Showing posts with label Poetry & Recitations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poetry & Recitations. Show all posts

Thursday, 8 February 2024

From the Archives - Bob Bolton Collection - Paying a Debt (by Socius)

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From The Sydney Stock and Station Journal, Friday 18 April, 1902 & 27th May 1902


Paying a debt - Francis McNamara






.

~~



Monday, 28 February 2022

BMC's Songs, Tunes & Dance Competition winners over the decades

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Bush Music Festivals from 1979 to 1993 included Song, Tune, Verse & Dance competitions. Categories changed over the years, & not all winning entires were published, sometimes winning entries were not even named!


1979
The first competition in 1979 was for Original Dances with Original Tunes (Mulga Wire no.15,  Oct 1979) and led to a publication, Six new Dances composed for the Bush Music Club's Silver Jubilee, 1970 which is held in our Library. 



1980

The winner of the Dance competition was the New Parliament House Jig by John Coleville, & was published in MW 23, Feb 1981.


1981

The first Songwriters competition was held this year with three categories - Original words & music, New words, old tune & New tune, old words, but results were not published. (MW 27, Oct 81) 

1982

The Song Competition was won by Denis Kevans who put music to John O'Brien's Riderless horse. This was the only prize awarded.  (MW 34, Dec 82)



1983
Dance competitions had been held yearly since 1979. Competition rules were the same as for 1982 - and there were 2 new categories - Dance tune/air & Verse.  (MW 39, Oct 83) 
Song, Tune & Verse competitions attracted 67 entries (MW 40, Dec 83)
Original Song - Drover's Boy by Ted Egan (MW 40, Dec 83)
New words, old tune - Bottom of the Harbour by John Quiggen (MW 40, Dec 83)
New Tune, old words - In the Days of 84 tune by John Broomhall, words Bedford (MW 40, Dec 83)
Dance tune or air - Eggs & bacon by Ritchie Howett (MW 40, Dec 83) 
Verse - 2 winners   The bastard who squashed the grapes in me bag by Denis Kevans (MW 40, Dec 83) & Prang on the Nullabour by Pam Harris (MW 42, Apr 84)


1984
Original song - Squeezebox, Fiddle & Bow by John Broomhall (MW 45, Oct 84)
New words, old tune - Down under by Alan Mann, Tune Across the Western Ocean (MW 47, Feb 85)
New tune, old words - Black is ... tune by Peter Kamey, words Maureen Watson (not published)
Dance tune or air - Teneriffe by Brad Tate (not published)
Verse - Jack's mate by Marion Downer (not published)
Popular Bush Dance - no results
Dancer's Dance - no results




1985
61 entries
Original song - Battle of Vinegar Hill by Peter Blood (MW 52, Dec 85)
New words, old tune - tie - The Collectors by Denis Kevans & Bobby I hardly knew you by John Quiggen - neither published 
New Tune, old words - Do you think that I do not know? by Chris Kempster, words Lawson. (words & music MW 53, Feb 86)
Dance tune or air Shearing the Sheep by Pam Merrigan
Dancer's Dance - no results


1986 
24 entries (MW 58, Dec 86)
Original song - Sons of the Father by Paul Hemphill 
Highly commended - The Selector's Wife by Trish Noakes  - MW 59, Feb 1986
New words, old tune - The Robot Shearer by Alan Foster (MW 59, Feb 87)
New tune, old words - Winner - The Good Old Concertina by Bob Bolton, words Lawson  - not published
Highly commended - Labouring with the Hoe by Margaret Walters, words Frank the Poet  - not published
Dance tune or air - I'll show you the bush by Bob Buckley, not published
Verse - no prize awarded
Popular Bush dance - The Funfill Quadrille by Michael Waters (MW 59, Feb 87) 
Dancer's dance - The Floating Point Reel by Michael Waters, not published
Special mention - Chris Brady's Reel by Patricia Early, not published





1987
Popular bush dance - Karen's Farewell by Michael Waters  (MW 65, Feb 88)
Dancer's Dance Lynette's Frolic by Noreen Grunseit (MW 65, Feb 88)
Original song - The only road you know by Brian Goddard  (MW 65, Feb 88)
New words, old tune - no entries
New tune, old words - The Beauty of the world by Sonia Bennett, words Denis Kevans, (MW 65, Feb 88)
Dance air or tune - Grand Villains Polka by Errol Lee  (MW 65, Feb 88)
Verse - Small Beginnings by Paul Hemphill  (MW 65, Feb 88)


