The spirit of the bush

[noelcauser]

Spent a week in the bush doing voluntary work on several farms. This family had four children and all capable of handling any job before then. we had three exchange students with us from Brazil. Belgium and China .They were amazed that what they did.

The Spirit of the Bush.

Much has been written about our pioneers of the past
The forging of new frontiers from which the die was cast.
The die that made this country stand out from all the rest
A spirit born of hardship that put man to the test.

Look a little harder and you'll find that spirit still as strong
The rugged exterior made have changed but the journey's just as long.
The footprints linger of the past and tell of courage born of need
This land we call Australia, won by hardship, not by greed.

I came by chance upon this lass born no doubt of country stock
Her looks were of a city girl her, but her de meaner like a rock
She said she was a stripper and worked both day and night
her answer didn't gel with me, and soon she had to put me right.

It appears a stripper in a country sense is not a girl that sheds her gear
But one that operates a harvester with twin spinners at the rear.
Just pushing eighteen years of age I marvelled at her expertise
Her knowledge of this country life just bought me too my knees.

Next day this girl was tagging cattle and by midday shearing sheep
The thought of matching her at work had me squirming in my sleep
Her siblings there beside her were all doing much the same.
Duties carried out with vigour would put them in the stockman's “Hall of Fame”

In my dingy city cottage with the smoke stacks spreading soot
I feel that somehow I would wish the shoe was on the other foot.
That I could match this country lass and at least do something good
But alas I feel I'd fall between the cracks and end up cutting wood.

Naradhan

[Rimeriter]

No doubt about it Noel, them bush people set a standard for many others.

I've travelled a bit and seen a few
seems very little they cannot do.
reminds me of Jack the Tall Tale Teller
a salt of the earth, bloody ol' bush fella.

(c). Rimeriter 3/12/11.

[william williams]

Good on you Noel having lived and move among them. the country women are a group of women to be proud of and respected in daylight and work and a delight to see so feminin at the dance.

Bill the old Battler