Nobody in New Zealand knew her real name was Rosalie Edmondson. And that she came from Bootle, just north of Liverpool. In the mid-sixties the family moved to New Zealand. Just at the time Liverpool & the Beatles were coming up in the world.

She became immensely popular in NZ. And she was everywhere. On lots of shows. Doing lots of TV appearances. Her photo was in magazines, even on the cover of the short-lived teen music magazine Teen Beat.

She first came to Australia in 1966 where she appeared on shows like Bandstand. Over her time here she often performed on Billy Thorpe’s show It’s All Happening. By the late 60s she’d moved on from being a pop star & began delivering jazz & blues influenced shows in the Sydney clubs. In 1970, she worked with Climax delivering rock, jazz & disco. But just prior to NYE 1970 she’d had enough of working in the music industry & wanted to get out.

She wanted to travel & did, even spending 8 years living in India. Because she’d disappeared so quickly the rumour-mongering was rife. The most outrageous tale was about her being taken by bandits in Afghanistan . . . She wasn’t.

I’d interviewed her for the book in 2017 at her shop in Mordialloc. She’d always been interested in fashion so it came as no surprise that she had a shop full of unique styles of women’s clothing. In great colours. And she was in her element there. It was lovely to see her looking so vibrant.

So it came as a shock to many that a few days ago her death was announced (after a short illness).