1988
General bush dance - Nerina, Nerina by Michael Waters (MW 70, Dec 88)
Dancer's Dance -  Seldom Seen Quadrille by Michael Waters  (MW 79, Dec 88) 
Original Song - The Valley of the Waters by Sonia Bennett & Denis Kevans (MW 70, Dec 88)
Highly Commended - Can't see the forest for the trees by Bruce Watson, not published
New words, old tune - The Assistant Commissioner for Crime by Denis Kevans  (MW 70, Dec 88)
Highly commended - The Mill at Rooty Hill by Denis Kevans, not published
Commended - Bagman Jack, by John Steele, WA, not published
New tune, old words - The Teams by Paul Hemphill, words Lawson  (MW 70, Dec 88)
Commended - I Wonder by Sonia Bennett, words Henry Western Price - not published
Dance tune or air - no prize
Verse - Ned's Warning by Denis Kevans  (MW 71, Feb 89)
Highly Commended - North Heavy by Mrs Mayne Wright. Gosford, not published
Commended - Dorrigo 32 by Lionel Bradbury, Pacific Palms, not published




1989
Beginner's Dance - Jenni's jig, by Jenni Stock & Colin Fong  (MW 76, Dec 89)
Highly Commended - Circle for the last trees  (MW 76, Dec 89)
Dancer's Dance - The Emma Waltz by Alison Lee  (MW 76, Dec 89)
Original words & music - Mow ya Lawn by Jim Hayes  (MW 76, Dec 89)
New words, old tune - A book on hats by Denis Kevans  (MW 76, Dec 89) 
New tune, old words - tie - The Sleeper Cutter's Camp by Denis Kevans
& Macquarie Harbour by Andrew Copeman  - neither published
Original tune - Sailor's Polka by Brad Tate - not published
Verse - He's my dog by David O'Connor  (MW 76, Dec 89)


1990 
Popular Bush Dance - The Five Star Polka by Michael Waters (MW 82, Dec 90) 
Dancer's Dance - not listed
Multi-figure quadrilles - not listed
Original Song - The Australian Light Horse by Clive Clayton & Mark Clark (MW 79, Jun 90)
New tune, old words - The Long Road by Patrick Magill (Denis Kevans) (MW 79, Jun 90)
Dance tune or air - no entries received  (MW 79, Jun 90)
Verse - The Abdication of the Bastard from the Bush by Denis Kevans  (MW 79, Jun 90)



1991
Popular Bush Dance - Waltz to the Wedding by Michael Waters (MW 88, Dec 91)
Dancer's Dance - A shortage of men by Patricia Early (MW 88, Dec 91)
Multi figure quadrille - Misty Mountain Quadrille by Alison Lee - not published


1992
Popular Bush DanceMiss Campbell's Delight by Michael Waters (MW 98, Aug 93)
Highly commended - Nice and easy by Michael Waters (MW 98, Aug 93)
Dancer's Dance - Margaret's Reel by Michael Waters - not published
Highly commended - One over the gumnuts by Michael Waters - not published
Multi figure quadrille - Foundation Quadrille by Don Richmond (MW 98, Aug 93)
New words - as verse or to old music - The Rodney by Dennis O'Keefe - not published
New tune - as simply a tune or with old words - no award? 
New words & tune - 1. The Strike of 1894 by Dennis O'Keefe - not published
2. Ticktackers Blessing,  words by Denis Kevans, music by Sonia Bennett (MW 97, Jun 83)
3. The Ballad of Port Fairy Gazette by Dennis O'Keefe - not published


1993
Popular dance  (5 entries) - 1. Three's a crowd by Michael Waters (MW 101, Feb 94)
Highly commended - The Princess Reel by Michael Waters MW 101, Feb 84)
Commended - Uncle Tom's Barn Dance by Michael Waters  MW 101, Feb 84)
Gulgong Gallop by Patricia Early - not published
Pam's Porridge by Stephen McCann  - not published
Dancer's Dance - 1 entry  - Commended - The Gordon & Louise by Patricia Early (MW 101, Feb 94) 
Multi figure quadrille - no entry
Song or verse, new words to a trad tune - The Green Ban Fusiliers by Denis Kevans (MW 102, Apr 94)
New tune, trad words - The Flour Bin by Sonia Bennett (poet not named) - not published
New words & tune - 1. There's music in the air by Clive Clayton (MW 102, Apr 94)
2. When Blue Swimmers come back to Balmain by Denis Kevans - not published
3. Songs that will ever stay young by Clive Clayton - not published
Commended - Condemned by Clive Clayton  - not published


