Paddy was the fourth son of William and Elizabeth, following the family from Eurelia, to Carrow and then to Cobdogla and Barmera. Frank, Paddy, Bill McBride, their sister Kath (Warnock) and their mother and grandmother, Elizabeth, all lived in the house owned by Frank. Paddy was a butcher, as was his father, William, and partly owned the butcher shop in Barmera with his brother Len, which was eventually taken over by Sandy Wright. Paddy was also very active on the Cobdogla council, being re elected for several years. Frank, Len and Paddy were always part of the organising committee for the annual Bachelor Ball. Towards the latter part of his life, Paddy was considered to be quite reclusive and his work history was chequered, mainly working for Frank on his block. Paddy never married.