Compilation - Duke's Place -Australian Songs in Concert & Session, 2014 - 2019

Click images for larger size.

               Alas, Covid brought these concerts to an end

poster designed by Helen Romeo.

68.  Report on Duke's Place 2019  
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/03/report-on-dukes-place-2019.html

67.  Report on Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session, 2017 
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2017/12/report-on-dukes-place-australian-songs.html

66.  Duke's Place with Dingo's Breakfast, Friday 8th May, 2020, 7.30 for 8pm CANCELLED
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/03/dukes-place-with-dingos-breakfast.html

65,. Duke's Place with Next of Kin, Friday 17th April, 2020, 7.30 for 8pm - CANCELLED
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/03/dukes-place-with-next-of-kin-friday.html

64.  Enda Kenny @ Dukes - Friday 13th March, 2020, 7.30 for 8pm - CANCELLED 
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/03/enda-kenny-dukes-friday-13th-march-2020.html

63.  Duke's Place - a great night of Australian songs, 2020 calendar
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/02/dukes-place-great-night-of-australian.html

62.  Garry Tooth @ Dukes, Friday 14th February 2020, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2020/01/garry-tooth-dukes-friday-14th-february.html

61.  Report on Shortis & Simpson @ Dukes, Sat 21st December 2019
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2020/01/report-on-shortis-simpson-dukes-sat.html

60.  Duke's Place with Shortis & Simpson, Sat 21st December 2019, 7.30 for 8pm start
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/10/dukes-place-with-shortis-simpson-sat.html

59.  Duke's Place with Virago, Friday 8th November, 2019 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/10/dukes-place-with-virago-friday-8th.html

58.  Duke's Place with Ian Hamilton who presents Poems which became songs, Friday 11th October, 2019, 7.30 for 8pm start
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/09/dukes-place-with-ian-hamilton-who.html

57.  Duke's Place with Dingo's Breakfast, Friday 13th September 2019, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/07/dukes-place-with-dingos-breakfast.html

56.  Duke's Place with Kerith Power & Dale Dengate, Friday 9th August 2019, 7.30 for 8pm start.
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/07/dukes-place-with-kerith-power-dale_6.html

55.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Derek Dowding, Friday 12th July 2019, 7.30 for 8pm
https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

54.  Duke's Place with Nerds & Music aka Clark Gormley & Wayne Thompson, Friday 14th June, 2019, 7.30 for 8pm
https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/05/dukes-place-with-nerds-music-aka-clark.html

53.  Review of Dukes, 2018
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/03/review-of-dukes-2018.html

52.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Dan Kelly, Friday 10th May, 2019, 7.30 for 8pm
https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/02/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

51.  Duke's place with Two Voices in the Crowd by ‘Sweet Songs & Soft Guitar’, the music of Judy Small and Eric Bogle, with Kathy and Matthew Clarke, Friday 12th April 2019, 7.30 for 8pm
https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/02/dukes-place-with-two-voices-in-crowd-by.html

50.  Dukes Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session - Norfolk Island ReCollected with Don Brian & friends - Friday 8th March 2019, 7.30 for 8pm
https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_8.html

49.  Duke's Place Australian songs in Concert & Session featuring Men With Day Jobs plus Aubrey & Purton, 2019 
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2019/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

48.  Report on Duke's Place Songs of John Dengate with Ralph Pride, Chris Maltby & Miguel Heatwole, 14th December 2018
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2018/12/report-on-dukes-place-songs-of-john.html

47.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Ten Quid Poms, Friday 9th November, 2018, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2018/09/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

46.  Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with The Fossickers, Friday 12th October, 2018
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2018/08/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

45.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Russell Churcher, Friday 14th September 2018, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2018/07/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

44.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Matthew Black & The Bottlers, Friday 10th August 2018, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com/2018/07/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_11.html

43.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & sSssion with Butch Hooper 2018, Friday 13th July, 7.30 for 8pm 
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

42.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Ian ‘the Pump’ Macintosh, Friday 15th June 2018 (3rd Friday), 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_3.html

