Wendy's role model 'MUM'S MY INSPIRATION'

The enduring broadcaster has a team of terrific girl power behind her

- Donna Fleming

For some women, being part of the “sandwich generation” – where you have a hectic life of your own, and both your children and your parents depend on you – can be tough.

With teenage kids, a mum about to turn 80 and a busy workload that includes emceeing events, as well as being a fill-in newsreader on TVNZ, Wendy Petrie could easily be part of that demographic. But she counts herself very fortunate that her family are all very independent.

“I know it’s difficult for some people, but I feel very lucky – my kids are all very capable of doing their own thing, especially my girls, and my mum is still really active. In fact, she’s still doing so much to help me.”

Just the week before Wendy, 52, spoke to the Weekly, her mum Carole Petrie had stepped in to get grandson Zach, 13, to a water polo game when neither Wendy nor her husband Ross Peebles could make it because of work.

Nana Carole has been stepping up for Wendy’s family (and her son Brent’s) for nearly two decades and is only too happy to help out where she can. But she’s not needed for chauffeuring duties quite so much these days - no only because Wendy's girls Addison (known as Addie) and Olivia (Liv) both have their driving licences, but because Addie now lives in the United States and Liv will be joining her there next year.

Both are talented athletes who have won scholarships to universities in San Diego.

Addie, 19, has been at the University of San Diego for 18 months on a rowing scholarship, while Liv, 17, has just been offered a place at San Diego State University on a swimming scholarship.

"We've somehow managed to work it so that they are in the same city, which I am very pleased about," says Wendy. "I will have to invent lots of reasons for going up there.