Patricia Thelma Thompson OAM, aka Little Pattie, aka Patricia Amphlett (born 17 March 1949) is an Australian entertainment industry legend. Her illustrious career has included roles as singer, producer, compere, union boss, industry representative on government bodies and school teacher.
My Little Pattie story: In 1985 I was the official photographer for the Festival of Sydney, photographing the inaugural Jazz In The Domain at the side of the stage when I felt a tug on my shirt. I turned around and found Little Pattie, who said “Can you please take my camera and photograph the band from the front of the stage?”
I said “Sure thing. Can I grab a photo of you?” Pattie laughed and posed for this quick photo. She gave me her Instamatic camera and said “My boyfriend is the drummer” … instantly I thought, “I hope I got the drummer in my photo of her” … unfortunately I didn’t, but hey, here it is … anyway, I made a few photos of the jazz band performing, especially of the drummer, Lawrie Thompson for her.
Little Pattie at Jazz In The Domain, Sydney Festival, 1985. © Mark Anning photo 1985
Patricia Thelma Thompson OAM, Little Pattie, Patricia Amphlett, married the drummer Lawrie Thompson a year later, in 1986.
The light of my life is my husband, Lawrie. We’ve been married for 20 years and it really is a good marriage, for many reasons, but I guess because we’re both in the same business, the music business. Sometimes, quite often actually, we get to work together.
Little Pattie, Series Three of Talking Heads, ABC TV, 12/02/2007
Patricia Amphlett’s first husband was Keith Jacobsen, the bass player with Col Joye and the Joyboys. Keith was brother of Col Joye and well known entertainment entrepreneur and former musician Kevin Jacobsen. They were married for 11 years.
Little Pattie’s musical career
Little Pattie released her debut single in November 1963, “He’s My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy”. The flip side was “Stompin’ at Maroubra” the surf music style and a dance style craze that was known as ‘The Stomp’
In November 1963 when she was aged 14, and reached No. 2 on the Sydney music charts (#1 was the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand”),
it was a nickname because my girlfriend was Pattie and she was taller. And I had a medium-sized Pattie and I was the little one. So Patricia was a bit common in those days.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Surf music and a dance style craze called ‘The Stomp’ was all the rage in Australia in the early 1960s.
There was always music in our house, so I started taking piano lessons when I was seven and singing lessons when I was about 11. I was quite a shy kid.
Every weekend I went to the beach with my brother and at one of the surf clubs a man started a talent quest. Against my will, my friends literally carried me onto the stage and I sang a song called ‘Surfer Joe’. I won the talent quest because nobody else entered.
A man from EMI Records heard me and offered me a contract. So at age 14 my first record came out called ‘He’s My Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy’.
The single went to number two on the charts and number one was ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ by the Beatles. So I didn’t mind, you know, because I loved the Beatles.
The flip side to ‘Stompie Wompie’ was a song about the dance that was all the craze at the time, ‘Stompin’ at Maroubra’.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Little Pattie at the Battle of Long Tan
She was singing onstage at Nui Dat with the Joy Boys when the infamous Battle of Long Tan broke out on 18 August less than 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) away. The entertainers were quickly evacuated by helicopter from the Australian Task Force Base in Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam. The incident changed 17-year-old Little Pattie’s life and is firmly etched in her memory.
I was onstage when the Battle of Long Tan began. When we were onstage doing our third show it was obvious to me that, because officers were leaving rather dramatically from the audience, that something awful was happening just over there. It came on them suddenly, totally unexpectedly.
“During the third show I was given the sign, which of course is the fingers across the throat, which in show business means you better finish. We were very swiftly evacuated by Iroquois helicopters.
We could see the jungle where the battle was well and truly taking place and I remember that instinctive … that feeling of – this is very bad; this is dangerous. This is going to be a sad night, and indeed it was.
You know, 17-year-old thoughts and through 17-year-old eyes, I guess, but I could see thousands and thousands of orange lights, which of course was the gunfire, and I’ll never forget it. Never.”