41.  Duke's Place, Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Dingo's Breakfast, Friday 13th April (3rd Friday) 2018, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_11.html

40.  Duke's Place, Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Craig Edmondson, Friday 18th May, 2018, (3rd Friday) 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

39.  Duke's Place, Australian songs in Concert & Session with Jennifer Lees, Friday 9th March 2018
https://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

38.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Miguel Heatwole & Chris Maltby, Friday 9th February 2018, 7.30 for 8pm.
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

37.  Duke's Place - 2018 calendar
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/dukes-place-2018-calendar.html

36.  Duke's place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session, Pete & Sue McMahon, Friday 10th November 2017, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/10/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

35.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Steve Wilson, Friday 8th September, 2017, 7.30 for 8pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_11.html

34.  Duke's Place, Australian Songs in Concert & Session. Songs from Lola's Keg Night, Friday 11th August, 2017
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

33.  Duke's Place, Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Peter Hicks (Tas), Friday 16th June, 2017. 
ttp://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

32.  Duke's Place Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Nancy Nicholls & Eric Eisler, Friday 14th July, 2017.
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_2.html

31.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Chris Poleson, Friday 12th May, 2017 http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

30.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Peter Hicks (Tas), Friday 16th June, 7.30 for 8pm 
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_15.html

29.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Warren Fahey, Friday 10th March, 2017
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

28.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Sue Gee & Brian Jonathon, Friday 10th February 2017
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_8.html

27.  Report on Duke's Place, Australian Songs in Concert & Session, 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/report-on-dukes-place-australian-songs.html

26.  Report on Don & Sue Brian's talk on Cabbage Tree Hats at Dukes, November 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/report-on-don-sue-brians-talk-on.html

25.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Christina Mimmocchi, Friday 9th December, 2016, 7.30 for 8pm.
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

24.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Don & Sue Brian, Friday 11th November, 2016 
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

23.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Martyn Wyndham-Read, Saturday 8th October 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-cocnert.html

22.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Dave Johnson, Friday 9th September, 2016 
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_7.html

21.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Jim Low, Friday 10th June, 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

20.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Ten Quid Poms, Friday 8th July, 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_11.html

19.  Dukes Place - 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/dukes-place-2016.html

18.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Jason Roweth, Friday 13th May, 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_8.html

17.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Pat Drummond, Friday 8th April, 2016 
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

16.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Evan Mathieson, Friday 18th March, 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_10.html

15.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Miguel Heatwole, Friday 12th February 2016
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

14.  Report on Duke's Place, Australian Songs in Concert & Session, 2015.
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert_24.html

13.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Christine Wheeler, Friday 11th December, 2015
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

12.  Set list - Bob & Margaret Fagan @ Dukes August 2015
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2015/09/set-list-bob-margaret-fagan-dukes.html

11.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in concert & session with Mike Martin & Lindsay Martin, 7.30-11.30pm, Friday 13th November 2015
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/australian-songs-in-concert-session_15.html

10.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Jason & Chloe Roweth - Gallipoli, Friday 9th October, 2015
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/australian-songs-in-concert-session_8.html

9.   Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with John Warner, Friday 11th September, 2015, 7.30 to 11.30pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/australian-songs-in-concert-session.html

8.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Margaret & Bob Fagan, Friday 14th August, 7.30-11.30pm
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

7.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Chris Maltby, Friday 10th July, 7.30 to 11.30
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

6.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Margaret Bradford, Friday 12th June 2015, 7.30 to 11.30pm   
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

5.  Duke's Place - The Ballad of the Heathcote Bushwhackers, Friday 8th May 2015, 7.30 to 11.30
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/dukes-place-ballad-of-heathcote.html

4.  Dukes program for 2015
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/dukes-program-for-2015.html

3.  Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & session with Garry Tooth, Friday 10th April, 2015
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

2.  Duke's Place - Australian Songs in Concert & Session, 2014
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/dukes-place-australian-songs-in-concert.html