1994
Poetry - no category. Noel May sent in Kiaramba before competition format was announced and received a special prize. (MW 106, Dec 94)


BMC's Ruby Jubilee was celebrated at Australian Pioneer Village & included Competitions according to this poster, but there was no mention of any competitions in the Festival reports

Competitions are not mentioned in MW 106 Dec 94 & following issues. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2004 Golden Jubilee

Poetry competition winner - Blue Ocean True by Penelope Grace, Mulga Wire 166, Dec 2004 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2005 Dance competition

on a railway theme - winner was Railway Polka by John Short.
Highly commended - John Short's Railway Waltz  created to accompany the arrangement of Paling's tune published MW no.167, Feb 2005


.

Mulga Wire no. 168, April 2005
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2014 Diamond Jubilee winners

Song - The Reedy River still flows by © Bruce Watson 2013  video

Chorus:
Time goes by, how the years they fly
And fashions may come and may go
But as long as there’s music, as long as there’s dance
The Reedy River still flows
The Reedy River still flows

In the far distant times of the Dreaming
When people first walked this land
There was music and dancing to sing up the spirits
To bring us together, every woman and man

Chorus

And from far distant lands others came
And still come to our bounteous shores
They bring stories and songs that tell who we are
And we dance round the room as did others before

Chorus

In far distant places through the bush of Australia
The song catchers tirelessly roamed
Collecting the stories and tunes of our country
Collecting the dances, the songs and the poems

Chorus

So let’s sing songs of those come before us
And let’s strike up the fiddle and bow
And let’s dance till we drop, and then sing one more chorus
So the River of Music still flows

Chorus

Hi Sandra

I'm absolutely delighted. I really appreciate the BMC running this project. For me it was a great catalyst for reflecting on the Australian folk music tradition and folk revival and what it means in our culture as well as in my life.I'm really pleased with the song I wrote, which I have now dipped into the that flowing Reedy River, hopefully adding to that tradition, keeping it strong and, like a river, constantly renewing.
Thanks to the BMC for making that happen - all power to you.
Cheers
Bruce

http://brucewatsonmusic.com/ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Verse - Australian Dreaming by Stephen Whiteside

You talk of old Australia, with the flooding rain and drought;
Of the shearer, of the drover; of the cook, the rouseabout;
You talk of paddle steamer, or of bullock team and dray;
It’s the noisy, smoggy city where we congregate today.

You talk of red Australia, and the hulking Uluru;
Of the emu and the brolga, of the bounding kangaroo;
You talk of Kata Tjuta, like a buried monster’s spine.
It’s in the boutique restaurants we like to meet and dine.

You talk of white Australia, and the mountains capped with snow,
Where only hardy currawongs and wombats care to go;
Or hibernating possums fast asleep beneath a drift.
We like a bright skyscraper with a fast ascending lift.

You talk of blue Australia, with its narrow rim of sand,
Where breaching humpback whales provide performances so grand;
Whale sharks up at Ningaloo, or dolphins in the surf.
The bitumen and footpath offer more familiar turf.

You talk of green Australia, with the moss, the ferns, the trees;
The dew drops in the morning, and the cool and healing breeze;
The nesting cassowaries, or the stealthy thylacine,
But we prefer the steady purr of petrol-fuelled machine.

We don’t think of Australia as we make our busy way
Through the surging hordes and traffic of another hectic day.
“No room for sentiment,” we say, but all’s not as it seems.
Australia comes, with scented gums, and greets us in our dreams.

© Stephen Whiteside 07.11.2013

http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tune - Yabby Catcher by Maggie Somerville.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dance competition winners  (MW 226, Dec 2014)

General Bush Dance - Bimsey Flyer by John Short

Dancer's dance - Harbour Bridge Quadrille by Keith Wood
Highly commended - Duke's Jig by John Short

Multi figure quadrille - The Mulga Quadrille by John Short

.
~

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

From the Archives - Spirit of Thunderbolt, Ben Hall and Other Bushrangers by Colin Newsome - Review by Bob Bolton

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Spirit of Thunderbolt, Ben Hall and Other Bushrangers by Colin Newsome.

