Racing camels of the outback

[r.magnay]

Back in the early 1990's, I spent quite a bit of time working along the Oodnadatta track and particularly Marree. The publican at the time was a bloke called Doug Stuart, (he claimed to be a descendant of John McDouall Stuart) He decided that the community would hold a camel cup, he knew that I wrote a bit of poetry and so commissioned me to write a short poem to be included on the posters....I found the poster the other day so I have copied the poem here for old times sake.

Old Doug wouldn't print the second line because he thought I might be vilified for being racist, so he actually changed it to...'where the Afghan drivers trod'...it's my poem so I have changed it back.

RACING CAMELS OF THE OUTBACK.
© Ross Magnay 1993

In the outback of Australia, where the camels used to plod,
’cross a hot and dusty country where few white men ever trod.
The famous tracks to Oodnadatta and Birdsville now begin,
At the little town of Marree, so boys lets muster in.

The Camel Cup is coming; for all of us to see,
Beasts of burden in their glory, the way they used to be.
They won’t carry heavy mailbags, nor stores for station folks,
The cargo they will carry will be camel riding blokes.

But the finest racing gentry with their cut and polished steeds,
Don’t know ‘nuthin’ ‘bout the racing of these dromedary breeds.
So roll your swags and wander-the time is nearly up,
We’ll get ourselves to Marree for the famous Camel Cup.

[Neville Briggs]

goodonya Ross. Didn't someone once stage a race between a camel and a racehorse and the camel came up the winner. I could be wrong about that, but it might make a yarn.

[r.magnay]

...not too sure Neville, it does ring a bell though.

[Catherine Lee]

Great poem for the poster Ross and I'm sure it went down really well !

[Maureen K Clifford]

That's fabulous Ross - love it - and I like the original line as well don't know why anyone would take offence at it. I'm going to share it over to our FB page , it's a pearler.

[Bob Pacey]

I used to race Greyhounds but I never ever beat any ?


Bob

[william williams]

It's true Bob all the races you ever had you were scratched

Bill W

[alongtimegone]

Nice one Ross. I went for a leisurely camel ride on Broome's Cable Beach. Glad to get off at the end. Can't imagine racing on one.
Wazza

[Heather]

I can't see why anyone would take offense either Ross - there's nothing wrong with saying "white men". I'd much rather a camel ride than a horse ride - except for the getting up and down bit. It's a much gentler ride.

Heather

[r.magnay]

Thanks all, I didn't attend the cup but I believe it was a success and I think it continued for a couple of years after that one.
I don't think you can really compare camels and horses, camels are gangly, slobbering, spitting smelly horrible animals...not bad between the spuds and peas though...they bite and kick and run splay footed, definitely not a pretty animal...and it is a long way to the ground if you fall off one!