1.  Alex Hood @ BMC (2014)
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/alex-hood-bmc.html

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jam.org.au articles 

1.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Warren Fahey, Friday 10th March, 2017
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-21.shtml

2.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Penny Davis & Roger Ilott, Fri 19th August, 2016
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-16.shtml

3.   Bush Music Club - Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Southern Cross Trawlers  Friday 13th March, 2015
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-southern-cross-trawlers-march15.shtml

4.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Robin Connaughton, Feb 2015
 http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-robin-connaughton-feb15.shtml

5.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in concert & Session with Peter Cahill, Fri 12th Dec 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-4.shtml 

6.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Alex Hood, November 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-3.shtml

7.   October - Margaret Walters Duke's Place - Australian songs in Concert & Session with Margaret Walters, Friday 10th October 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-2.shtml

8.   Launch of Keith McKenry's Biography of John Meredith, founder of the Bush Music Club, Friday 12th Sept 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-mckenry-meredith-launch-2014.shtml

9.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Coolfin Mac, Friday 8th August 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place.shtml

10.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Dave Johnson, Friday 13th July 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place--4.shtml

11.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Helen & Tony Romeo, Friday 11th June, 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place--5.shtml

12.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Paul Spencer, Friday 9th May 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place--3.shtml

13.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Chloe & Jason Roweth Friday 11th April, 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-pla.shtml

14.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Jim Low, Friday 14th March 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place--2.shtml

15.   Duke's Place  - Australian Songs in Concert & Session with Ralph Pride, Friday 14th February 2014
http://jam.org.au/moxie/venues/bmc/bush-music-club-dukes-place-.shtml 

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From the Archives - Bob Bolton collection - Album no. 105 - Loaded Dog Folk Club 1997

Click images for larger size.

(Photos © Bob Bolton) 

2  concerts per month - 

1. Sydney Trade Union Choir & John Dengate, March 1997

2. Cooking for Brides & Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers, April 1997

3. Greg Hastings & Siobhan Skates, April 1997

4. Jez Lowe & Kerfuffle & Lonnie Martin, March 1997

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Compilation - Wild Colonial Days Society

Click images for larger size.

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2 pages from 5 page article in Elaine Thornhill Collection 

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Early Members - Chris Woodland
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2018/01/early-members-chris-woodland.html

Lost Poem by Duke Tritton sent to Wild Colonial Days Society
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2018/09/lost-poem-by-duke-tritton-sent-to-wild.html

Singabout - Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume 6(2), 1967 - final issue
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/11/singabout-journal-of-australian.html

Chris Woodland Collection - Reminiscences of the Bush Music Club in the 1960s
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2022/01/chris-woodland-collection-reminiscences.html

Folk Songs of Australia and the men and women who sang them - Celebrating the Centenary of John Meredith's birth - Script part 2
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/09/folk-songs-of-australia-and-men-and.html

Folk Songs of Australia and the men and women who sang them - Celebrating the Centenary of John Meredith's birth - Script part 1
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/08/folk-songs-of-australia-and-men-and.html

From the Archives - Bush Music Club Newsletter - 1966 to 1967
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/05/from-archives-bush-music-club_58.html

Noel Ricketts collection
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2018/01/noel-ricketts-collection.html

From the Archives - Minutes of Genberal Meetings from June 26th 1957 to August 1970 - Part 4 - 1965 - 67
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2025/01/from-archives-minutes-of-general_8.html

Elaine Thornhill Collection
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/07/elaine-wood-collection.html

From the Archives - Send round the hat - Duke Tritton by his mates. Collected & edited by John Meredith, part 1
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2023/05/from-archives-send-round-hat-duke.html

Chris Woodland's presentation on Duke Tritton, NFF 2005 on the 40th anniversary of his death
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2019/01/chris-woodlands-presentation-on-duke.htm

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Join us for the 12th Annual John Dengate Memorial Get together - Sunday 17th August - online via ZOOM - 2-5 PM

Click images for larger size.

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from Leyne 

Greetings to all! I hope everyone is keeping warm and well. 

