Tributes flow for ‘Little Pattie’

Patricia Amphlett at the MEAA federal council meeting. Behind her are ACTU president Ged Kearney and MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy.

Small in stature, but a giant of the labour movement, former MEAA federal president Patricia Amphlett has been awarded a life membership of the union.

Patricia, who retired as president last year, was honoured during the federal council meeting on Saturday (February 27).

Patricia joined Equity on November 30, 1963, aged 14, about the same time as her debut single, ‘He’s My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy’ became a top 10 hit.

She became active in the union and in the wider labour movement, performing on the recording of the 1972 ALP campaign song, ‘It’s Time’ and posing for an iconic photo with Gough Whitlam.

Following the amalgamations that created the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, she served four terms as vice-president before she was elected president in 2001.

She held that position until last year, when she was succeeded by Simon Collins.

The life membership medal was presented by Equity national president Chloe Dallimore, who described Patricia as a “pocket rocket”.

“You are unflappable, no matter the union issue or the language hurled,” Chloe said.

“You steered us through calm, slightly swelling and stormy waters with elegance, eloquence and ultimate class.

“You’ve listened and acknowledged — and I think that’s the greatest thing as a leader, to have heard and acknowledged the people around you.

“You’ve been our pocket rocket. The union has been so blessed to have you as a member.”

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney said Patricia was a genuine icon of the movement.

“You have always been there holding up the flag for women in the movement, meeting after meeting making sure there was a voice for women there and I am really honoured to have been in the same movement as you,” she said.

Patricia said she had loved just about every moment as president of MEAA and was confident the leadership of the union was in good hands.

She said she would always be proud to describe herself as a unionist, no matter how unfashionable that was.

“It’s been a terrific marriage, most of the time, between the different sections, and may I pay tribute to the leaders of the different sections, they all do such a fabulous job,” Patricia said.

“We do have great staff, we have great leadership. It’s been a bumpy road, particularly the last few years, but we have weathered an almighty storm and have a fantastic body of people.”