LOCAL LIFE
BLACKTOWN’ S FINEST...
Photo: Kathryn Johnston. by John Macdonald
Dolly Parton has hit the big time— she’ s written and recorded two songs with The Wiggles and allowed the group to rework one of her classic tracks.
The new songs are titled Friends and We Will Always Be Friends. The reworked classic is Nine to Five, now transformed by The Wiggles into One to Five.
Perhaps, 45 years on and with The Wiggles’ stamp of approval, Parton’ s timeless hit— and these new collaborations— might finally receive the recognition they deserve.
They’ re all featured on The Wiggles’ new album, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up.
It’ s all a bit of good-natured fun, of course, but when a music legend like Parton gets involved, it shows just how legendary The Wiggles themselves have become.
From humble beginnings performing before a dozen children at a Randwick daycare centre, The Wiggles have travelled the globe, capturing the hearts and imaginations of children everywhere. Their music and videos have even been used by a teacher in Papua New Guinea to engage local children.
Parents of a certain age— those who had young children during the group’ s original run— will remember The Wiggles as Australia’ s biggest entertainment phenomenon since The Beatles. Preschoolers, kindy kids, infants, and early primary schoolers alike all went through their Wiggles phase.
They were a sensation that became a global cultural force. And here’ s something not widely known: Blacktown can proudly claim them as one of its finest exports. Brothers Anthony and Paul Field grew up in the district.
“ I’ m a westie born and bred,” said Paul, brother of Anthony, who founded The Wiggles and remains the group’ s leader and creative force more than three decades on.
Paul managed the group until stepping down in 2020 and even performed on stage in the early days, dressed as Captain Feathersword.
Their father, John, was a chemist who opened a pharmacy in Seven Hills in the early 1960s. A devout Catholic, he and his wife settled in Lalor Park, where they raised seven children in quick succession.
“ It was a great place to grow up, absolutely,” Paul said.
“ There were a lot of housing commission homes, young families, and plenty of grass.
“ There was always music in the house thanks to Mum. We went to St Bernadette’ s in Lalor Park, then did Year 5 and 6 at Blacktown Patrician Brothers.
“ We were mad about rugby league.”
The Field family also faced serious challenges early on.
6 ISSUE 49 // APRIL 2025 theindependentmagazine. com. au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT