20
BLAST FROM THE PAST
longer live at home, may even take
one more trip down the aisle in the
not-too-distant future.
“Mark and I have thought about
having another wedding when I turn 60
- exchanging vows again,” she says, and
then adds: “We’ll see!”
The couple live with Debbie’s
“beautiful mother”, 78-year-old Sherrie,
on the NSW Central Coast. It’s clear
that mum and daughter simply could
not be any closer.
“She has the same birthday as me - April 26 – so we celebrate together
every year, and every year she tells me
not to buy her anything because I’m
her gift,” Debbie says with a smile.
“Her own house, within our house,
has a beautiful backyard full of flowers
and every herb you can imagine. When
I’m cooking I just go out there and get
rosemary or chives. It’s so nice having
Mum with us.”
Meanwhile, Debbie’s 27-year-old
daughter Tara Pavlovic recently starred
on the small screen herself – vying for
the heart of Matty J on Channel Ten’s
hit reality seriesThe Bachelor.
“My children have their own lives
now,” Debbie explains. “But I still like
to try to tell them what to do every so
often when I can – like most mothers!
You never stop being a mother!”
Many may not realise that Debbie’s
also a talented singer who truly loves
performing in front of live audiences.
She recently toured clubs around the
country with her own tribute show to
celebrated soulful American blues/rock
icon Janis Joplin, who died in a motel
in Hollywood in 1970 of a heroin
overdose at just 27.
“Janis was one of the best artists there
has ever been,” Debbie beams. “She was
a full-on rock singer and did country,
jazz and blues – she sang all genres of
music. She’s really known as the first
female rock legend and she had such
an amazing voice. The more you hear,
the more you love her.”
Debbie even reckons she and Janis
would’ve become friends if they’d met
all those years ago. “We’d get along
really well,” she says with a laugh.
“We’d probably be trying to outdo each
other, singing-wise! I’m just her when
I’m on stage. I’m not me anymore –
Idon’tknowhow!
“I really get into her songs. I also tell
stories as we go about the background
of the songs. My mum loves the shows
and has been to quite a few. She tells
me never to stop singing.”
Also a keen cook, Debbie has long
enjoyed preparing meals for family and
friends every chance she gets.
“My mother was born in India and
came to Australia when she was 19, so
I was brought up on delicious Indian
flavours,” she reveals. “I make a lot
ofIndianfood–Ithinkitkeeps us
healthy – as well as Chinese and
Mexican food. I cook lots of different
things. I even like a tuna bake with
a cream cheese sauce!
“Mark and I also love to fish – we’re
going fishing again tonight. We caught
these big flathead the other night,
which were delicious. We set ourselves
up at about 8pm and we sit and wait.
Sometimes I’ll make a picnic and we’ll
finish at 11pm or midnight.”
Keeping fit is extremely important to
Debbie, who these days prefers a morePIECE OF HER HEART
Debbie still takes her place
in the limelight – her tribute
show to her musical idol
Janis Joplin has been
a hit on the club circuit