Alma Johnson

Alma Johnson (aka Alma Evans-Freke) was the first female continuity announcer on New Zealand television. She made her debut in August 1960, a few months after Auckland station AKTV-2 began regular broadcasts. By then Johnson had worked extensively in radio, and studied drama in London. As continuity announcer, she introduced and linked the night's shows. Often she worked with Tim Evans-Freke (her future husband). Johnson was known for her diction and style; off-screen she was a noted speech and drama teacher. Her students included Carol Hirschfeld and Jesse Peach. Johnson passed away on 15 September 2017.

Television announcing to me was never more than just a job. We were public servants and it never occurred to any of us at the time to think of ourselves as personalities or, heaven forbid, stars. There were, however, a lot of things we were asked to do — opening fairs and judging baby shows, which I enjoyed doing. Alma Johnson, in a June 2010 Listener interview with David Lomas