Unbelievably, this year is the TWELFTH Annual John Dengate Memorial Get Together, marking 13 years since John left us for the great gig in the sky.

For this edition, we are back on ZOOM so please join us online on Sunday 17th August from 2pm to 5pm as we gather once again in tribute to John and his hilarious, cutting and inspirational repertoire of satirical songs and poems. 

A message from Dale:
The years keep flying by but memories remain strong. Thanks again to Leyne for organising a concert on ZOOM so that many of us can share songs, verse and memories of John.
Leyne and I felt that being on ZOOM enabled more people to share their experiences, performances and discussions.
- Dale

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JOIN US ONLINE ON SUNDAY 17 AUGUST

ZOOM Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86592966444?pwd=Hct9Yg3aqmy09jIEaeXjgaQHZnyAX8.1
You will be able to access the link from 1:30pm, the event will officially start at 2pm.

SHARE A SONG, POEM, STORY
If you would like to reserve a spot to share a song, poem or story, please contact Leyne via email ccmotions@gmail.com or phone 0433 020 127.
Be sure to first check out the performer list to see what songs have already been reserved: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1or2fi5nqG0SEGazDCPXA0BMZMk9Ow1VPC5uGiLkdoCE/
As with previous years, renditions of John's poems or songs, or original works of your own are encouraged foremost, but anything you would like to share in tribute is welcome.
 
LINKS

• Facebook event page for the 12th Annual John Dengate Memorial Get Together: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ay7Hspcng/
• Performer list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1or2fi5nqG0SEGazDCPXA0BMZMk9Ow1VPC5uGiLkdoCE/
• ZOOM Link for Sunday 17th August ZOOM: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86592966444?pwd=Hct9Yg3aqmy09jIEaeXjgaQHZnyAX8.1
  
• Blog - How to connect to ZOOM: https://johndengatecollection.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/how-to-connect-to-zoom-on-sunday-17th-august-2025/
• Videos from last year's 11th Annual John Dengate Memorial Get Together at the Gaelic Club: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLjTxh8iaPeEatAOeNYP60Lt2Un5KVzh0&si=CAmO0MQKXKNDDxnK/
  
• John Dengate Collection Website: https://johndengatecollection.wordpress.com/

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A Bushranger in America - Johnny Troy - A 19th century Australian Bushranger song found in America

Click images for larger size.

Found in Graham Seal's blog GRISTLY HISTORY  -Chewy Chunks of the past which is well worth bookmarking 

Lyrics, published 1939 in Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan, Collected & edited by Emelyn Elizabeth Gardner and Geraldine Jencks Chickering & recorded by Ellen STEKERT in Songs of a New York Lumberjack, 1958 - track no. 5

Ellen Stekert, an influential figure in the 50s folk revival movement, releases new album of remastered songs 

A bushranger in America  - Johnny Troy

A version from the USA

‘The people round know me right well – they call me Johnny Troy’. The trouble was that no-one did know a bushranger hero named ‘Johnny Troy’, not in Australia, at least.  So, who was he, if he ever existed?

There were several incidental mentions of him and his deeds in historical documents and folklore. He featured briefly in a poem titled ‘The Convict’s Tour to Hell’, probably composed by ‘Frank the Poet’ (Francis McNamara), in or before 1839. The poem is a celebration of convicts and bushrangers, including the famous Jack Donohoe, shot dead in 1830. Troy is mentioned in the same breath as the now much better-known Donohoe. The poem is fantasy of a convict, Frank himself, visiting hell, where he finds all the despised overseers and gaolers writhing in eternal agony. When the devil hears that Frank was a convict in life he immediately says that he has come to the wrong place. Convicts should all go to heaven. When Frank reaches the Pearly Gates, he confronts St Peter who asks:

where’s your certificate

Or if you have not one to show 

Pray who in Heaven do you know? 

Frank answers;

Well I know Brave Donohue Young Troy and Jenkins too 

And many others whom floggers mangled 

And lastly were by Jack Ketch strangled.