A letter and review copy brings to our notice the work of a Bush Balladist of the old school and definitely of the old leanings. Colin Newsome was born in 1916 and worked around the bush in most of the itinerant bush jobs as well as a spell as fighter and wrestler with travelling boxing troupes. He has apparently published two books of Bush Ballads The Green Tree Snake and Dingo Howlers but he sent to us a copy of a slim volume on a subject dear to his heart. 




~


Sunday, 23 May 2021

Poems about John Dengate

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From John Warner, master of Parody, about the Grand Master of Parody

The Dengate Pen

In its time this Parker must have cost a well earned quid,
And spare me days, it’s come to me without its bleedin’ lid.
The master must have took it off the day that it was bought,
And put it somewhere on the desk without a moment’s thought.
With inspiration flowing, our John began to write,
And soon the ink was steaming hot, full speed by day and night.
Perhaps the Dengate needed sleep and dropped it in its case,
And just forgot the poor old lid a-lying round the place.
There’s probably some lost graveyard where bits and pieces go,
And there the the lid has wandered off, no doubt we’ll never know,
For the lid was never needed, it was never used again,
This old Parker kept on writing, for it was John Dengate’s pen.

Many, many thanks Dale, for your words and for this memorial of a great bloke. Hey, and I’m not dropping any hints about the lid.

John Warner. 19/10/2014


Poem by Doug Jenner, recited by Doug's brother Pete at John's wake, & first published by an anonymous Guest in John's memorial thread on Mudcat Cafe

Guest - At the funeral, John's son Sean delivered a brilliant eulogy which summed the man up to a tee. One of Sean's abiding observations of his father was his ability to keep it all simple: "Don't get distracted from doing the things you love, with the people you love. And according to John Dengate, that's all you need to do to have a good life."

I found myself going down a similar path in my own tribute to him:

The One To Leave (For John Dengate) by Doug Jenner

Schooners of Coopers
and a golden afternoon before us,
aglow with beer and banter,
Dengate and I share cricket yarns,
and evidence in broken fingers.
In beery mind’s eye I picture the wiry John,
head in Kokoda with the Aussie militiamen,
blocking wooden answers
to questions fired down 22 yards,
organised for survival,
And sure of the ball to leave.

Now, in the pub
When he’s in free flow,
Timing strokes, punching lines
onto the comic sweet spot,
Middling them Mark Waugh-like
to the boundary fence,
He’s not just the life and soul,
He’s a whole party in one man,
And he sets the room aglow.
Even so, even then, he knows
Whether to play, or whether to let it go.

Sometimes, many schooners on,
adrift in poetry and song,
you think, quite suddenly,
like that bird that sits on water
and instantly isn’t there, he’s gone.
then quick, like the diving bird, he’s back,
In the beak a rhyme, a limerick,
a new-spun funny line.
And along with warmth, with humour that you feel,
You also sense a discipline
As strong as Kembla steel

Today, across the continents
came news that he was gone,
so comrades line those schooners up,
Australia toast your son!
For the gifts and the heart of Dengate
make that ceilidh roar,
Sing loud for one of our ‘valiant men
That we never shall see more.’
And when in quiet moments, you open your hearts to grieve,
Remember how much of his genius
Was knowing the one to leave.

Doug visited Australia in August 2016, and recited it at the Memorial Get Together 

Pete reciting Doug's poem at John's Wake, (Sandra Nixon photo)
Doug at 2016 memorial (Sandra Nixon photo)

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

Singabout - Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume 6(2), 1967 - final issue

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1.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 

2.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - EDITORIAL by Harry Glendinning.  CONTENTS  



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
3.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - LAWSON CENTENARY SONG by John Dengate.  Air;  Free rendition of Gartan Mother's lullaby (Irish)  The BUSH MUSIC CLUB Concert Party is still in keen demand. A return visit to Bathurst is in the offing, as well as a return to Gulgong on the Anniversary Day week-end in January, also a tentative booking for Tuena and a repeat engagement at Engadine. 







