Stomping good time coming to the Northern Rivers

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

The Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance is excited to deliver its annual dementia symposium to the community of the North Coast. This inspirational and informative event for health professionals, carers of people living with dementia and interested parties will be held on Friday the 25th of October at the Ballina RSL club in beautiful Ballina. Local well known identity Mandy Nolan will MC the event. Mandy is experienced in working with people with high levels of dementia in a very innovative approach. This exciting event brings together renowned international and local experts, including Professor Susan Kurrle Geriatrician; who is renowned for her 2023 ABC program ‘Old Peoples Home for Teenagers’, Professor Ian Cameron Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine; who has published Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care of People Living with Traumatic Brain Injury in the

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 fnal 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.

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 NSW2.00pm - Bookings: (02) 6642 1633

Sunday 15th September, 2024 - TWIN TOWNS SERVICES CLUB, TWEED HEADS NSW - 2.30pm - Bookings: 1800 014 014

Saturday 12th October, 2024EMPIRE 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.”

Community, Associate Professor Sarah Russell; Healthy Ageing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Dr Suraj Samtani; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, plus our local Geriatrician Dr Danielle Medek, Dr Tien Khoo; Staff Specialist General Medicine and local GP’s Dr Hilton Koppe, Dr Peter Silberberg to name a few.

The theme for this year’s symposium is Fostering Resilience to Dementia: Recognising and Reducing Risk based on the 2020 report of the Lancet Commission which identifed twelve risk factors into a life-course model of dementia prevention. The report advises ‘together 12 modifable risk factors account for around 40% of worldwide dementias, which consequently could theoretically be prevented or delayed. It is never too early and never too late in the life course for dementia prevention’.

Our speakers will address the identifed risk factors including obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, less education, diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, hearing impairment excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, air pollution, living in an urban area and how these factors impact dementia. This event should not be missed, the organisers have been successful in gaining local sponsorship to keep registration cost to a minimum. The Ramada hotel Ballina has kindly offered a reduced rate for accommodation for delegates for Spa Room @ $225 per room per night. Please use the code 491499. When making your booking. We look forward to seeing you on the day Anne Moehead, OAM, PSM on behalf of the planning team