What an excellent poem Heather. Well written. Short and to the point.
Your imagery is vivid and the poem scans.
A Crossing Place. It's a ripper of a poem. You have so much talent!!
Enigmatic writing, and descriptive too! Haunting.
I think I canoed the McAlister River when I was in the Canoeing Club at Monash Uni. No sign of Alice Walton that I recall... if that is the river where she met her unfortunate end.
Well done Heather. A Crossing Place. So intriguing. Three cheers for you. Great writing.
The Crossing Place
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Gary Harding
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Bob Pacey
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Re: The Crossing Place
Heather your new hat is on the way about three sizes bigger than the old one 
Keep that up Gary and heather will paint ya purple
Bob
Keep that up Gary and heather will paint ya purple
Bob
The purpose in life is to have fun.
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!
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Heather
Re: The Crossing Place
Thank you Gary, you are very kind. I'm glad you enjoyed it. What a great river to canoe down. Isn't it a beautiful part of the world?
Yes, Alice Walton met her end at Alick's Crossing in 1889 -way before there was any bridge . Alice's maiden name was Turpin - her family were pioneer selectors at Glenmaggie and her father grew poppies for the legal drug trade at one point on the flats of the McAlister River. It's an intriguing family that I've done a fair bit of research on.
Alice had only been married to Matthew Walton for three months and was riding back to be with her husband with another local. They were crossing the river which was very muddy and moving quickly. The pack horses were sent ahead and Alice and her companion - William Riggall followed on their horses. Alice's horse slipped on the rocky bed of the river and she was thrown from her horse and washed downstream. William's horse got spooked and rushed out of the river and refused to go back in. William went in and at one point thought he had her but it was only her jacket. Alice's body was found the next day about 300 yards down stream in a deep pool. She was 31.
When I was first researching Alice I contacted an historian at Glenmaggie who told me that the locals had a theory that she was having an affair with William Riggall - something I find unlikely since she was so newly married. There was an inference that her death may not have been accidental...
About ten years ago, I sat on the banks of the McAlister River, while my four children rolled up their pants and waded in the chilly water on the slippery rocks and I sat and thought about Alice. It was a beautiful sunny day. So my poem is a combination of all of those events and circumstances with a bit of poetic license thrown in - as always
I hope to do more with this story at some time in the future.
Yes, Alice Walton met her end at Alick's Crossing in 1889 -way before there was any bridge . Alice's maiden name was Turpin - her family were pioneer selectors at Glenmaggie and her father grew poppies for the legal drug trade at one point on the flats of the McAlister River. It's an intriguing family that I've done a fair bit of research on.
Alice had only been married to Matthew Walton for three months and was riding back to be with her husband with another local. They were crossing the river which was very muddy and moving quickly. The pack horses were sent ahead and Alice and her companion - William Riggall followed on their horses. Alice's horse slipped on the rocky bed of the river and she was thrown from her horse and washed downstream. William's horse got spooked and rushed out of the river and refused to go back in. William went in and at one point thought he had her but it was only her jacket. Alice's body was found the next day about 300 yards down stream in a deep pool. She was 31.
When I was first researching Alice I contacted an historian at Glenmaggie who told me that the locals had a theory that she was having an affair with William Riggall - something I find unlikely since she was so newly married. There was an inference that her death may not have been accidental...
About ten years ago, I sat on the banks of the McAlister River, while my four children rolled up their pants and waded in the chilly water on the slippery rocks and I sat and thought about Alice. It was a beautiful sunny day. So my poem is a combination of all of those events and circumstances with a bit of poetic license thrown in - as always
I hope to do more with this story at some time in the future.
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Gary Harding
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Re: The Crossing Place
Thank you for that background information Heather. There was something about your poem that suggested much more to me, some sixth sense perhaps and I was right. ...
As it is short, it obviously offers scope to further infill and round it out a little more. Certainly there is no lack of historical fact to draw upon, but I would prefer to see the descriptive side developed most, the imagery of a pretty place rather than a narrative, but that's a personal preference.
You said a lot with few words which is a large part of the Poet's art I think.
As an aside, I started to develop a "morbid trend" with my amateurish writing years ago. My mother pulled me up. "Stop writing about death, misery and pitiful people. Sad stuff... tear-jerkers... or I will give you a kick."
"Open your eyes and see the wonder of the grand Australian Bush, its birds and animals, the nobility and humour of its inhabitants and the natural beauty of the countryside."
I try and do that. Perhaps that is why I favour descriptive over narratives?
So give me the joy and comradeship of the real Australian Bush instead, enshrined in the poetry of its skilled writers... mainly past but very, very occasionally present.
Simple things like a river crossing can be elevated to something with mystique and character... personified even... as you have done so well.
I find it more enjoyable reading bush poetry than trying to write it. Heaven forbid. I have difficulty even rhyming.
But I know a good poem when I see one and "The Crossing Place" deserves well, if not a V.C. then at least an M.C. Well done Heather. I look forward to seeing the next iteration!
As it is short, it obviously offers scope to further infill and round it out a little more. Certainly there is no lack of historical fact to draw upon, but I would prefer to see the descriptive side developed most, the imagery of a pretty place rather than a narrative, but that's a personal preference.
You said a lot with few words which is a large part of the Poet's art I think.