Frank is allowed straight into heaven where he is made ‘a welcome guest’, along with his old convict mates.

But that was about all anyone knew of this Irish bushranger until the 1950s, when American folksong collectors began to hear a ‘Johnny Troy’ ballad – mainly among lumber jacks. It seems that while Johnny Troy’s vigorous song had faded away in Australia, it had been well received by the Americans, who often sang it together with a couple of other Australian bushranger ballads, ‘Jack Donohoe’ and ‘The Wild Colonial Boy’. It is likely that these songs reached America during the California gold rushes, which explains how they got there.[i]But there was still no news of the lost bushranger in Australia. Until some solid research by the late Stephan Williams turned up the whole true history of Johnny Troy.[ii]

John Troy, aged eighteen, was transported for burglary and felony from Dublin aboard the ship Asia in 1825. He was a weaver by trade and drew a seven-year sentence. Soon after arriving here, he was found guilty of robbery and served two years on the Phoenix‘hulk’, or prison ship. After completing this sentence, Troy’s record was one of continual ‘bolting’ from iron gangs and involvement in mutinies aboard convict ships, details of which appear in his ballad. He served time at Moreton Bay (Brisbane) and after being returned to Sydney in 1831, escaped again and took to bushranging. After a busy period of robbing travellers, in company with other fugitive convicts, Troy was betrayed and recaptured in 1832. 

He was tried with three others for highway robbery. The court heard from numerous witnesses and policemen and eventually the judge ‘summed up at considerable length’, sending the jury to consider their verdict at 7pm. No doubt anxious to be off home or to the pub, the jury came back a few minutes later with a guilty verdict for three of the defendants. John Troy, Tom Smith and Michael Anderson were, unusually, sentenced to hang immediately. The judge was clearly not in a good mood as the legislation for capital punishment clearly provided for a three-day break before execution.

In the event, there was a respite of a week but on August 18, 1832, Troy and Smith (Anderson was reprieved) were led out to be hanged in Sydney Gaol. ‘Great crowds assembled to view the awful termination of their lives’. Troy accepted his sentence saying, ‘he had committed many offences, and deserved to suffer death.’ He preferred death to a lifetime in a penal settlement. He also claimed, in proper outlaw hero style, that Smith was innocent. After some words from the clergy present, the executioners fiddled with the ropes ‘in their usual bungling manner’. The condemned men, both carrying red handkerchiefs, were finally put out of their misery and ‘after some convulsive struggling, were ushered into eternity.’[iii]

And Johnny Troy did, however undeservedly, achieve an immortality of sorts. Hanged criminals were usually thrown into cheap coffins and carted off for burial in the ‘Public Nuisance’ cart used to collect dead animals from the streets. But in this case the bodies of Troy and Smith were given into the care of a cousin of Troy’s. There was an Irish wake around the bodies that night and a subscription taken up for good quality coffins. Next day, the coffins were taken out and laid in front of the house of the bushrangers’ betrayer, a man named Donohoe. The red handkerchief Troy had been holding at his death was thrown ominously at the traitor’s door. The police had to break up the crowd, which gave ‘three groans’ for Donohoe and a long procession followed the dead men to their final burying place.

Troy was a convict hero. The ballad that celebrated his real and imagined activities is much like those romanticising other bushranger heroes, real and mythic. Troy is born in Dublin, ‘brought up by honest parents’ but is transported to NSW after robbing a widow. He escapes and with three companions takes to the bush – ‘Four of the bravest heroes who ever handled gun.’ Robbing on the highway, they come across an old man and demand his gold watch and money – on pain of having his brains blown out. The man pleads that he has none of these and also has a wife and family ‘daily to provide.’ On hearing this, Troy refuses to rob the man, gets back on his horse and throws the man fifty pounds ‘to help you on your way.’ The song concludes in proper Robin Hood style with the verse:

The poor I’ll serve both night and day, 

The rich I will annoy; 

The people round know me right well; 

They call me Johnny Troy.