 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - EURUNDEREE CREEK. In memory of Henry Lawson, and collected from Duke Tritton about '64 by Janet Wakefield. Tom Byrnes, Mudgee





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 -  IRISH STREET BALLADS (contributed by J. Carlin.  Recently I purchased a copy of Colm O'Lochlainne's Irish Strteet ballads. This fine collection, first published in 1935, is now available again and is published by Corinth Books Inc (USA)  ...  GOOD NEWS FOR TIN WHISTLE PLAYERS.  Ad for Lamberti Bros, North Melbourne  (Jamie Carlin)






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - POEMS IN MUSIC.  RECORD REVIEW. The most recent of the Bush Music Club's achievements - - celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Henry Lawson in Poems in Music by Festival, Mono FL-32, 282, and stereo SFL-932, 282 - - is truly remarkable ... Harry Glendinning 






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - CONCERT PARTY. 1967  Busy year for Bush Music Club. We visited Gulgong in the heart of Henry Lawson country  ... June by reason of the centenary of Henry Lawson's birthday, was very busy. The party appeared twice on ABC television in This Day Tonight singing songs featured on the Lawson record ...  Sydney Waratah Spring Festival ...  Bathurst Gold Rush Celebrations ... John Dengate.   Every Tuesday night is workshop night ...





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - ANOTHER FALL OF RAIN Tune collected by John Meredith from Leo Dixon, Balmain.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - WHAT'S HAPPENING? At going to press, the National Song Competition is still sub-judice ... 
Hello, PERTH! Perth Bush Music Club sent us the song THE TRUTH OF THE STORY. Glad to hear from you and hope you will maintain regular contact.
Hello, NEWCASTLE!  ... Purple Parrot Folk club 
Hello, SYDNEY FOLK SONG FESTIVAL COMMITTEE! ... congratulations for being big enough to organise the Festival. 
Hello, NORTHERN FOLK! ... published by the Cairns Folk and Jazz Club, and the Townsville Folk Club ...
Hello, WILD COLONIAL DAYS SOCIETY!  The Society was formed for those interested in the history and Folk Lore of Australia's Wild Colonial Days, the 1851-1900 period ... We have on occasions joined forces with the WCDS ... 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - CAMERA NEWS.  Chris Woodland, our MC. A Toast to Henry Lawson



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - Harry Glendinning, co-editor of SINGABOUT. Jim Simpson of Araluen. A dance in progress. Some members of the "orchestra"



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - TOMAHAWKING FRED collected by Jack Bradshaw, the last of the bushrangers, and first published in his book THE QUIRINDI BANK ROBBERY in 1899. (Maitland, T. Dimmock, 1899) This song is also known as TOMAHAWKING FRED FROM THE BARCOO and THE BIG GUN SHEARER. The text has been adapted and set to the traditional air, Killalloo by John Meredith. 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - SINGABOUT edited and produced by Harry Glendinning and Eric Bolton. Drawings by John Dengate, Layout advised and assisted by Brian Loughlin. 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - MY BEAUTIFUL MUFF. Recorded by John Meredith from the singing of the late Tom Gibbons aged 85, at Gulgong, NSW.  The old man usually sang this song in the parlour of his son Ted's CENTENNIAL HOTEL on a Saturday night, when all the regulars would join in the chorus. 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - MY BEAUTIFUL MUFF (cont) 
WHAT'S HAPPENING (cont)  Hello! Australian Tradition!! ... published by Folk Lore Society of Victoria and Victorian Folk Music Club ...
Hello! CHRIS WOODLAND!!  Both the Bush Music Club and the Wild Colonial Days Society will be the losers when Chris leaves for the Murray River town of Mulwala ...



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - RECITERS CORNER. STOOKING HAY by Duke Tritton. I remember the occasion when Duke wrote these verses. At a Bush Music Club workshop about a year before his death ...   John Meredith



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 -  STOOKING HAY (cont)  THE SHORES OF BOTANY.  When I first began singing The Shores of Botany Bay, Duke Tritton used to say "That's a bloody good song - but it's too short. One of these days I'll write some more." And he did. One meeting night he came up to me and shoved a scarp of paper into my hand ... here is the extra verse. Jamie Carllin

18.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - THE TRUTH OF THE STORY. (from Perth Bush Music Club) 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - CALEDONIA reproduced from an early Bush Music Club Song Sheet. no. 2



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20.  Singabout, Volume 6(2), 1967 - PUBLICATIONS - Songs of Australia.  Singabout Magazine. Authentic Australian Bush Ballads. Songs from the Bush. Bush Ballads Festival FL31, 336. Dinkey Di, Festival FL31, 326. Poems in Music FL32, 282