Terri’s first foray into the BB compound lasted merely hours and she was sent packing before she had even entered the House. Unperturbed, this Grandma wasn’t going to give up and when BB summoned her for the challenge to end all challenges, she wasn’t backing down.
Re-entering the House as the chaperone for party boy Corey - Terri wasn’t exactly welcomed with opened arms. HMs were shocked at the sight of the 52 year old waltzing back through the double doors into the House for a second time, none more so than the recipient of Terri’s HM Hand Grenade Nobbi. Thrown out to live in the Kombi, Nobbi was not a happy man and he let his frustration be known. Though Terri felt sorry for Nobbi, the die had been cast and Nobbi’s mind made up - he was definitely not Grandma’s greatest fan.
Terri was on a mission and couldn’t let the Nobbi ordeal throw her off task. BB ordained Terri with the daunting duty of keeping Corey under control and Terri wasn’t going to let the youngster off lightly. Terri stuck to her guns and tried to tame the teenager but ultimately it was Corey’s refusal to boot two of BB’s Webmates that gave Terri the opportunity she so desired. Stepping up to the plate Terri sent Michael and Barney packing, heralding Nathan the gatecrasher worthy of the HM title.
As a fully fledged HM once more, Terri struggled to find her niche in the House dynamic. Her constant ‘realism’, labelled by the HMs as negativity, struck a nerve with many of the bouncy twenty-somethings but Terri was determined to speak her mind. Her passion for Pauline Hanson and her political views landed her in some hot water but Terri was one to stand by her beliefs and never sink to the back of a heated debate. Even her close pal Nathan drove her to tears - but Terri’s resilience shone through and she didn’t give up.
One thing Terri was positively gushing about was her 21-year-old rugged Romeo, Rory. Terri’s feelings for Rory couldn’t be pushed aside. He was the one for whom her heart fluttered… Terri reckoned as far as young guys went Rory was IT, he loved his family, he was genuine and the fact that he looked hot in a g-banger was just icing on the cake.
The negative Nanna loosened up during her time in the House, she laughed along to the jovial ways of HMs half her age, joined in on some of the silliness in the spa and even found her own little protégé in Bianca. The two bonded over their opinionated antics and their joint talent of irritating others, Terri told Bianca that similar to herself, Bianca’s misunderstood ways would not change but continue throughout her life.
Despite Terri’s penchant for a heated argument, she made sure to settle all of her disputes before the sun went down. Not only did she come to speaking terms with sworn enemy Nobbi and Brigitte, she forged new friendships with the pair. Terri even taught Brigitte to knit and the two became very close - calling each other House Daughter and Mum. And when Rima revealed that there was no mole, it was Terri who told everyone to stick together.
In Intruder turned Housemate Terrence, Terri found a close companion – literally! Sent to live in the Kombi as the Grey Nomads as part of Nobbi’s Housemate Hand Grenade, Terri and Terrence shared many a’laugh during their night-time sleepovers but the Grandma soon grew tired of the Soapbox Dad and while she was sad to see the back of Terrence, she didn’t shed a tear to see him go.
But Terri did show emotion in the House, more than she originally intended to reveal. Terri opened up to Big Brother about how close she had gotten to her fellow Housemates and how invested she felt in each of their lives. The experience, she confessed, was life-changing... although her "emo" makeover wasn't sticking around!
Escaping Eviction after Eviction, Terri made the Final Five cut and then the Final Three chop! She had survived the slicing and dicing to emerge as a finalist ... and ultimately, the winner.
As the oldest person to ever enter the BB House - Terri came, she saw and she conquered - not letting a snap Eviction, a teenager or quirky Kombi man get in the way of her BB dream.
On Day 85, this Nana left the House the Big Brother 2008 Winner! Terri will be remembered for her fearless spirit, her triumph over adversity and – perhaps most – for her ability to remind us all that grandmas can have spunk and verve.
Disappearing in a cloud of Tabu and crowned Queen of BB08, Terri was the first to enter and the last to exit.