In another American version, the story includes Troy’s death ‘on his scaffold high’ as ‘a brave young hero.’

Why Troy was forgotten in the place where he committed his crimes and died for them is a mystery. Perhaps there were enough bushranger ballads and legends around to satisfy the demand. People are still singing many of these in Australia, where they are a strong element of folk tradition. Johnny Troy lives on only in America, though he is in good company, or bad, there. The tradition of the outlaw hero that runs from Robin Hood includes American badmen as well as our bushrangers. Jesse James and Billy the Kid, among many others, are celebrated in the same Robin Hood style, and just as controversially, as Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner and Ned Kelly.[iv].

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Information about another variant collected in New York State was posted on Mudcat Cafe by George Ward & is posted here with George's permission - 21 Jul 25 - 07:46 PM -
Years ago, I found a text of "Johnny Troy", collected from an Erie Canal family here in upstate New York. It was in an issue of The New York Folklore Quarterly not all of which is indexed. I've not searched exhaustively, but years of backtracking, by myself and others, haven't turned it up yet. It's there somewhere. By the time I found it, I'd somehow forgotten about Ellen's recording and put it to another tune (name escaping my 86-year-old brain at the moment). I've done it - mainly in programs about the Erie Canal- for years. So...two occurrences in rural NY. Makes me wonder if it might have been in one or more of the songsters that proliferated in the 19th century. Wouldn't have had to be. Fits well in the old tradition here. Would have been easy to pass around orally. 

and  22 Jul 25 - 10:01 PM
Sandra, you certainly may. I love it that the journey of the ballad is taking shape.

As a note: Emelyn Elizabeth Gardner, whose text from Michigan you refer to, was a very significant collector of folklore in rural New York state before she moved to Michigan. Her 1937 volume 'Folklore from the Scoharie Hills' is one of the major collections from this region

I just checked the book. Alas, though not geographically or culturally far from Ezra Barhight, she makes no mention of Johnny Troy.

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From the Archives - REEDY RIVER. In 1953, Dick Diamond wrote a play called REEDY RIVER.

Click images for larger size.

undated document  from Bob Bolton's holdings

REEDY RIVER

In 1953, Dick Diamond wrote a play called REEDY RIVER.

At Melbourne New Theatre, John Gray was working with him to fuse naturally 10 or so traditional Australian folk songs into the book. Many were the conferences and discussions as the show grew; Dick Diamond wrote and rewrote as the rehearsals continued.

Review of Reedy River, Melbourne,  The Age 12th March, 1953

Reedy River, Melbourne, 1953 (BMC Archives) 

In December 1953, Sydney New Theatre produced REEDY RIVER; this has proven to be another historical event. It was received just as excitedly and enthusiastically as the Melbourne production, playing to packed houses for 9 months.

Reedy River, Sydney 1953 - Curtain Call - (BMC Archives) 

Brisbane New Theatre produced the play in 1955, playing to a total audience of 5,700, and later the production was revived. The warmest praise was given to the productions of Adelaide New Theatre and Perth New Theatre. The lively Newcastle New Theatre, formed in 1956, announced it as its first production, and played to very large houses; it has had successful subsequent productions, as has Melbourne New Theatre.

Sydney New Theatre also revived REEDY RIVER, in 1960, 1963, 1969 and 1973. Its total playing period in Sydney NT is over 20 months, before audiences of over 350,000 people; over 300 people have been involved on-stage and off-stage.

Reedy River in Sydney, 1960 (BMC Archives)

REEDY RIVER has been produced in London, and all over Australia by other little theatres, high schools and tertiary institutions. Total New Theatre audiences are well over half a million. To date there has been no professional production.

Reedy River in Perth, c.1955/56 - © State Library of Western Australia 

This historic production was a true example of ensemble or collective theatre. When the curtain went up in March 1953, the audience saw what John Gray described as 'our first real Australian musical'.

