I would really appreciate it if you could
extend my thanks and heart felt gratitude to Andrew. Some girls
would wet their pants if they ran over Brad Pitt with their
shopping trolley or stiletto pumps - I almost wet mine meeting
Andrew. "I love your work", would only sound sleazy and
contrived, so instead, please alert him to the fact that
listening is a skill few possess - a skill he is toooo good at.
Which explains why so many of us Front Up'pers are so able to
spill our proverbial guts over the entire nation. I had my ex
boyfriend on the phone to my parents, immediately after, wanting
to know why they loathed him - I hadn't spoken to him for months,
so thanks to the program, I was inundated with phone calls. Most
of them from people I had lost contact with years ago; even got a
knock on the door from my neighbour, who usually just kicks our
cat out of his front garden and never says hello. So thank you.
You mentioned a couple of people had rung up
looking for my address. I was hoping you could send them on. I
was only wondering this, because I have heard via someone in
Buenos Aires that someone I knew there has now moved to
Australia. He may have seen the program and does not know where
to contact me. My fertile imagination was leaping to its many
conclusions, once again. Alas, this could just be very wishful
thinking. If you have the time to e mail them to me, I would be
really grateful.
Once again, please let Andrew know how great
his ears really are, and how huge his audience is amongst people I
have not seen for ages.
Regards,
Lucy
Strickland
I especially love your FRONT UP series - I
never miss it. It makes me laugh with joy and cry with pain at
times - strikes a chord with me. I love trying to see where the
interview is being conducted by noticing background buildings and
features. A bit like a mystery! Love the places you bail people
up - especially the Oxford Street interviews!
Cameron
Edgar, Contract Exploration Geologist, Perth WA
Dear Andrew,
Caught up with your programme tonight. (5/5/98) What a good
conversationalist you are. You are certainly able to draw out
people from their shells. Well done. I found the programme
delightful.
Ross
Skiffington, Melbourne
Wow - I just read your profile. You’re the
guy who does that SBS show. I don't know which but either you or
the show is truly...(thinking of lots of positive adjectives and
then discard them all)... frightening. Every time I watch I get
shivers up my spine waiting for someone to publically disembowel
themselves. How do you do it? Aagh - don't tell me. It's amazing
to watch. I thank god that between me and you is my telly, and
you can't jump into the living room for just a little chat...
Andrew
Maloney (27/4/98)
Your half-hour show has been a great tonic to
my wife and I. We watch it with the anticipation that we will be
transported from the stresses of our work (both of us teachers in
the public system) and family life (3 teenage girls) into the
world of others, where we are reminded of the incredible
diversity of life's journeys. You have the ability to extract
some remarkable excerpts from some extraordinary
"ordinary" people.
Thank you and keep making the series.
Earley-Taylor
Dear Andrew,
I work as an ambulance officer, because I enjoy the interaction
with people from all walks of life. I have found your program
challenging, and I like the set of 3 principles that you
enunciate in getting the best out of people. Particularly,
"never assume anything". I have found that I have dug a
bit of a hole for myself in my dealings, if I lose sight of this
ideal, and it is nice to be reminded at times.
Thanks for your gem.
Neil
Tyson
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on
bringing into our homes every Tuesday evening the many
interesting and varied lives of folk in and around our cities.
You have a wonderful, natural and most impressive gift of
communication - I am most envious! These days it truly does seem
a lost art! I have been an avid viewer of Front Up for quite some
time now and it seems you don’t have to ‘front up’
on too many occasions as folk are seeking you out to be
interviewed. I must admit whilst I was travelling in Sydney last
spring for a few days, I found myself looking for Andrew Urban. I
thank you for all the folk I have met through you and have been
extremely moved by some. I sincerely thank you for the
introduction to Ralph, the butcher, (14/4/98) who at the outset
charmed me - I had been endeared into this gentle man from the
moment you first introduced us to Ralph and as his story unfolded became more engrossed - what a wonderful soul. After our meeting him I just had to drop him a line and would greatly appreciate you passing on my note to him. Once again Andrew thank you for my Tuesday evenings - my only suggestion would be the programme could run for at least an hour! - the half hour flies.
Warm Regards,
Susan Shaw
"I don't get to see it that often but I think that the show is a wonderful living testimony to the philosophy 'We are all the same but different – and we all have a life full of good, bad, love, loss, pain, joy and many other things. Even those who we least suspect.'
Great stuff, thank you"
Mathew Corbett