BLADE SHEARING AT POONCARIE

[Maureen K Clifford]

BLADE SHEARING AT POONCARIE

I wonder if you’ve ever heard of a place called Pooncarie
where the folks are friendly, everyone’s your mate
Some say located right next to the middle of nowhere
a small country town, a fact not for debate.



She’s nestled close to the Darling somewhere out Menindee way.
She’s seen a camp set up by Burke and Wills nearby
at old Tarcoola station in 1860 that took place.
Camp number thirty on their northward journey dry.
In her heyday there were steamers – paddle driven at the wharf
loading up with bales of wool and heading south.
They’d collected bales from Queensland and from northern New South Wales
and now followed their Darling to the river mouth.

Pooncarie sits on semi arid outback plains out west
‘next to the middle of nowhere’ I heard it said.
She has woodlands rich with eucalypt, a small population blessed
with clear skies, free of pollution overhead.
Today she’s just a sleepy town – population less than fifty
with an ambience unhurried and all day to sit and laze
beneath the river gums, fishing for Murray Cod in the Darling
as in paddocks round about you white Merinos graze.

You can play a little golf, there’s only nine holes – nothing fancy
the course has charm all its own as you will see.
And if that becomes too stressful well just wander to the Pub
In 1876 the Telegraph was built. That’s history.
They have a race day in October, when the girls dress in their best
and the blokes from round about wear their good gear.
Bright shiny boots, new jeans, akubras, RM Williams shirts.
The local horses race, there’s bookies and there’s beer.

The field days a day not to miss – if you want to touch base
and be informed or maybe catch some local action.
See the ladies back a trailer – well some can – it’s not a race,
there’s more to see, this is but one of the attractions.
You can see sheep shearing done the way that Jackie used to do
with a blade, hand driven through the creamy wool.
Those blades are sharp as razors, and they keep them honed that way
‘cause they need a quick clean cut. No snag or pull.

A good blade shearer holds his beast in a grip firm but gentle
as his left hand parts the wool before the blade.
His wrist upon his shearing arm is flexible and supple,
and he bends forward as every blow is made..
He aims to see each wether shorn at steady even flow
with an equal length of short wool left behind.
The rhythm and the timing’s like Bush Poetry you know
and good blade shearers are scarce and hard to find


They had working dogs Ute jumping – that’s a sight I tell you Mate
when you see these Kelpies, Border Collies, Blues
leap into a Ute , and scrabble, scramble, clamber up the side.
The winner nearly cleared two metres – Yes!!! That’s true.
But these dogs are truly athletes of the canine four feet kind
and they clamber over woolly backs most days.
They can run near fifty clicks in a pinch I’ve heard it said
and they ask for very little in their pay.

Yes a bloke could do far worse you know than live out near Pooncarie
where the folks are friendly, everyone’s your mate
It might be situated right next to the middle of nowhere.
Location beautiful – that fact’s not for debate.


Maureen Clifford © 05/11

[Bob Pacey]

An interesting poem Maureen. I googled the town and I like things to do in Pooncarie. Number one picnic under the gums. Number two Imagine how things happened in the early days. Number three Visit the local museum.

The interest to me is how did you come to write the poem ? Do you have a connection ?

A good read non the less. It aroused my interest.

Cheers Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

None at all Bob - here is why it originated

http://pool.abc.net.au/media/pooncarie-field-day

it was the line - right next to the middle of nowhere that caught my eye and then of course Laras great pictures of blade shearing that sealed it.

Cheers

Maureen

[Bob Pacey]

Maureen what is that site looks interesting? Is it run by the abc ?


Bob

[Bob Pacey]

Oh I also like the sign Population 48.


Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

Small town eh Bob? No wonder everyone knows everyone...and yes that site is run by the ABC. Go and have a good look around it you will be amazed - I write on there under Mahalia and you will find a few familiar people on it if you explore

[william williams]

Used to go up to Pooncarie years ago to some relations place and used to go out to Luthero station on the darling she was good fishing got plenty of Cod and Yellowbellies but those were the days before the pollution of the Darling by the cotton farms drought and those rabbits of the water Carp and Bob in those days at the pub the beer was icy cold
Many a traveler stopped there the pub because it was nearly half way to Menindee lake

bill Williams

[Maureen K Clifford]

New someone would know where it was Bill

[Bob Pacey]

Hey it was also noticed that you slipped quitely into the 1000 posts as well Maureen without all the fanfare.


Congratulations.

As you know i do not post unless it is an intellegent and relevant comment so will be a while before I get there.

I also tell lies as I get verbal dribble sometimes.


Bob

[Heather]

I noticed Maureen! Congratulations.

Bobbo not that far behind really - about another two days should see it!