Australian singer who performed as a teenage in 1960s surf pop and then in adult contemporary music. Her debut single from November 1963, “He’s My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy”, released when she was 14, achieved No. 2 chart success in Sydney and peaked at No. 19 on the national Kent Music Report. She appeared regularly on television variety programs, including Bandstand and toured supporting Col Joye and the Joy Boys. At age 17, Little Pattie was entertaining troops during the Vietnam War in Nui Dat, Vietnam, as an Australia Forces Sweetheart (in the vein of Lorrae Desmond, Dinah Lee and others), when the nearby Battle of Long Tan began on 18 August 1966. She appeared on several TV shows in America, including The Ed Sullivan Show. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal “in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam.”
She is the cousin of the late Chrissy Amphlett, frontwoman of Australian band Divinyls. She was nicknamed “Little Pattie” at school as she had two taller friends also named Patricia.
On 16 August 1966, 17 years old and 147 cm (4 ft 10 in) tall, Little Pattie became the youngest and shortest person to entertain troops during the Vietnam War. Along with Col Joye & the Joy Boys she performed three concerts each day, in Nui Dat, Vietnam, she was singing onstage backed by the Joy Boys, when the Battle of Long Tan started on 18 August less than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away. Although organisers had promised her safety, she was evacuated from the area before the completion of her scheduled performances.
She is currently a singing teacher at various high schools in Sydney, including St Joseph’s College and Burwood Girls High School. She has been married twice.
Link to Wikipedia biography