Tran-Tasman tranny legend Carmen Rupe, a famous Kiwi drag community icon now living in Sydney, is in hospital this week awaiting hip surgery after a fall at her home last Friday. Her long-time friend Robin Waerea says he's worried about her, but is pleased to report she's still in great spirits. "When I arrived at her flat for my usual twice weekly visit, I was so surprised to see she wasn't here. A neighbour had called her an ambulance. It's going to be a long time before she can walk again, but I saw her last night, and she's doing OK. "It's been a real worry, but she's a strong girl. She asked me 'can you go out and get me a new wig? I want the doctor to visit me more often.'" Rupe's operation to replace her fractured hip will hopefully happen in the next couple of days, Waerea adds. The much-loved seventy-something at first didn't want to concern her many friends by telling them ofher accident and recovery, but word has spread among her Sydney contacts and she now wants people to know she's doing OK. Lately Rupe has been getting around the streets of Sydney on a red scooter bought for her buy her Kiwi friends and fans. Her friends in Sydney will now make sure she has an emergency ambulance button installed if she wishes to return to her flat, but Waerea says she'll stay with him during her recovery in the foreseeable future.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 12th January 2011 - 11:42am