DateTime::Format::Strptime Parsing Seems to have a Problem?

[ozboomer]

I'm finding something of an inconsistent behaviour when using DateTime::Format::Strptime.

The program as shown below illustrates the problem... but in short, the parsing of an 'hh:mm:ss p' format on a 12-hour clock doesn't seem to work with a 'PM' included in the string. Using a 24-hour clock format (and no 'PM') seems to work Ok... but my data isn't presented in that format.

An example program:-

use strict;
use warnings;
#use diagnostics;

use DateTime;
use DateTime::Format::Strptime;

our $LocalTZ = DateTime::TimeZone->new( name => 'local' );

my $dtnow = DateTime->now(time_zone => $LocalTZ);    # Current *local*
+ time
printf("\$dtnow: !%s!\n", $dtnow);

my $lo = "18/03/2019 10:12:53 am";     # Always works
my $hi = "24/03/2019 3:15:00 pm";      # Does not work... the format I
+ need to use
# my $hi = "24/03/2019 03:15:00 pm";     # Does not work
# my $hi = "24/03/2019  3:15:00 pm";     # Does not work
# my $hi = "24/03/2019 15:15:00 pm";     # Works but 15hrs with 'pm' i
+s silly
# my $hi = "24/03/2019 15:15:00";        # Works 

my $dmy_fmt = DateTime::Format::Strptime->new(  # Let DateTime use 'dd
+/mm/yyyy'
        pattern   => '%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S %p',
#        pattern   => '%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S',  # Use this when no 'am/pm'
+ in the date string
        time_zone => 'Australia/Victoria',
#        time_zone => 'local',
    );
   
my $lodt = $dmy_fmt->parse_datetime($lo);    
printf(" \$lodt: !%s!\n", $lodt);
   
my $hidt = $dmy_fmt->parse_datetime($hi);    
printf(" \$hidt: !%s!\n", $hidt);

I have updated the modules to the latest versions via CPAN... but it doesn't make any difference. Otherwise, I'm talking about ActiveState Perl v5.16.3 Build 1603, running under Windows 10 64-bit.

Any clues on what's wrong here... with what I'm trying to do OR with the ways the functions are working?

Thanks a heap for any forthcoming suggestions.