ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Just back from my trip to PNG where i accompanied a group of Indiginous people to attend an ANZAC day ceremony at Bomana War cemetry. The purpose was to bring the spirits of their fallen soldiers home. This was the firstime ever that a Didjeredoo was allowed to open a ANZAC ceremony and i must say it was magical so the poem



Goori Spirit Take me Home.

On distant shores I gave my life,
to spare my land from war.
My mother earth called out too me,
Son go bravely from this shore.
Show the badge of honour,
that the dream time spirits gave.
This is my land your seeking,
I will hold it to my grave.

Brother, train me to be a soldier,
if that is what it takes.
I'm here to show I'm willing,
To fight for higher stakes.
Put me in the front line,
for that's where the fight is rough.
Spare not the colour of my skin,
till the enemy's had enough.

The dream time spirits called him,
“Said frank, its time too go”.
Your courage will live forever,
although most will never know.
The battles that befell you,
will be the legacy you leave.
Don't worry Goori soldier,
Your country folk will grieve.

Come brother take my spirit home,
for I long to leave this place.
This land that took so many souls,
lays scant those paths too trace.
Come brother take my spirit home,
for that's where I want too be.
Embrace my soul O Goori man,
let my dream time spirit free.
Ncauser © 2012

Lovely piece Noel - were they Bunjalung people?

I seem to remember reading this work before and liking it then as well - from the heart I think, and very touching

Cheers

Maureen

Frank Archibald was from Kempsey and is a Gumbaynggirr man and the group are off to Armidale this weekend to finally lay his spirit to rest. they conducted smoking ceremonies on other soldiers from different tribes.I'm not sure whether they are travelling to Vic and Perth for those. I also thought they were called Koori but different tribes have different meanings and I was quickly corrected that it is Goori not Koori.

G'day Noel,

Good to see you back. I'll catch up with you tomorrow at IBP.

Round Tabulam (between Casino and Tenterfield) the aboriginal people call themselves 'Murrie' not Korri. I lived there for 6 years and worked as a teachers aid with the children from 'the mission'. The village of Tabluam, on the banks of the Clarency River has about 300 people and 'the mission' probably has more. But they move around a lot and are hard to count.

Hi Noel
What a wonderful trip that would have been - and thank you for sharing some of the emotion of it.

Catchya
Irene

Sounds like it was really a moving experience.

Terry