The Life and Time Stories of Australian Musicians, Performance Artists and those who commenced their contributed to the Australian Music industry from the 1950’s through to the 1970’s.
Australian Rock of Ages is a series of interviews conducted with artists, entrepreneurs, managers. Those who promoted and contributed to the Australian Music Industry. All were born in Australia or settled in Australia during the halcyon years of the late 1950’s through to the late 1970’s.
We present a different story each month.
This program features the 4-part story of Baby Boomer Pat Wilson.
It is the story of a woman that grew up in a working class family, but one where her parents highly valued both education and music.
In the first part of her story we are introduced to her parents and we gain an understanding of how and why they had such a positive influence upon Pat.
We also gain an understanding of why this woman had such a passion for music, which would profoundly influence her future in many ways.
However it would be a mistake to think music was the limit of her passions. Yet it was her love of music that would lead her to a major moment in her life. She meets and marries one of Australia’s most decorated musicians – Ross Wilson.
An avid reader and follower of social issues would also translate into concrete skills and beliefs.
Her stories are more than the rich story of the development of Australian music through the 1960’s and ‘70’s. They also remind us of the excitement and pace of change that was driven by this Baby Boomer Generation.
This is Part 2 of the Life and Times of Pat Wilson.
Born in the early 1950’s, Pat was always driven by a love for music.
In this part of her story she talks about the literal explosion of Australian music in the 1960’s. Pat particularly focuses on the bands and venues in and around Melbourne.
She also shares her story of how she came to meet Ross Wilson. At this time Ross was a young up and coming musician who was as charismatic as he was talented.
Pat talks about why Ross wasn’t eligible for the Vietnam War draft which caught many young men up during this period.
She also shares her feelings on what was happening at that time in regard to the Vietnam war. In doing so she also speaks on the social upheavals associated with it.
We learn how Ross went to the UK to work and how she joined him. This really is a fascinating part of her story.
There is the story of their marriage and the story of the sharing of a magnificent old mansion with other musicians.
Another fascinating story is that of their return journey to Australia – overland hitchhiking, that demands our attention.
Part 3 is the penultimate program. Pat finishes the absolutely engrossing tale of the return of Ross and herself overland from the UK to Australia.
This was a journey that involved hitchhiking, with some wonderful and terrifying stories.
They arrive broke in Darwin and worked there for a while before returning to Melbourne.
It is also the now that Pat talks openly about Ross Wilson’s musical compatriot for many years. This was the much loved and respected Ross Hannaford.
She openly shares her stories of “Hanna”. These are the perspectives of someone who knew him early in his career when Ross was forming the Pink Finks.
Pat spent a lot of time with “Hanna”. As someone who spent a lot of time with him, her insights into this wonderful man are shared openly with us.
In her words, he was the “sweetest, sweetest human being” she had ever met.
Now her story also begins the tale of her career. This was her very successful career as Pat “The Bop-Girl” Wilson.
We learn how Bob-Girl became a massive hit. Her husband Ross Wilson wrote it and Pat recorded it, catapulting her into instant fame.
Part 4 is the final part of the story of Baby Boomer and successful recording artist Pat Wilson.
She focuses heavily on issues other than music.
Pat has a highly developed social conscience and talks with great passion on issues involving the ecology and climate science.
Pat values her life and this planet and expresses great concern for what is happening to planet Earth.
In my mind Pat exemplifies the adage – “Think globally, act locally”.
Pat sets out and shares with us her concerns. She reminds us that change for the better will only come about when people of good conscience speak out.
Yet through it all, music is for her, a passion and an imperative!
Pat Wilson – Part 1
Pat Wilson – Part 2
Pat Wilson – Part 3
Pat Wilson – Part 4
Previous stories in Australian Rock Of Ages can be found via these links;
Program #1 – Bob Bright: Click here
Program #2 – Normie Rowe: Click here
Program #3 – Mike Rudd: Click here
Program #4 – Phil Manning: Click here
Program #5 – Marcie Jones: Click here
Program #6 – Ross D. Wylie: Click here
Program #7 – Lynn Thorpe: Click here
Program #8 – Sam See: Click here:
Program #9 – Mick Hamilton: Click here
Program #10 – Claire Humphrys: Click here
Program #11- Glyn Mason: Click here
Program #12 – David Flint: Click here
Program #13 – Chris Stockley: Click here
Program #14 – Frank Howson: Click here
Program #15 – Mick Elliott: Click here
