fearless, caring & generous

The world was at war when Patricia Angela Crowdy was born in the small country town of Innisfail. As the only daughter of strict Irish Catholic immigrants, her childhood was not easy. At school, she was a mischievous prankster with a rebellious streak, refusing to comply with the demands of cane wielding nun's. It was clear from an early age, Pat would be a force to be reckoned with.

When she was just five years old, Patricia met her future husband - a good-looking boy called Donald. He was a tall chap with dark black hair and the son of Finnish immigrants. What began as a childhood friendship grew to become a teenage romance and then a loving bond that endured a lifetime. Back then Patricia was a blonde beauty with a tiny waist. She loved life, motorbikes, singing with a band and red became 'her' colour.

At 16, Patricia became a mother when Karen-anne was born. During that era, being an unmarried mother carried harsh consequences, and Patricia was forced to give her daughter to her brother and his wife, who adopted her as their own. The trauma of this separation would impact her for the rest of her life.

Her second daughter, Desley, was born shortly afterward. The family then moved to Papua New Guinea; a pacific island nation that had been under Australian control since 1906. But it wasn't until the 1960's (after WWII) that Australia began investing in infrastructure. PNG quickly became a land of adventure and opportunity for young Australians like Patricia and Don. It was a chance to live and work in a tropical paradise. They began on a small island called Samurai, where Pat fell pregnant with Graham. Due to complications, she had to return to Australia where she was forced to stay for most of her pregnancy and a further 3 months after Graham was born.

Pat was overwhelmed with excitement when she boarded the seaplane with her newly-born Son. It had been 9 months since she had seen Desley and Don.

Following six years living on Samurai, the family relocated to Rabaul; made famous for its role in World War II and continuous volcanic activity. Patricia joined the shipping department at Burns Philp, where Don was working. It was here that she discovered 30-minutes in a freezer cool room was the perfect remedy for a severe hangover.

While Don was constantly falling off his scooter, Pat developed a reputation for driving her sports car into coconut trees. It was in PNG that her obsession with animals began and it started with tropical fish. It wasn't long before the backyard was crowded with bathtubs and she was breeding and exporting live fish to Australia.

The weekends were spent fishing and during the week they played darts. A large BBQ was built, coloured lights were suspended from the trees and a professional dart board was installed at the front of the house. This set the scene for parties and dart competitions that went to the early hours.

Her ability to remain calm under pressure and to get things done regardless of the obstacles earned her a position with the Department of Civil Defence, where she played a vital role in the response to severe earthquakes and tsunamis.

As PNG prepared for independence in 1975, law and order began to deteriorate. So, after 16 years Patricia decided to return to Australia with Desley and Graham, and moved to Brisbane. Home was now a 2 bedroom flat with no household staff. Patricia was alone and had to face the enormous task of helping her children adjust to a new environment until Don could join her when he finished his expat contract.

Now in Australia, the family moved into a new purpose built home in Bracken Ridge. Immediately after the house and before the driveway was paved an in-ground swimming pool was built. Rodger Fuller helped build the BBQ and 21 Pangarinda Street became the social hotspot. There was a constant stream of visitors, howls of laughter and Pat leading the effort to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves and left well-fed.

Always ready to step up to the plate, Pat joined the Red Cross, established Charlies Angels at the Chermside Hospital and then became a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. At night you would find her in the kitchen making batches of her famous stick-jaw toffee for a school fetes, and when Graham joined the school swimming squad she was up before the crack of dawn to drive him to the pool.

There was more animal breeding - this time Siamese Seal Point cats and Mini-Dachshunds. Plus, the Henrickson house was never complete without a screeching sulphur crested cockatoo.

With help from Desley, Pat opened a pools supply and service business. Soon after, Graham surprised the family by passing his driving test. However his Mum was horrified when he reversed into a clients car.

Then came the 'sea change' and she and Don sold the house and bought a plot of land with a dam not far from Brisbane. They named it 'the rock' but it proved unsuitable as a hobby farm. Living in a caravan and a tin shed soon lost their appeal. So they sold up and bought a 4 wheel drive along with a caravan and set off around Australia.

Together with their 4-wheel drive partners in crime - Lynne and JJ, Pat and Don travelled the length and breadth of the country. The Leyland Brothers were nothing in comparison.

As they travelled south, Pat and Don turned their hands to fruit picking and eventually reached Darwin where they decided to buy a house and stay. Soon after moving in, Pat was breeding Fancy Mice, Finches, and hand-raising Indian Ringneck Parrots. While visiting Graham and Desley in Sydney, Pat went off to a Fancy Mice exhibition and returned with a box of them. If not for Graham's corporate connections, there was no way in hell that box of rodents would have been permitted on a flight.

While living in Darwin, Pat returned to volunteer work - this time in aged care and helping men dying from AIDS. This was at a time when very little was known about the disease, and many thought it was transmitted by touch. Further proof that her compassion for others knew no bounds.