— Patricia Amphlett, 17 August 2009, Radio Australia Today
Left: Little Pattie on stage with Col Joy and the Joy Boys
Right: This photograph was probably taken in the early evening of 18 August as D Company, 6 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) were in action in the rubber plantation of Long Tan. The concert was underway when D6RAR went into action. The audience quickly evaporated as they returned to their action station. © Australian War Memorial licensed under CC BY-NC
Despite this overwhelming experience at a young age early in her career, Little Pattie recalls her experiences entertaining the troops in Vietnam with fondness, feeling cared for at all times.
In the days after the battle, Col Joye and Little Pattie visited injured soldiers in hospital to comfort and sing to them.
We had to put a smile on the faces of the wounded. And, so, we were saying to each other in that great Aussie way of geeing each other up, “Are you OK?” “Yep, I’m OK.” “Are you OK?” “Yep, I’m OK.” “Righto, in we go.”
And into the hospital we went and suddenly it was horrible. White sheets, red blood, injured people, crying. I hadn’t experienced that before and I was sent to help out in that situation.
I quickly realised what I needed to do and that was to smile and Col and I sang some songs and lightened the atmosphere and we continued to do that whilst we were in Vietnam. But, yeah, it was a bit hard.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Little Pattie devoted much of her time to Vietnam Veterans, donating her services at many fundraising concerts and special events for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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.
In 1966, I was just 17 at the time, I was asked by the government of the day to go to Vietnam to entertain our troops.
Little did I know that my life would change so much … so much. So I went to Vietnam with Col Joye and the Joyboys and they were like big protective brothers.
We had a great time. But none of us could have possibly realised just how bad it was in Vietnam.
So when we came home from Vietnam we were told, “It’s best not to talk about it.” And I didn’t…well, not for a long time anyway.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
From 1966, Little Pattie performed solo in cabarets and clubs, and released singles and albums with EMI records until 1970 when she signed with Col Joye’s ATA recording label and management group. She appeared on many TV shows in America, including The Ed Sullivan Show, and in Australia, especially Johnny O’Keefe‘s Sing Sing Sing, and Brian Henderson’s Bandstand.
Little Pattie’s multi-talented entertainment career spans a broad spectrum from producing and performing in her own children’s pantomime, compering Charity and Corporate functions, and hosting Game shows and Variety Concerts.
Pattie followed her love of jazz and the swing era music of Gershwin, Rogers and Hart, and Cole Porter and she represented Australia at the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans, singing with the famous Bob Barnard Band.
In 1990, she toured China and Japan, singing with the legendary jazz musician Graeme Bell and his All Stars.
Little Pattie has earned many awards from the Radio and Recording Industry including ‘Best National Female Vocalist’ and Best Teenage TV Personality’ and a multitude of Gold Records from her radio chart successes.
Her energy is also evident in other involvements including her appointment as Member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Pattie was awarded an Order of Australia in 2003 and inducted into the prestigious ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2010 Patricia was appointed to the board of the Whitlam Institute and in 2011 she was appointed to the board of the National Film and Sound Archive.
Left: Iconic 1972 photo of Gough Whitlam and Little Pattie during the Its Time election campaign.
Right: Patricia Amphlett was made a life member of MEAA for her services as President of the union.
Little Pattie – It’s Time
In 1972, a big change was happening in Australia. Gough Whitlam was touted as our next prime minister and I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to be part of the ‘It’s Time’ commercial. I’m very grateful for Gough and I’m very grateful for that time.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Lead singer Alison McCallum laid down the foundation track at ATA Studios, Sydney. Col Joye conducted the chorus which was recorded in one day at the Hordern Pavilion and Supreme Sound Studios in Paddington.
The chorus was a “Who’s Who” of Australian entertainment and sport personalities, including Tony Barber, Barry Crocker, Lynette Curran, Ade and Rob Dames, Chuck Faulkner, Jimmy Hannan, Brian Henderson, Col Joye, Graham Kennedy, Dawn Lake, Bobby Limb, Bert Newton, Terry Norris, Little Pattie, Hazel Phillips, Kevin Sanders, Judy Stone, Maggie Tabberer, Jack Thompson, Jacki Weaver, and others.
“He was pretty hip, you know.”
