Pat Reville was born and bred in Broken Hill, New South Wales. Her great-grandfather had worked on the mines there until his death in 1898. Her father was part of the Big Strike of 1918-1920 and was black-balled from the Line of Lode.

Pat was educated by the Sisters of Mercy at Sts Peter and Paul Primary School, St John's, and finally St Joseph's for secondary school. Never academically inclined, she left after third form and attended technical college for two years. She married Graham Reville.

For twenty years, Pat worked at Broken Hill's local cinemas: the Century, the Metropole and the Silver City Theatre. In the 1980s, she was offered the position of Electorate Secretary for the then New South Wales State Member of Parliament, Bill Beckrodge. Learning computer skills from scratch, she retained her position with Beckrodge for two and a half years before he retired from office. In April 2001, Pat took up the position of secretary for the Mayor of Broken Hill. She has also served as treasurer of the local branch of the Australian Labor Party. Pat has been a union member throughout her life, from the Shop Assistants Union to the Theatrical Union, the Public Servants' Association (Sydney), and the Town Employees Union of Broken Hill.