Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday last week Tathra lost a local legend, Rob Little—known as Frog to so many people. Frog and Val were publicans of the iconic Tathra pub during the eighties and nineties, and established it as the South Coast pub rock venue. They had the likes of Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, INXS, Rose Tattoo and Mental as Anything perform there. Frog was a legend, and the 1957 Buddy Holly song 'Peggy Sue' was his favourite. All these now-household names knew they had to sing 'Peggy Sue' with him on stage as an encore on the night they performed. When Rose Tattoo performed, Angry Anderson came up to him and said, 'We won't do "Peggy Sue", mate,' and he said, 'That's fine; I didn't think a hard-rock band would do that.' Come the next year, Angry Anderson showed up and said to Frog, after he gave him a hug, 'We've been practising "Peggy Sue", mate.' This is the guy he was.

He was instrumental in starting the Tathra Sea Eagles AFL club, formed in 1983; he was the club's first president. He was a life member. He was instrumental in sponsoring players, giving players jobs and getting people to the club. He was so much more than just a person to the people that walked through the Lawrence Park gates.

Frog was a man of deep passion and deep commitment, and he was a man of routine. He would go early-morning fishing, he would mow the lawns of a couple of businesses, he looked after his lemon trees and he would ring my husband every Wednesday night at 6 pm on the dot for months on end to make sure he could get Brad to the footy club. He is well known across our community and he will be deeply missed by everyone. Val, I know, at this point in time will be doing it tough, because Frog was her constant companion for many, many years. Frog is survived by Val; his three sons, Anthony, Doug and David; their wives; and his grandchildren. Vale, Frog. I look forward to getting down to Lawrence Park on the 30th for one last celebration, with VB in hand, with Buddy Holly songs going. We thank you for all that you have done for Tathra and for our community.