I'm Normies No.1 fan

BIG FAN: Normie Rowe and long-time fan Helen Bright of Ebenezer reunite before Normie’s performance.

David Nielsen

MORE than 45 years since she had her first brush with chart topper Normie Rowe, Helen Bright has once again come face to face with her idol.

As a 17-year-old living in Wollongong, Ms Bright and her younger sister Wendy made it their mission to track down their favourite pop stars and gain their autograph or a commemorative snapshot.

Compiling a veritable who’s who of ‘60s entertainers, her scrapbook contains signed evidence of the bands she crossed paths with, including autographs from members of The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, Neil Sedaka and Aussie star Ronnie Burns.

“We would just talk calmly to the people on the door,” Ms Bright said. “Everyone else would be screaming at them and we would just talk our way past.”

It was a technique that scored her a number of signed photographs of a then 18-year-old Normie Rowe.

On August 9, 1965, she even scored an unusual piece of memorabilia – a lock of his hair.

Now in her 60s, Ms Bright was among the fans cheering on the artist at the Australian Rock Legends In Concert: Nothing But The Truth concert on Wednesday night at the Ipswich Civic Centre.

Mr Rowe appeared alongside fellow music icons Joe Camilleri and Grace Knight.

They belted out their biggest Aussie hits including Shape I’m In, Harley and Rose, Fever, Shakin’ All Over, Que Sera Sera and On The Prowl.

He said it wasn’t the first time a fan had gotten hold of a lock of his hair.

“The president of my fan club used to tell me whenever I had my hair cut to collect the hair off the floor afterwards,” Mr Rowe said.

“So I’d put it in an envelope and she’s send it off to people.”

The Melbourne-based entertainer said it was nice to meet his long-time supporters.

“Some of them bring along vinyl records to be signed and I know records were recorded over 45 years ago,” Mr Rowe said.

“To have made that much of an impact on someone that they have kept a memento is really fulfilling and very touching.”