whom she describes as “gorgeous” and her children Tait 17, Tayla 15 and Rileigh 11, are right behind her. Bret is employed by South Gippsland Council as a risk management officer and Lee-Anne works there as an immunisation admin. officer.
Lee-Anne kept the result of the show quiet and when it went to air two weeks after being taped, her children watched and were thrilled to bits.
She wants to eventually become a MICA paramedic and her long term ambition is to be part of an air ambulance crew.
“I’m so dedicated and passionate to be a paramedic.
“My dream’s alive."

Short URL: http://www.thestar.com.au/?p=84

Posted by Chris Brown on Sep 29 2009. Filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry