TOMORROWS HOPE

[Maureen K Clifford]

revamped this one a bit - think it is better. Tried to take out some of my back to front phrases Neville.


TOMORROWS HOPE


Wambangalang out Dubbo way – postcode two eight three oh
would appear to be a quiet country town.
Population round five hundred, middle aged and middle income
and on Saturday night not much is going down.
Wambangalang means ‘faces of many kangaroos’
For the grey roo calls Wambangalang its home
What better place to teach the children about their environment
than here where roos unfenced still live and roam.

What used to be the schoolhouse has become the dormitory
for the Field studies centre. It’s wooden walls keep
many secrets, many stories, though I doubt the walls will tell
for they now keep watch o'er children as they sleep.
It’s known as Oorapoora and stands beside the Garewah Hut.
Both shelter children after busy days
spent watching for endangered birds at Wambangalang Pond
and preparing fruit to fill the Possums tray.

There are manmade flying foxes, and the ropes of tall tree challenge
beckoning and begging kids to have a go.
The walking is precarious with just a rope and harness
thirty feet up in the canopy you know.
But they find this exciting, not a mobile phone is seen.
No one is playing games upon the net
or texting to their mates or yapping as they do
they’re too busy having fun – raising a sweat.

Old rabbit trapper Will with his blue canine mate Norm
live in a small tin hut upon the centres grounds.
Will tells the kids of many things, how it was years ago.
He always has a captive audience round.
He tells them stories of the bush of wallaby and roo,
how often one would hear on darkest nights
the eerie screech of proud owls as they hunted on the wing
and their victims scream would tell all of their plight.

Inside the Lab there’s microscopes, binoculars, computers
revealing the shadowed secrets of the land.
There’s archery and worm farms, reptiles of every kind
Aboriginal artefacts are close at hand.
But these kids are really learning though they just think it is fun.
These will one day be the leaders of our nation,
and they will move into adulthood with a grounding that is sound
at Wambangalang they learnt the art of conservation.

It’s good to know that places like Wambangalang exist
that they are more than happy their knowledge to share.
That the educators of today appreciate its worth
is heartening. It’s obvious some care.
And no doubt each child will carry home the information learnt,
and it will stay with them forever through the years.
For if we respect the Mother, then she will look after us.
We must show respect – else all will end in tears.


Maureen Clifford © 06/11

[Neville Briggs]

That sounds really great to me Maureen. Fantastic

It's a very interesting story too. My youngest son is a High School teacher and a bit of a "greenie' and he takes classes in a little bush school to fill in sometimes, he would applaud that sort of experience with the children. I might show him your poem and see what he thinks

[Heather]

Sounds like a fantastic place and experience for the kids Maureen. Those experiences can have a lasting impact.

Heather

[Bob Pacey]

Got a mob of kids in today on an adventure training course. They are off to Kepple Island tomorrow should be more of it.


Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks everyone - just renamed it - the original title was a tad lacklustre