We hear today common reference to a 'resurgence' in Australian theatre. New Theatre feels that with REEDY RIVER it has helped to lead the way, and that this play was one of the first definite statements of theatrical independence of the sugar-coated or 'successful box- office' overseas productions. In this and other ways, REEDY RIVER occupies a unique place in the history of 'little' and 'big' Australian theatre..

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Dale Dengate's research in NLA - John Meredith m/s.. FOLKSONGS OF AUSTRALIA . VOL 3

Click images for larger size

Volume 1 - 1st edition, 1968 

Volume 1 - 2nd edition, 1979 

Volume 2 - 1987

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Subject:	Dale's research in NLA - John Meredith M/S. FOLKSONGS OF AUSTRALIA . VOL 3 - found!
Date:	Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:41:38 +1100
From:	Sandra Nixon

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Research for BMC 60^TH - September 2011
John Meredith M/S. FOLKSONGS OF AUSTRALIA . VOL 3
M/S in two manilla folders 1-pp1-100, pp101- 200 [168]

Checked with Kevin Bradley on the possibility of collaboration with NLA Oral History Dept to produce an enhanced e-book based on John Meredith's M/S FSA vol 3, with text-stories and words of songs, tapes of music and collected tapes, photos of Merro and links to those people recorded and in the NLA archives.
It is technically possible to have an e-book with links that will enable a click to lead you to the library archives where one can listen to Merro's collection.

AIM:
To make the material more accessible to Australians and visitors to NLA who wish to hear Australian traditional music, especially those interested in performance of traditional Australian music and songs.
John Meredith M/S FSA Vol 3, contains around 100 songs, verse and references to taped music. The text includes interviews with the people who performed the material and information about how they learnt the works.

The expense will be in the technological side of things to support the text, but NLA can supply names of people who can do the technological side of development if we don't have anyone.
(unfortunately this proposal was not carried through, SN 2025) 

Notes from Boxes and a summary of
MS 1007 Papers of John Meredith.
After I started to make a summary of what boxes contained, I found a catalogue in Journal of Folklore Studies. No. 15.
P23J.S.Ryan and Keith McKenry

BOX Contents
1. Field recording notes 1955-56
Complete history of Jack the Ripper. P/C. Harry Morant- A horseman who made history.  Letter Language. Will bring me down to Sydney like a brumby buck down Kosciusko.
Merv Lilley - Gatton Man - he claimed his father [ an aggressive schizo] was the murderer
The brothers Meredith. I] The Brothers  Oh, the fruit was sweet on the apple tree when my brothers and I were young   J.Dengate. Sheet metalworker. Photographs. Part 3 Brother Jack. Vi] Australian Folklore FS Journal 15.
Peter Parkhill JM  FSA  and selected Biography.
2 manilla folders - M/S FSA Vol3. Initial quote;  The link with the past is not twisted. It has been broken and we shall have to relearn our lessons It is helpful, therefore to go and observe the way and practices of those who have not been seduced away from tradition.  Philip Oyler. The Generous Earth.
Another quote which sums up Merro's attitude: from the Preface of Real Folk 1994-5, JM. The Real Folk exhibition of photographs.
Some folk revival performers have become very commercially minded
It was to distinguish between these people and its pioneer performers, who have given freely of their time. To me. these kind-hearted, hospitable and friendly people have come to represent the Real Folk of Australia.  J.M. Dec 1994. Unpublished FSA vol 3 ref FS Journal 1990. 1986-1994 folio catalogue.

Contents of FSA VOL 3.PP1-168.
Performers and their music. Typed music and songs nos. given in M/S. 100approx
Steve Power Wollar 1984-1987
-interview, ref Jimmy Governor. 60 items including well known songs or variations of songs from previous books,  Including Neumerella Shore, learnt from my father who was a good singer unfortunately I am not.
Black Velvet Band
The chicken without a bone
The Derby Town Ram
The white man let me go
The Bright shades of Blue
The Gum Tree canoe [Not Aust- Nth Amer gum tree!}
The British Soldiers Grave
The Tall girl dressed in Blue [ forged note ]
The Old Arm Chair.
Simon Stick
The little Rat that died
Starry Night for a ramble and 6 more
Jenny GOVERNON and Doris Lynch Biddon. Dec 1986 who had a book with many verses. 10 items included
P61. Harry PECKMAN b.1846  Blue Mountains Poet, Hartley [Anon]
Tambaroora Gold
Bright Shades of Blue
Where the Mountains are Blue.
Boys of Hartley Vale
Old Keg of Rum.

