ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Thanks Terry, for posting prompts so much in line with a recent caravan trip we did - how did you know??

We visited the Pioneer Village in inverell, NSW, where buildings and artefacts have been relocated and reassembled to create a tableau of days gone by. It never ceases to amaze me how those corset-clad women raised hordes of children in tiny bark huts - often with husbands working away for months or years at a time.

THEIR LEGACY
(c) Shelley Hansen 2024

We gazed at far horizons underneath a starlit sky –
a pleasure that’s eluded us this year.
With caravan attached once more, we traced untravelled trails,
rejoicing as we “revved up into gear”.

We came upon a village recreated from the past,
which captured changing times from early days
when slab huts were the shelter from the heat and bitter cold
and labour marked the blueprint of their ways.

The school room sat in silence, children’s footsteps long since gone,
the hotel bar devoid of beer and rum.
No loaves of bread from ovens, ploughs without a horse to pull …
yet still I seemed to hear a distant hum.

The echo of activity still lurks within these walls,
the chatter of old mates, a helping hand,
a kettle in the kitchen always filled and on the boil.
I listened, and began to understand.

Though times have changed and we have left behind the roaring days,
the pioneering spirit will survive.
So let us pay respect to those whose courage paved the way
and pledge to keep their legacy alive.

G/day Shelley That was quick
I'm still in the early stages of mine.

It's good to be reminded of the early struggles and hardships of our forebears,
they made this country what it is and laid the groundwork for what we have today.

I really enjoyed your poem it took me back, and although I don't quite go back as far as that,
I still go back to what modern youngsters might call the dark ages.

Glad you enjoyed your trip down memory lane Shelley.

Terry

I enjoyed that Shelley, well done.
Always good to be able to take a step back into the past when visiting such places and make us realize just how good we have it today!
Sad thing is though, that it seems volunteers to man these places are becoming very thin on the the ground! So it's a special vote of thanks to those who do, as well of course to those who "paved the way".
And as you say, what the women accomplished in those days is nothing short of amazing!
Cheers
Ron.

Wonderful poem, Shelley - great imagery, and a very fitting tribute to those pioneers!

Thanks Terry, Ron and Catherine ...

Yes, you are right, Ron - volunteers are an endangered species. Fortunately this particular historic village seems to have a thriving committee of willing hands. Shortly after we were there they had their annual "pioneer day" - complete with costumed participants, procession, re-enactments etc. Would have been great to stay around and see it.

Cheers
Shelley