Adrian Barich: Western Australia LOVES Fat Cat, but don’t just take my word for it

I had an interesting experience last week. You might call it a revelation of sorts, which involved Fat Cat, and a trip to Rockingham. I’ve always had a soft spot for Rockingham, or Swinging Pig Paradise, as it’s often affectionately known — and I’m not the only one. I recall Heath Ledger talking glowingly about the area, not to mention the likes of Sam Worthington, Kim Hughes, Raelene Boyle, Todd Johnson and Mark McGowan doing similar, just to name a few. I’d recommend popping down some time, bring your snorkel and swim with wild sea lions and dolphins, or try out the beaches where Hollywood star Worthington developed his love of boogie boarding. But back to my trip and the phenomenon that is Fat Cat. The biggest high school in Rockingham had invited my feline friend and I to their annual Try-a-thon, where they ran, walked, skipped or danced for five hours to raise funds for the sick kids of Western Australia. More than 450 students and 60 staff at Rockingham Senior High School were involved. It’s the reason the school has raised a staggering $500,000 over the past 11 years for Telethon after raising more than $57,000 at this year’s event. Two students even managed to raise $2000 each themselves. The Student Services Manager Michelle Dirksz said it’s all about students learning positive values and lessons by contributing to charitable causes and supporting those less fortunate. Well done Rockingham SHS. What also blew me away was my “wingcat” that day. I quickly realised that to the kids of Rockingham, Fat Cat was Maverick and I was Goose to extend the Top Gun analogy. Now for the one person in Perth who might not have heard of Fat Cat; my plus-sized feline Francis Aloysius Tom Cat of course graced the small screen in Fat Cat And Friends from 1988 until the show was cancelled in 1991. But the cat lived on in WA, saying goodnight to children at 7.30pm each night on Seven while also being the face of our charity Telethon (held on October 19 and 20 this year). But on this day I was thinking (and even discussing with my friend Paul who’s has a very, very close relationship with Fat Cat) that perhaps at a high school Fat Cat would not really draw a crowd. Well how wrong I was, so much so that I was reduced to the role of a very distant “second banana” alongside popular Seven personality Monique Page as the the school kids revelled in the popularity of the big Cat. To say it was an eye-opener for us was an understatement as Fat Cat got mobbed (in the nicest possible way) and surely appeared in at least two dozen selfies. Even the “cool” kids wanted a photo. From the local school rugby stars to the young men and women of Year 12, everyone wanted a piece of the popular feline. Reflecting on this extraordinary fandom I came to the conclusion that just about everyone has grown up with Fat Cat, there’s also a nostalgia piece attached to him and to be honest, a bit like the Barney the Dinosaur in the US, who doesn’t like a big mysterious majestic creature? He’s also easy to relate too, is non-threatening and is perceived as warmhearted and kind. What’s not to love? I might be overthinking it, but his permanent smile is also a winner. He’s never going to scowl or tell you off, in fact, I’ve never heard him say a bad word about anyone.