A few days ago I spoke about the Anderson's Reunion which was taking place over the Australia Day long weekend at Wallangarra.
I wish to devote this post to part of Sunday afternoon. As it was Australia Day, we paused to listen to two former employees of Anderson's - Dennis Scanlon and Mac Riding.
Dennis performed his poem You Know You're in Australia which he has allowed me to print below. Then he and Mac sang Advance Australia Fair. Both were moving renditions and I'm sure all of us there were moved by the performances.
You Know You're in Australia
If you've ever watched the Southern Cross, blazin' in the sky
Gazed in awe at the majesty, of a wedge tail circling high
Seen the break the big waves make, as they roll in at Bondi:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
If you've camped at Koscziusko - skied the new season's snow
Been in the New England - seen the autumn glow
Or if you walk right up Cape York and there's nowhere north to go
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
When you've "rode" the Canning Stock Route, with a team of drover mates
Where a broken legged Stockman, for the Flying Doctor waits
Or done time on Sarah Island, looking' out towards Hell's Gates:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
When you've caught a Barrumundi, or dived the Barrier reef
Seen AACo Stations and delighted at the beef
Or climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge - the view beyond belief
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
If you've felt the power of the Dreamtime, as you stand at Uluru
Or sat and yarned to a new found mate in the land of Kakadu
Marvelled at the Kimberleys, with a crimson sunset hue:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
If you've been at Wooloongabba, when the Lions have beat the Swans
Or at Flemington on Cup day, with the favourite "odds on"
Or you've stood at Bowral Oval : felt the spirit of "The Don":
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
When you see 'em march on Anzac Day, without a single boast
The bugler takes a deep breath and delivers "The Last Post"
And you try to speak, but nothing comes past the lump, deep in your throat:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
© Dennis Scanlon - Reproduced here with the author's permission 26 January 2014
I wish to devote this post to part of Sunday afternoon. As it was Australia Day, we paused to listen to two former employees of Anderson's - Dennis Scanlon and Mac Riding.
Dennis performed his poem You Know You're in Australia which he has allowed me to print below. Then he and Mac sang Advance Australia Fair. Both were moving renditions and I'm sure all of us there were moved by the performances.
You Know You're in Australia
If you've ever watched the Southern Cross, blazin' in the sky
Gazed in awe at the majesty, of a wedge tail circling high
Seen the break the big waves make, as they roll in at Bondi:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
If you've camped at Koscziusko - skied the new season's snow
Been in the New England - seen the autumn glow
Or if you walk right up Cape York and there's nowhere north to go
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
When you've "rode" the Canning Stock Route, with a team of drover mates
Where a broken legged Stockman, for the Flying Doctor waits
Or done time on Sarah Island, looking' out towards Hell's Gates:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
When you've caught a Barrumundi, or dived the Barrier reef
Seen AACo Stations and delighted at the beef
Or climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge - the view beyond belief
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
If you've felt the power of the Dreamtime, as you stand at Uluru
Or sat and yarned to a new found mate in the land of Kakadu
Marvelled at the Kimberleys, with a crimson sunset hue:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
If you've been at Wooloongabba, when the Lions have beat the Swans
Or at Flemington on Cup day, with the favourite "odds on"
Or you've stood at Bowral Oval : felt the spirit of "The Don":
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
When you see 'em march on Anzac Day, without a single boast
The bugler takes a deep breath and delivers "The Last Post"
And you try to speak, but nothing comes past the lump, deep in your throat:
Then old mate, you know you're in Australia
This poem can be found in Dennis' book You Know You're in Australia.
Comments
Post a Comment