The moment I knew: she was leaning against the ute, her rat’s tail catching the light – she looked electric

2026-02-21 - 19:13

In the 2000s, the queer scene in Queensland felt small, but Melania Jack fell for Patty Preece big time Find more stories from the moment I knew series Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email It was 2007 and I was heading out to work on the regional program of an Indigenous arts festival called Stylin’ Up. A car entourage of arts workers were headed to Cherbourg to run beatmaking, songwriting and dance workshops. As I drove up into Highgate Hill, the sun was just coming up. Ahead of me I saw Patty leaning against a yellow ute wearing a striped ’70s men’s T-shirt, a rat’s tail catching the light. She looked electric. I remember thinking: Uh oh. This person is literally shining. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Melania Jack and Patty Preece perform as the multidisciplinary arts duo The Ironing Maidens Continue reading...