When they purchased a new spa, the sales manager was so taken by her character and level of knowledge that he offered her a job. It wasn't long before Pat was the go to spa and pool expert for the NT’s wealthy elite.

But, they soon became restless and decided to return to Queensland, where they spent a year living on Palari Station with Karen-anne and Tony before buying a small home in Armstrong Beach/Serina. But Pat wasn’t content to retire quietly; wildlife rescue became her new passion.

Day and night, she and Don would rush from one wildlife emergency to another - collecting injured animals, removing snakes from bathrooms, cutting grass for animal feed, and nursing hairless baby possums. During a drought, as birds fell from the sky, she answered over twenty calls a day. Graham eventually stepped in, answering the phone to politely say - "Thanks for the call, but we’ve got a house full of birds - you keep it.”

Pat was like Dr Dolittle on steroids. The house and backyard were transformed into a zoo, and she was frequently approached and quoted by journalists on various wildlife issues. On one occasion, Graham was watching the Channel 7 news while Pat was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Suddenly she appeared on screen to explain the damaged caused by 4 wheel drives on Queensland beaches. Locals affectionately called her the 'Minister for Everything' and even the police knew she was not to be messed with.

Then during Don's 70th Birthday celebrations, Pat suffered a massive heart attack. But to avoid a fuss she kept it to herself and didn't say a word until hours later. She then had to be airlifted and underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery but was out of hospital and back causing trouble in a matter of days.

When Don was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Pat dedicated herself to saving his life. She sat at his bedside in hospital for 3 months and when he had a series of seizures, she kept him alive on the size of the road until the paramedics and police could reach them. His death in 2010 broke her heart - she had lost her life partner and soulmate. Although she struggled to move forward, she refused to surrender to despair.

Instead, she bought a new home in Childers, where the local community embraced her. Then came unexpected news - one of the elderly people she cared for in Darwin had passed away. Although she was extremely difficult to deal with, Pat showed genuine compassion, providing the care that was needed when no one else would. Pat's kindness and dedication was acknowledge in this persons will and she received a sizable share of the estate.

She was often heard saying - 'Don't just stand there. Do something!'

Pat’s life was a testament to altruism, resilience, and love. Her legacy lives on in the animals she saved, the lives she touched, and the many people she helped and inspired.

In recent years, Pat faced a series of serious health challenges - high blood pressure, chronic pain, diabetes, and the aftermath of heart and shoulder surgery, along with multiple hospitalisations due to serious falls. Despite these hardships, her indomitable spirit remained unbroken.

Graham and Desley tried desperately hard to persuade her to move to Sydney, where she could receive the level of care she needed. But even in her old age, Pat was just as determined and single-minded as she was in her youth.

The final chapter was heartbreakingly clear: dementia.

Despite her fierce fight to hold onto her independence and clarity, she could no longer deny the relentless progress of the disease. In January 2025, the situation became desperate, and the risks of her remaining at home became too great. The hardest decision any family can face was made - to arrange residential care.

Desley flew to Bundaberg and spent three months with Pat, helping her transition and ensuring she received the best possible care.

But Australia's aged care system is flawed and underfunded - those on the front lines are as much victims as the residents they serve. Staff shortages, inadequate training, and lack of proper supervision are widespread issues. The shift toward privatisation has often prioritised cost over quality of care.

To stay connected and keep life colourful, Graham had fresh flowers delivered to Pat every fortnight and was fortunate to spend four precious days with her in the two weeks before she passed. She was still bright, feisty, engaging, and caring, but also disoriented and sad. On one day the home managed to lose her, but Graham tracked her down; finding her in her wheelchair with microphone in hand singing a range of her favourite tunes while another resident played piano and a large group looked on.

From her first steps, Pat was a force to be reckoned with. She was not backward in coming forward and fiercely protective of those she loved and those unable to defend themselves.

She was unafraid of adversity and embodied strength and resilience. She was clever, savvy, and genuine - what you saw was what you got.

As you left, her parting words would typically be - "Don't do what I wouldn't do' followed by 'If you do, make sure you're good at it!'.

Her kindness, love, and generosity knew no bounds. She always put the needs of others’ before her own. Children and animals alike were drawn to her warmth and unbridled enthusiasm.

Pat was talented but never conceited. It's true she loved a bit of limelight, but never at the expense of others. Integrity was her hallmark - a word created with her in mind.

Pat was a luminous beacon whose personality lit up any room. A wicked sense of humour combined with exceptional storytelling made her unforgettable.

For her family - Desley, Karen-anne, and Graham - the loss is overwhelming, and life without her seems unimaginable.

It’s okay to grieve; it’s a sign of profound love and admiration. But we need to celebrate as well - Pat Henrickson led a remarkable life and left an indelible mark on everyone she met.

She was born at a time of hardship and grew up in a world when a woman's place was in the home. But, rather than conform, she set her own path; using laughter and kindness to build bridges.

Sadly, she suffered terribly over the past 2 years and we can take comfort knowing she's now free from pain. Best of all, she’s reunited with Don - the only man she truly loved with all her heart.