His Quest. by Dryblower Murphy 1926 It was out beyond the Bulong track we met him swagging in, He was middle-aged and ginger, haggard-eyed and famine-thin; And while he munched some damper and a pannikin of tea, He asked us if we thought he’d catch the Perth express at three. There was not a watch […]
The Old Prospector – a verse
08/10/2022 By Leave a Comment
Coolgardie Miner 16 June 1938, page 8 The Old Prospector: He fossicks around from year to year Away in the country’s outback, A little bit there, a little bit here With a sample or two in his pack. Away from the tracks of his fellows, The places that other men know, To the land of […]
The Ragged Thirteen – by Dryblower Murphy
01/10/2022 By Leave a Comment
Sunday Times 21 August 1938, page 21 A Rhyme of the Ragged Thirteen (By Dryblower Murphy.) The cases of fizz are on the ice, the table turkey’s trussed (Hang the bother and hang the price when its vintage versus dust). There’s crooners to croon and a band to play, speeches and toasts in turn, And […]
Damper and Dog
24/09/2022 By Leave a Comment
The early miners’ staple diet consisted of ‘Damper and Tinned Dog’, washed down by the inevitable mug of black tea – a meal sufficiently filling to satisfy the cravings of appetites blunted by protracted periods of roughing it in the bush. Apparently, tinned meat, or tinned dog as it was mainly called, must have agreed […]
Hasty’s Grave – mans best friend
17/09/2022 By Leave a Comment
Hasty’s Grave This grateful country cherishes the fine courageous band Who pioneered the wilderness, and founded our great land And so it is appropriate that the name of one so brave Be printed on our outback maps, marked simply ‘Hasty’s Grave’ And for those who wished to go there, and find the grave, perhaps Longitude […]
