In its first year, the fledgling Drama Department at Flinders had a staff of only two (Cherry and ex-ABC Radio man George Anderson), but Cherry's energy and high-profile drove significant expansion, and by the mid-1970s, the department had over a dozen staff, teaching Drama as both an academic discipline, and as training for professional careers in theatre and film, a unique approach at the time.
The Drama Department at Flinders University started small with only two employees (Cherry and George Anderson) but Cherry's dedication and influence led to rapid growth by the mid-1970s. The department became known for its dual focus on academic study and professional training in theatre and film, a pioneering approach during that era.