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Official recognition for her decades of service to the television industry and her ongoing community work, has been given to one of Australia’s most iconic children’s entertainers.

Patsy Biscoe has been made a Member of the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day honours.

Image source: Facebook
Image source: Facebook

A household name in the 1970’s, generations of children grew up watching Patsy on popular television programs, ‘Here’s Humphrey’ and ‘Fat Cat and Friends’.  Watching her sing and play the guitar on the programs and also listening to Patsy’s records are strong memories within many childhoods throughout Australia.

At her home in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, Patsy said she was surprised to receive the honour.

“I now know why they call them honours because you just do feel it’s an honour,” she said.

Patsy’s path to stardom literally started by accident.

“I was coming back from a trad jazz concert when I was at uni and I was a passenger in a car involved in a car accident,” Ms Biscoe said.  “The result for me being the passenger that was most seriously injured was the damage I did to my eyes so I couldn’t study for a few months so someone gave me a guitar.”

Going on to becoming a finalist on the TV show Bandstand, she recorded her first LP record in 1965 before moving to Adelaide from Hobart – where she was spotted by one of the producers of ‘Here’s Humphrey’.

Image Source: Facebook
Image Source: Facebook

“The concerts you did with Humphrey or with Fat Cat on stage with kids, and there would be thousands of kids, were just gorgeous,” Biscoe said.  “I look back with enormous fondness, the children had a ball, the parents were there smiling, they were really happy, exciting occasions.”

Biscoe said one of her fondest memories was hearing her name on ABC Radio for the first time.

“As part of a news flash it was Patsy Biscoe had received another gold record, it was the early ’70s … and I just thought that was absolutely thrilling to be mentioned on ABC Radio,” she said.  “The other marvellous memory was this man who walked up to me in the street once and said ‘I absolutely hate, loathe and detest you.’ He said he drove from Perth to Sydney with his three-year-old and wife and he had to listen to Patsy Biscoe all the way.”

At the height of her career, Biscoe released more than 10 albums and won 30 gold records and one platinum record.

More recently, Biscoe has been focused on helping her local community and working with a grape-growing cooperative.

 

Image source: Facebook

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  • It brings back memories, had forgotten about her until I saw her picture. Sometimes something happens and our lives change. Have to wonder what her life would had been if not for the accident.

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  • Yay – I grew up with her xx

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  • Congratulations Patsy, you brought so much happiness to so many children and their parents, who thanks to you and others involved in the shows knew the program would always be suitable for their children to watch.
    You have done SA proud and I am sure you will continue to do so for many years to come.

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  • I grew up watching patsy I loved watching her and Humphrey bear every day. They were the Best. She should be honoured in the Aria hall of fame. Because without people like her there would be No wiggles or high five. The whole singing to children on Tv came from her and Humphey. & fat cat

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  • I remember watching her on Humphrey…feeling old now…

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  • This is a true honour for a wonderful entertainer and truly lovely Australian.

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  • I remember Patsy from when I was a child. Congratulations to her

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  • Congratulations, well deserved

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  • Good on her. Truely deserved recognition.

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  • How wonderful that she has been recognised. Congratulations.

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  • What a wonderful life and career. Congratulations!

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  • Congratulations! What a lovely lady!!

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  • oh I loved her as a kid, I always wanted to have hair just like hers, it was so straight and shiny – the things you remember from your childhood

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  • she remembers that time with good memories! she seems to have loved her job! that is what made her good at it, i suppose :)

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  • Remember Patsy well. a lovely entertainer that all my children loved.

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