A passion she cannot do without


A passion she cannot do without, by Clara Iaccarinot - 26th January 2007
(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)


Among the young arty types on screen and behind the cameras of the Tropfest short film competition, Joy Hruby's films cannot help but stand out.

"I put a film in every year featuring people of an average age of 70," Mrs Hruby says. "The organisers think it's funny because it's all young people who put in entries."

She proudly points out that at 79 she is again the oldest entrant in the annual competition. This year is her third year entering a film, but she has appeared in others in previous years.

After more than half a century of involvement in the arts and entertainment industry, Mrs Hruby has been recognised with a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the general division.

As well as her filmmaking forays, Mrs Hruby is a stalwart of community television. She has a studio at home, where she films and edits Joy's World, 1000 episodes of which have screened on TVS, channel 31, since 1989.

Mrs Hruby started Studio J actors' agency in 1969, now run by Jan Vassella. She has published a book, Dubbo Dazzlers, about her time entertaining soldiers in World War II and is adapting the story for a television series.

Her passion for the entertainment industry influenced her children's career paths. Her daughter Anna is an actor who first appeared as Nell in Seven Little Australians, her son, Frank, is a focus puller and worked on Mission: Impossible II and The Thin Red Line, and her daughter Janette is a former film location caterer. Her late husband, Denny, was a professional pianist.

"I can't believe it," Mrs Hruby said of her award. "How can they reward someone for doing something she loves doing? I've had a fantastic life. I love working with people."

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