“I thought Gough was a wonderful human being and he had a wicked sense of humour. I would always save my best jokes for him.”
Little Pattie
The 1972 election was the first ALP victory since 1946. As Prime Minister of Australia, Gough Whitlam ended conscription and the Vietnam War.
Patricia Amphlett, Union Boss – Federal President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
Patricia joined Equity on November 30, 1963, aged 14, about the same time as her debut single.
I was exploited as a young performer who didn’t know my rights at the time. I remember being dumped in Newcastle one night with no money and the promise of money and a trip back to Sydney.
Lots of things happened in those beginning years when I was about 16 or 17 and usually my mother was with me, so we were treated a bit roughly at times and lots of bouncing cheques, et cetera.
And it was because of that treatment that I made a stand and contacted the union. I didn’t know who else to go to and, of course, as it turned out they helped me and continue to help me.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Patricia served four terms as vice-president of Actor’s Equity before it was amalgamated to create the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, then she was elected president of MEAA in 2001. She held that position until 2015 and in 2016 was awarded a life membership of the MEAA union.
Patricia was also on the Federal Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Patricia Thompson – FACE, Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment
In 2004, General Peter Cosgrove invited her to be patron of FACE (Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment) and she was invited to go to Iraq to perform for Christmas 2005 and New Year 2006.
A couple of years ago, General Peter Cosgrove asked me if I’d like to be patron of FACE, Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment, which was around when I went to Vietnam. And I was delighted to say, “Yes.”
And I was invited to go to Iraq just last Christmas and New Year, which I did. And it was a little bit like Vietnam but not really. Very modern war, dare I say, another one that I wish we weren’t involved in.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Patricia Thompson performed at the “Salute to Vietnam Veterans” held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on 19 August 2006.
Chrissie Amphlett inducts her cousin into ARIA Hall of Fame
In 2009 Pattie was inducted into the prestigious Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame by her cousin, Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls, with former Australian Idol star, Lisa Mitchell performing “He’s My Blonde-Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy”.
We’re very close cousins. We’ve had similar upbringings and yet such different lives in terms of our music. She was the wild rock chick from an early age, whereas I wasn’t like that. She loved to perform from an early age and she’s had a very different personal life. She’s fought off the demons that I didn’t have to fight off, and she’s won.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
Little Pattie at Jazz In The Domain, Sydney Festival, 1985. Chrissy Amphlett in Divinyls, 1983 © Mark Anning photos © 1985-2023
“Chrissy always told people she was the wild one and I was the mild one, which wasn’t strictly true. We had such a lot of fun together, and we were very proud of each other.”
Little Pattie
Ms Amphlett, High School Teacher
Ms Amphlett taught singing at a few Sydney high schools: Burwood Girls High School; St. Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill; Mercy College, Chatswood and Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview
These days I still perform and I teach singing. And I really love teaching. I love the company of kids. They’re terrific. They’re wonderful, actually.
And I learn from them, they don’t know that. But I’m learning from them all the time. I love to watch them grow musically.
It’s lovely to have somebody to teach who has potential and then maybe you’ve helped them a bit along the way, and in the end they become great little performers. It feels good for me.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
One of the kids Ms Amphlett taught was Nikki Webster who achieved fame for her role in the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympics.
I taught Nikki when she was just a little girl and she obviously had considerable talent as a singer and a dancer and I feel for her quite a lot because the expectations are that she sings bubblegum stuff, or poppy stuff, and I know that she’s capable of so much more. I just hope she’s given that opportunity.
Little Pattie, Talking Heads, ABC TV, 2007
“life’s good, hey?”
“I think I’m very lucky. I’m happy, I’m well – touch wood – I’ve got a great husband and a lovely little rescue cat called Evie, so life’s good, hey?”
Little Pattie
Well, Little Pattie, you sure have an amazing ride, I think I am right, I remember seeing you perform at Surf City in the Cross, I was 17, you were 15, also my brother Terry saw you perform in Vietnam, at the time of the Long Tan battle, he was in the APC Armoured Corps, I have seen a few times over years with Col, Sandie Scott and others, always a class act, take care of yourself and keep singing. Love. Richard O’Neill.
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