Birds from the Bush.

[David J Delaney]

G'day all, I'm with Ross & I cull them here at my place, almost all the Gecko's one finds around their house are 'hitch hikers' from Asia & threaten our own native Gecko's & Skinks.

[Rimeriter]

Thanks Maureen. Must look up the Bremer, it is one (of many) that is unknown to me.
Must have crossed it a few times when heading from Bribie to St George.

I've been close by a gecko, only once I think. Most likely when I was up your way, or further north on the coast.

Jim.

[Rimeriter]

Many ABPAers will recall Banjo's words -

‘Did you hear no sweeter voices in the music of the bush
than the roar of trams and buses and the war-whoop of the push?
Did the magpies rouse your slumbers with their carol sweet and strange?
Did you hear the silver chiming of the bell-birds on the range?
But, perchance the wild birds’ music by your senses was despised,
for you say you’ll stay in townships ‘til the bush is civilised.

To put them in context, this pasting includes some excerpts -
Enjoy.

‘Up the Country’
these new words, are those he spent -
‘I’m back from up the country - very sorry that I went
seeking out the Southern poets’ land whereon to pitch my tent.
I have lost a lot of idols which were broken on the track,
burnt a lot of fancy verses and I am glad that I am back.’

Banjo relished his reply in which he talks about ‘the push’
the title that he chose for it – was

‘In Defence of the Bush’
‘So you’re back from up the country, Mister Lawson, where you went
and you’re cursing all the business in a bitter discontent –
well, we grieve to disappoint you and it makes us sad to hear
that it wasn’t cool and shady - and there wasn’t whips of beer
and the loony bullock snorted when you first came into view -
well, you know, it’s not so often that he sees a swell like you.’

‘Did you hear no sweeter voices in the music of the bush
than the roar of trams and buses and the war-whoop of the push?
Did the magpies rouse your slumbers with their carol sweet and strange?
Did you hear the silver chiming of the bell-birds on the range?
But, perchance the wild birds’ music by your senses was despised,
for you say you’ll stay in townships ‘til the bush is civilised.
Would you make it a tea-garden and on Sundays have a band
where blokes might take their ‘donahs’ with the public close at hand?
You had better stick to Sydney and make merry with the push
for the bush will never suit you and you’ll never suit the bush.’
***