She valiantly battled on as storylines became more absurd, and the scripts further deteriorated, serving as a constant reminder of the show's earlier high quality.
Pat's first screen role was in the 1939 film Seven Little Australians, based on a popular novel about a strict army man, his young wife and child, and his children from a former marriage.
Australian viewers will also remember Pat as the gossipy Dorrie Evans in the 1970s soap Number 96. The show was a huge ratings winner, often tackling issues that had hitherto been taboo on television. Dorrie was essentially a comic character, best known for her malapropisms and frequent cry of "Why wasn't I told?"
As well as these major roles, Pat was a guest on many television shows, including A Country Practice and the British sitcom In Sickness and in Health.
By the time of her death, Pat was established as one of Australia's best loved and enduring stars. |
