ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Wow, so much for me to catch up on here...what treasures, and what fabulous information!...I have to say, I do love the inscription on that bookplate. Thanks so much for sharing all this, Gary - as always, it is fascinating.

You are most welcome Catherine. It is a pleasure to share knowledge and physical material here on the ABPA Forum - especially when I receive in return such nice notes of appreciation as yours..

1. I have been a lifelong magpie. Collecting stuff is personally satisfying, obviously. However, I am fortunate to also have the technical wherewithal to be able to take it to the next and higher level. The making of stunning exhibits that allow it all to be placed on Exhibition for the public to enjoy, and especially for kids to learn about their own country.

I wish I had a BIG chequebook.. not to be "rich" which has far less meaning as one gets older, but in order to bring it ALL to my fellow Australians by way of establishing The Australian Cultural Centre on the easily-accessible Sunshine Coast.

Alas, in the rich department .....FATE has dealt me a dud hand.

2. Just like yourself, Catherine, I found that inscription to be simple and yet striking. It just got to me. If one is ever signing a friend's autograph book and chose to write something genuine (not witty) it would be good, I think. Or if in any other circumstance, one wanted to sincerely express themselves to someone special..

Thy heart's wish, wish I thee. How nice is that!

Sentimental? silly of me perhaps? Ha. Yeah, but after all, bush balladists are into saying a lot with few words?? Yes, it was worth sharing it with everyone here.

3. Lately I have been doing a huge amount of work in the field of Waltzing Matilda. Leveraging off the extensive material completed over years of diligence.

So after several months of near 6-day weeks with frequent "3am to 5pm" working days, expertise and a passion for the subject, the task is complete. Hooray!! And I am bushed. A huge but worthwhile Waltzing Matilda job!!

Anyway for interest, here is one item... a 78 record bought for $55 all up.
The show/obverse side is in very good condition which is all I want. Oddly the reverse side has a radial crack, but much to my relief it did not go through the shellac.


Work here has produced by far the best collection and exhibition relating to Waltzing Matilda anywhere in Australia. It is now leveraged to a greater purpose.

Gary

As a very young lad I was given a copy of the book Biggles of 266 for my birthday.

From that small start, I became like many other boys of my tender age, a passionate Biggles admirer and thus gained a lifelong love of flying and aeroplanes. Naturally I gathered up a number of Biggles books which I retain. (see photo below ) Some of the dust-jackets seem to have disappeared.
It is nice to have them because they are full of memories. My mother even became a Biggles fan.

I can still recall a chapter somewhere called the Bottle Party where Biggles flew over the lines and dropped empty bottles on the Hun. These descending bottles sounded like bombs whistling down causing the hapless Huns to run for cover. Jolly good show!

This is not strictly a Collection,but more of a modest accumulation... however, be it spoons or Biggles books, collecting can be fun. The adventurous world of Biggles can still be a terrific place for kids to venture.

Technical wherewithal – yes, you are indeed fortunate, Gary. This is something I am woefully lacking! But it is also your passion and dedication for your collections and exhibits that is worthy of respect….Sincere congratulations on completion of your Waltzing Matilda project, which must indeed have been exhausting but now no doubt deeply satisfying! This 78 record is an amazing find too – we used to have a lot of those back in the day. There are several things I wish I’d kept over the years, and probably would have if I’d stayed in one place instead of moving every couple of years! Wow, just look at all those Biggles books! Great stories, and I love the outline of the Bottle Party chapter you describe here. From memory, my collections as a youngster were Enid Blyton and later Agatha Christie – not one of which survives in my bookcase today. Thanks so much for sharing these pics and impressive progress updates!