Stomping good time coming to the Northern Rivers
By Samantha Elley
When Patricia Amphlett entered a talent contest back in 1963, she had no dreams whatsoever of becoming a professional singer.
“I was quite nerdy and I loved school,” she said.
“I wanted to go to uni and study medicine.”
What became the medical world’s loss, however, was one of the Australian 60s music scene’s greatest gains as “Little Pattie”, as she became known, went on to record hits such as “He’s my Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy” and “Stompin’ at Maroubra”.
And now, over 60 years later, Little Pattie continues to bring that same energy on stage, with no plans to slow down or stop.
“As long as I retain my good health and as long as people want to hear my music, I will keep going,” she said.
And that is exactly what she is doing with fellow performers Dinah Lee, Jade Hurley OAM, Lucky Starr and Digger Revell, all voices from the same era of rock and roll.
The show, appropriately named ‘The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’, will relive all the fabulous original hits by the hitmakers themselves.
“We might be old in some people’s eyes, but we are in good health, we still do our jobs well and we love performing,” said Little Pattie.
“We travel together and we arrive at a venue and we get such a thrill.
“The minute we are in a dressing room, so the fun begins.”
And so the fun will begin for the audiences who come to see these timeless performers do what they do best – entertain.
“We have a wonderful time as we care about each other,” said Little Pattie.
“There are no jealousies or rivalries. We are an old family on the old road and loving every minute of it still.”
It was a visit to Vietnam in 1966, that created a life-changing moment for the young singer when she was only 17 years old.
“At 17 when I went to Vietnam, I was the youngest performer to ever go,” she said.
“It was every emotion you could think of.
“It was eye-opening, emotional, happy, sad.
“I experienced the best of people in our soldiers and military people.”
On the final day, Little Pattie and Col Joye and the Joy Boys had performed three concerts when the noise of a nearby battle, taking place in the rubber plantations around the Nui Dat Task Force, meant the performers needed to be evacuated.
That skirmish would soon be known as The Battle of Long Tan, Australia’s most costly battle in Vietnam.
To this day, Little Pattie continues to support Vietnam veterans.
“I am very enriched by the friendships I still have with Vietnam veterans,” she said.
![The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’](https://thenorthernriverstimes.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-03-at-12.07.43-pm-714x1024.png)
The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’
To grab your seats for The Good Old Days Of Rock ’n’ Roll, check out the dates below:
- Saturday 14th September, 2024 – THE SARATON THEATRE, GRAFTON NSW – 2.00pm – Bookings: (02) 6642 1633
- Sunday 15th September, 2024 – TWIN TOWNS SERVICES CLUB, TWEED HEADS NSW – 2.30pm – Bookings: 1800 014 014
- Saturday 12th October, 2024 – EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA QLD – 2.00pm – Bookings: 1300 655 299
“I am making a promise that everyone who comes to our show will leave feeling very good and with a smile on their face,” said Little Pattie.
“It will be a trip down memory lane and I know they will have a good time as I see them having a good time, and we have a good time as well.”
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