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[Diane Rainnie] is one of only two original cast members of the show, which began when Movie World opened in 1991. It's being replaced by an $8 million stunt car spectacular as part of more than $20 million in new attractions at Movie World and sister parks Sea World and Wet 'n' Wild.
"I've done other jobs but it's hard to beat playing around in the sunshine, making people laugh and doing adrenalin-charged stunts. It's the best job ever," she said.
AFTER 16 years of hair-raising car chases, ear-splitting explosions, being shot at by villains and hoisted daily up a flagpole, rookie "cop" Diane Rainnie is finally handing in her badge.
Rainnie, alias wannabe law enforcer Cadet Knopinski, never quite managed to graduate from the police academy. And, with Gold Coast theme park Warner Bros Movie World bringing down the curtain on its Police Academy Stunt Show, she never will.
Rainnie is one of only two original cast members of the show, which began when Movie World opened in 1991. It's being replaced by an $8 million stunt car spectacular as part of more than $20 million in new attractions at Movie World and sister parks Sea World and Wet 'n' Wild.
The slapstick antics of Cadet Knopinski and her bumbling colleagues have played out before 2.7 million patrons over the years.
But after 18,000 performances, the cops and robbers-themed act -- based on the 1980s comedy Police Academy -- was past its use-by date, Warner Village Theme Parks chief Steve Peet said.
"It's still a great show but it was time to move on and have something new," he said.
Rainnie, who was 24 when she signed up as Cadet Knopinski, said she would be sad to say goodbye.
"I've done other jobs but it's hard to beat playing around in the sunshine, making people laugh and doing adrenalin-charged stunts. It's the best job ever," she said.
Rainnie plans to audition for the new show, which starts in October.
((C) Copyright Nationwide News Pty Limited)