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Why Mulga Bill

 

Hosts – Bruce and Sherril

We still have a lot of red Australian soil in our pores.

We were engaged for 3 months, got married and, after the honeymoon, went to Australia where we stayed for 5 years.

We lived in Geelong and Mt Isa – a daughter born in Geelong, another in Mt Isa. (Another 5 children were born in New Zealand).

Over a 3 month period we traveled up-and-down through the centre of the continent; then right around.

Australia is still very much part of our lives, a mighty country all right.

We discovered the poems of A B (Banjo) Paterson

He wrote many poems including Waltzing Matilda and The Man from Snowy River–  one of the best poems ever; and he wrote Mulga Bill’s Bicycle which was (and still is) a family favourite of ours.

When planning our venture to provide accommodation for the Coast to Coast cycle trail, the story of Mulga Bill immediately came to mind – hence, Mulga Bill’s Cottage, and Mulga Bill’s Stopover.

 

You will find this book at the cottage
To read the poem, click on the script at far right

 

Banjo Paterson biography

Andrew Barton “Banjo’ Paterson (1864-1941). Poet, ballad writer, journalist and horseman.

‘Banjo’ Paterson, known as Barty to his family, was born Andrew Barton Paterson at Narrambla, near Orange on 17 February 1864. His parents, Andrew Bogle and Rose Isabella Paterson were graziers on Illalong station in the Yass district.

Paterson’s early education took place at home under a governess and then at the bush school in Binalong, the nearest township. From about the age of ten years he attended the Sydney Grammar School. He lived with his grandmother in Gladesville and spent the school holidays at Illalong station with his family.

After completing school the 16-year-old Paterson was articled to a Sydney firm of solicitors, Spain and Salway. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1886 and formed the legal partnership, Street and Paterson. During these years Paterson began publishing verse in the Bulletin and Sydney Mail under the pseudonyms ‘B’ and ‘The Banjo’.

In 1895, at the age of 31 and still in partnership with Street, Andrew Barton Paterson achieved two milestones in Australian writing. He composed his now famous ballad ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and his first book, The Man from Snowy River, and other verses, was published by Angus & Robertson, marking the beginning of an epoch in Australian publishing. This hallmark publication sold out its first edition within a week and went through four editions in six months, making Paterson second only to Kipling in popularity among living poets writing in English. His poetry continues to sell well today and is available in many editions, some of which are illustrated.

Paterson travelled to South Africa in 1899 as special war correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald during the Boer War, and to China in 1901 with the intention of covering the Boxer Rebellion but he arrived after the uprising was over. By 1902 Paterson had left the legal profession. The following year he was appointed Editor of the Evening News (Sydney), a position he held until 1908 when he resigned to take over a property in Wee Jasper.

In 1903 he married Alice Walker in Tenterfield. Their first home was in Queen Street, Woollahra. The Patersons had two children, Grace born in 1904 and Hugh born in 1906.

During World War I Paterson sailed to Europe hoping for an appointment as war correspondent. Instead, during the course of the war he was attached as an ambulance driver to the Australian Voluntary Hospital in France and was commissioned to the 2nd Remount Unit of the AIF. He was eventually promoted to Major.

In Australia again he returned to journalism, retiring in 1930. He was created CBE in 1939. At the time of his death on 5 February 1941 his reputation as the principal folk poet of Australia was secure. His body of work included seven volumes of poetry and prose in many editions, a collection The Collected Verse of A.B. Paterson (1923), a book for children The Animals Noah Forgot (1933), and an anthology The Old Bush Songs (1905), in addition to his many pieces of journalism and reportage. Paterson’s role in Australian culture has been celebrated on the Australian $10 note.

Biography credit: The Reserve Bank of Australia

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