P.73 Frank DRINKWATER  b.1923 Waggaï] [introd by Rob Willis]
Met unemployed under the bridge. The Dole-O Mob
The Spider and the Fly
The Old Rig a-doo
Sergeant Small
Under the Bridge.

P84 Doris ROTH  b1980s Mudgee. Reg Kurtz recorded DR on her death bed The Wreck of the Titanic.

P87 Frank LETTb.1909
The Ghost of Cullenbone
The Broken down drifter
The Silvermine Fell
Goorianawa variant
Mademoiselle from Armentiers
The Colonial Boy

P97 Roy McCLELLAND
Shearing and bushsongs.

P101 [SECOND FOLDER] contd.
Walter Stores b. 1880s. contd
Working for Jacksons [Omeo]
Oh a leg of a duck diff version
Bert Cook b.1914 one of Billy's boys  Tune; Copped a Daisy
Toni SEIDEL b1914 grand parents from Silesia. Germanic songs from the Barossa.
Translated with insights by Renate Yates,
Spritzen und Baender  /Lace and Ribbons
Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart  Doctor who fix everything
So Leben Wer / The way we live
Kleiner Mann und grosse Frau. Little man and large woman
Hamburg is a beautiful city.
23 songs include. Chorus songs with friends singing, drinking and party songs.
Elsie SCHULTZ . Walla Walla.
Der Christbaum is der Schoenste Baum/ The Christmas tree is the prettiest tree of all.
A grace and a prayer: Do you know how many clouds there are in Heaven?
Pop Arthue NOONA  Gilgandra . b1885
His notebooks of songs and recitations was lost in 1955 Gilgandra floods as were most photographs. [pp142-153[Verse The Flood at Gilgandra is 11 pages long /22 verses about many of the locals. [p154-159] Gilbert, Hall and O'Meally .[not flattering to Hall]
My First Shed.
P160. Sally SLOANE.  She sang slowly, [ Irish ballads that Alan Musgrove sings]
.Young Pat McGuire
.The Maid of Sweet Gauteen [ learnt from grand mother]
.Squire Scoble / a murder ballad popular in broadsides; sometimes known as The Old Oak Tree
p168 Last page.
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2.  Letters 1955-85 Russel Ward 54-55, Duke Tritton ms.

3  Duke of the Outback. Letters 1989

4.  Correspondence 1970-80 -1991. Autobiography [4 parts]

5. Autobiography  More than a life and that's only half of it. Brother Jack.  The Last Kooradgie.

6.  Oedipus Rocks a ballad opera.  King of the Dance Hall.  M/S The Pure Merino Fandango

7. Gallant Peter Clark

8  M/S5.Titles

9.  M/S Folk Song of Aust. Vol 1 and Vol 2

10 M/S The Wild Colonial Boy. JM AND John Dengate  Here's Luck; a bush ballad opera.

11.   Notes Brian Loughlin Bushwhackers band. Tune books and transcriptions of recordings of Ted Valance

12.  Scrapbook cuttings

13.  7 volumes of field notes

14. Green folder of songs, verse, letters and music

15.  Letters1990-1994

16.   Letters, postcards, programs related to folklore.

17.   folklore notes

18.  folklore

19.ï Folios of letters with red folder of songs, stories, music and dance instructions. Black folder.  Sundry traditional texts songs etc. Diaries and notebooks. White folder Folklore drafts and notes.

20.  5 folders: I] The Householder's compendium  corrections  [ publ Night Owl,1986.i] Home Ecs, Recipes, iii] Cookery. Green folder  MORANT & SERIAL KILLERS.

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