ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

There will be a meeting of the CJ Dennis Society commencing at 12 midday on Saturday, 17th March, at 'The Singing Gardens' (former home of CJ Dennis) in Toolangi. All members are invited to attend. If you are not a member, come along anyway, and sign up!

Lunch will not be served. Instead, you are invited to bring your own picnic. If the weather is fine, we will eat out on the lawn.

The Intro - Doreen.
The Play - ' "peanuts or lollies!" sez a boy upstairs.
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Sorry Stephen, cannot make it.

Where the heck is Toolangi any way ?

Jim.

G'day Jim. Stephen and all,

Martin Pearson did a really fantastic rendition of 'The Play' at Cobargo Festival. The MC had indicated he had time for one more song and he casually said "I know I'l leave you with a little poem by CJ Dennis". Then he launched, in the way only Martin (with his wild hair and beautifully cultivated accent) can do, into a word perfect recital, fully dramatised (but never overdone). I have heard him do this poem at the National to a capacity crowd (of about 2000) and, during the performance, you could hear a pin drop. He ended ..."-'Peanuts or lollies' sez a boy upstairs", with a flourish and a bow. Then the audience erupted into great applause. (oh that one day I could elicit a response like that!)

Yes, I've seen Martin do 'The Play' several times. Superb.

Jim, Toolangi is about 65 km east of Melbourne. East of Kinglake. North of Healesville. You can approach it from several directions - through Kinglake; up the Melba Highway through Yarra Glen, or up the Chum Creek or Myers Creek Roads from Healesville.

I'm told Dennis used to accompany Dame Nellie Melba on his (home-made) banjo.

Only because Stephen you were giving road directions for travel - I wondered whether CJ was riding or playing his banjo

No, his banjo was bigger than that, Maureen. You're on the right track, though. He didn't wear a hat either, though I have seen photos of him in a cap.