ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Some trivia! The original brand of paint used on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was Berger. Berger Paints commissioned CJ Dennis to write a poem reflecting the Sentimental Bloke's musings on the building of the bridge. He did so with a verse entitled I Dips Me Lid. It imagines a meeting between Bill the Bloke and Governor Arthur Phillip, in which they discuss the building of the bridge against the backdrop of Australian history to that point in time. In the poem he coined an expression that Berger Paints adopted as their catchphrase - and it still adorns their website today.

You can read Dennis' poem here, and there is a hyperlink at the bottom which takes you to a letter written by Lewis Berger to the Brisbane Courier newspaper, explaining the commissioning of the poem and requesting that they publish I Dips Me Lid: http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/d ... melid.html

KEEP ON KEEPING ON
(c) Shelley Hansen 30/9/20

They primed the Bridge with Berger paint -
a task not suited for the faint
of heart. Though 16 lives were lost
they kept it up, despite the cost.

When finally completed, they
commissioned for the launching day
a poem by a well-known hand
whose work was legend in this land.

So CJ Dennis wrote a spiel
on how the "Bloke" would likely feel
to see this structure in its prime -
the leading marvel of its time.

He coined a phrase to capture heart
and soul, that marked the project's start
and carried on until its end -
on which its outcome would depend.

So Berger Paints took up the phrase,
adopted it to sing the praise
of products made with Berger's name -
a slogan quickly etched in fame.

The words "Den" chose still ring true blue
as much as back in '32!
Though times have changed, the past now gone ...
still Berger keeps on keeping on!

Fantastic - another little known piece of history revealed - OMG if they had taught history like this when I was a kid I am sure I would remember more of it. We poets excel at doing this. Good on you Shelley, beaut use of the prompts made with your poem

Well, I never knew that! This is brilliant, Shelley, and has certainly taught me something new today - Maureen is so right in that if only history had been taught like this at school I'd be able to retain a great deal more than I do now! Really enjoyed this poem!

Thank you Ladies!

Yes, I agree, history is fascinating when it comes alive! Mind you, the two of you are pretty good at this sort of thing yourselves!!

I actually only found out about the Harbour Bridge poem a couple of years ago myself. Perry Middlemiss has collected vast amounts of Den's poetry on his website, and I was browsing through the "uncollected works" section one day - and there it was! With painting being Rod's trade, it held extra fascination, of course.

So I tucked it away in the "trivia" part of my brain - just waiting for an opportunity like your prompt, Maureen!

G/day Shelley
I agree with the other comments.
Certainly taught me a a few things I didn't know before,
and written in a very entertaining way as well.
Really clever Shelley.

Terry

I agree Shelley, an entertaining read. The Australian movie man Paul Hogan was once a painter on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Thanks Terry and Neville

Yes, I knew Hoges was a bridge painter. I reckon you'd need a sense of humour for that job!