Re: The Spoken Word in Bush Poetry
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:36 am
Waltzing Matilda
The Banjo Paterson Cultural Centre, re-titled now as The Australian Cultural Centre, has a comprehensive section devoted to Waltzing Matilda (A. B. Paterson) covering pretty much all aspects. Lots of little known stories and anecdotes are developed as displays.
Here is one of them :
On 28th January 1968 as a tribute to Australia Day, a three minute film lauding Australia was televised introduced by Brian Henderson. (Bandstand, Newsreader etc)
The short film's music was Waltzing Maltilda (original version by Marie Cowan) and incorporated the words of God Bless Australia.
It was produced and presented by Ampol and it also served as a tribute to Jack O'Hagan who wrote the patriotic words (1967).
Pictured here from the Collection is :
1. The scarce vintage sheet music of God Bless Australia. A true Australian National Anthem.
Here in this god-given land of ours Australia
This proud possession, our own piece of earth,
That was built by our fathers, who pioneered our heritage
Here in Australia, the land of our birth.
2. The flexi-record version of God Bless Australia produced by Ampol
3. A grab from the very moving video, that can be seen here on Youtube :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLn41erNSg
Actually I had missed seeing it and it was Ampol themselves who kindly directed me to it.
Karen remarked "I found that it emphasised the difference in Australians of its day to the Australians of this day. The patriotism really came through and this is what seems to be sadly missing in today’s society. The Aussies represented in the film were “real fair dinkum” types. "
Together this record, sheet music and video form a delightful and sentimental Waltzing Matilda item in our Waltzing Matilda section. I believe God Bless Australia was submitted as a National Anthem.... and there is a story about that but we are not history lecturers and I do not want posts to degenerate into a cavalcade of boring facts.
Anyway.... Good for Ampol!
Waltzing Matilda by itself is a Popular Song and sensibly never an "Unofficial National Anthem"... obviously. However, use the well-known tune and add some words that celebrate Australia (rather than a rogue swagman) and bingo!... A true and popular National Anthem.
The good old Aussie compromise at its best perhaps??
Banjo Paterson might have appreciated the twist?
The Banjo Paterson Cultural Centre, re-titled now as The Australian Cultural Centre, has a comprehensive section devoted to Waltzing Matilda (A. B. Paterson) covering pretty much all aspects. Lots of little known stories and anecdotes are developed as displays.
Here is one of them :
On 28th January 1968 as a tribute to Australia Day, a three minute film lauding Australia was televised introduced by Brian Henderson. (Bandstand, Newsreader etc)
The short film's music was Waltzing Maltilda (original version by Marie Cowan) and incorporated the words of God Bless Australia.
It was produced and presented by Ampol and it also served as a tribute to Jack O'Hagan who wrote the patriotic words (1967).
Pictured here from the Collection is :
1. The scarce vintage sheet music of God Bless Australia. A true Australian National Anthem.
Here in this god-given land of ours Australia
This proud possession, our own piece of earth,
That was built by our fathers, who pioneered our heritage
Here in Australia, the land of our birth.
2. The flexi-record version of God Bless Australia produced by Ampol
3. A grab from the very moving video, that can be seen here on Youtube :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLn41erNSg
Actually I had missed seeing it and it was Ampol themselves who kindly directed me to it.
Karen remarked "I found that it emphasised the difference in Australians of its day to the Australians of this day. The patriotism really came through and this is what seems to be sadly missing in today’s society. The Aussies represented in the film were “real fair dinkum” types. "
Together this record, sheet music and video form a delightful and sentimental Waltzing Matilda item in our Waltzing Matilda section. I believe God Bless Australia was submitted as a National Anthem.... and there is a story about that but we are not history lecturers and I do not want posts to degenerate into a cavalcade of boring facts.
Anyway.... Good for Ampol!
Waltzing Matilda by itself is a Popular Song and sensibly never an "Unofficial National Anthem"... obviously. However, use the well-known tune and add some words that celebrate Australia (rather than a rogue swagman) and bingo!... A true and popular National Anthem.
The good old Aussie compromise at its best perhaps??
Banjo Paterson might have appreciated the twist?