Seven-year-old Colin Petersen and his mum took two buses and a steam train to attend drum lessons.
His uncle had made him a deal - he would pay for a drumkit provided Petersen committed to traveling to Brisbane for lessons.
"My uncle's deal taught me about perseverance," said Petersen, who went on to become the drummer of the original Bee Gees. "What a great lesson it was."
A film career swept into Petersen's life almost by fate, when he read about a film audition in the newspaper.
Dressed in his Sunday suit, he attended the audition and was turned away by the film's producer after it was decided that the suit made him look nothing like the character.
Petersen and his mother returned to his grandmother's house, where he changed into an old pair of shorts and a t-shirt - and in his youthful curiosity, he decided to board the tram and return to the cinema where the auditions were being held.
The long line of children that previously lined the streets had disbanded, and Petersen took a walk down a side-alley.
It was there that he stumbled upon the producer of the film on his cigarette break.
The producer didn't recognise him and asked Petersen if they could read the script together.
Soon after, he was officially cast in the 1956 film Smiley.
When reflecting on his career, Petersen mentions that a lot of opportunities in his life presented themselves like fate.
His drumming big break happened in 1967, when the Gibbs brothers returned to England, where Petersen was living in a broken down flat in Hampstead with no chairs, the men decided to commit to the band - and there, the Bee Gees was born.
The group was promptly signed by Brian Epstein's company, began touring and performing and released songs that sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.
When asked about his time with the band, Petersen says his most surreal experience was performing on stage with a full-piece orchestra in an early tour of Europe and the UK.
this was our first taste of - goodness me, this is going to work!
- Colin Petersen
The Bee Gees later disbanded, and Petersen left to pursue his film career.
The band reformed a few years later without Petersen.
"Those boys deserve every part of their fame," he said. "They perfected their craft - they were songwriters, they really were."
When he was approached by the Best of the Bee Gees tribute band after stepping out of the limelight for a number of years to live a quieter life, Petersen felt immediately comfortable and connected to its members.
Colin Petersen has had a prolific career in entertainment since 1956 and is now returning to the stage with the Best of the Bee Gees tribute band, performing at MANPAC, the Regional Entertainment Centre in Bunbury and Astor Theatre in Perth.
Petersen is looking forward to returning to Perth over 30 years after his first visit, "I'm returning to something that I love. I'm enjoying being a part of the band and getting back to playing."
The tour will begin in March:
Friday 5th March Regional Entertainment Centre Bunbury
Saturday 6th March Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Sunday 7th March Astor Theatre Perth
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