As an aside, I started to develop a "morbid trend" with my amateurish writing years ago. My mother pulled me up. "Stop writing about death, misery and pitiful people. Sad stuff... tear-jerkers... or I will give you a kick."
"Open your eyes and see the wonder of the grand Australian Bush, its birds and animals, the nobility and humour of its inhabitants and the natural beauty of the countryside."
I try and do that. Perhaps that is why I favour descriptive over narratives?
So give me the joy and comradeship of the real Australian Bush instead, enshrined in the poetry of its skilled writers... mainly past but very, very occasionally present.
Simple things like a river crossing can be elevated to something with mystique and character... personified even... as you have done so well.
I find it more enjoyable reading bush poetry than trying to write it. Heaven forbid. I have difficulty even rhyming.
But I know a good poem when I see one and "The Crossing Place" deserves well, if not a V.C. then at least an M.C. Well done Heather. I look forward to seeing the next iteration!
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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: The Crossing Place
Heather, the "Riggall" name is pretty famous up that way, isn't it? I seem to recall the Riggalls ran a hostel of some sort on the Omeo side of Mount Hotham in the early decades of the 20th century.
Gary, I reckon you should have taken that kick from your mother! Imagine if Henry Lawson's mother had said "Stop writing about miserable subjects!" and he had said "OK, mum."
Have you ever listened to Bob Dylan's first album? There's nothing on it except songs about death - and he was only about 19 at the time. Eventually he wrote through it, or shrugged it off, of whatever. As he once said, "I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now."
The best advice I ever heard was "Take no advice!"
Gary, I reckon you should have taken that kick from your mother! Imagine if Henry Lawson's mother had said "Stop writing about miserable subjects!" and he had said "OK, mum."
Have you ever listened to Bob Dylan's first album? There's nothing on it except songs about death - and he was only about 19 at the time. Eventually he wrote through it, or shrugged it off, of whatever. As he once said, "I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now."
The best advice I ever heard was "Take no advice!"
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
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Heather
Re: The Crossing Place
It was 1999 that I went to Glenmaggie. I have a photo of "Medowra" on the gate of the property.
I don't know about the hostel Stephen. Other names up there were Chester, Cheyne and Morphett. I remember borrowing A Valley of Glens from the library and that was when I discovered that Alice had drowned. Strangely enough I was at the local pool where my kids were having swimming lessons. Some moments stay with you.
A VALLEY OF GLENS The People and places of the upper Macalister River. Written by Linda Barraclough and Minnie Higgins. Here are some notes I took from that book. I spoke to Linda Barraclough soon after and she gave me the information about the "rumour".
During the 1860s a number of Geelong families moved to Gippsland. Including the Turpins, William Chester (Indented Head), John Gell a friend of the Turpin family and Thomas Kendall. Further up the river from Glenmaggie there was extensive use of Section 42 on the flats from Medowra to Hickey's Creek. Of the original settlers there only the Turpins remained for any length of time. They acquired large areas of flat. Possibly some dummying going on. One application was withdrawn on account of a member of the family only being 16.
On the flats they grew vegetables mostly for the Walhalla market. These were packed across a track direct from Medowra. Also grew mint, pennyroyal and opium poppies for the Melbourne drug market. Poppies grown under a special permit which expired on the death of the those who held them. Compact crops easier to pack out to the market. Easier to handle. After a while they also began cheesemaking.
Moved their house up on a hill above the flat and named it Alpine Villa. Suffered heavy losses in the 1882 fire and moved out of the area shortly afterwards.
In the early 1870s a local cheese industry began in the towns around Glenmaggie. There were factories at Maffra, Stratford, Briagolong and Upper Maffra. A private factory was operated by the Turpins on the Medowra flats. When the Turpins sold out in 1882 their clearing sale included screw cheese presses, urns, vats, and a new pit saw.
By 1877 the Turpins had a "magnificent edifice". Too hard to transport the timber in to build the more substantial homes. In the case of the Turpins and Molphys, a sawpit was built and the timber sawn on the property. (p34)
After the 1882 fire, John and Martha went to Melbourne, Arthur to America. George stayed on in a hut at Blanket Hill and later went to Heyfield where he died in 1924. Their property 'Alpine Villa' (renamed 'Medowra???)'was sold to Hoddinott in 1882, later to Riggall abt 1890, .
Gee, now I'm wondering where those photos are. It was before I had a digital camera.
I don't know about the hostel Stephen. Other names up there were Chester, Cheyne and Morphett. I remember borrowing A Valley of Glens from the library and that was when I discovered that Alice had drowned. Strangely enough I was at the local pool where my kids were having swimming lessons. Some moments stay with you.
A VALLEY OF GLENS The People and places of the upper Macalister River. Written by Linda Barraclough and Minnie Higgins. Here are some notes I took from that book. I spoke to Linda Barraclough soon after and she gave me the information about the "rumour".
During the 1860s a number of Geelong families moved to Gippsland. Including the Turpins, William Chester (Indented Head), John Gell a friend of the Turpin family and Thomas Kendall. Further up the river from Glenmaggie there was extensive use of Section 42 on the flats from Medowra to Hickey's Creek. Of the original settlers there only the Turpins remained for any length of time. They acquired large areas of flat. Possibly some dummying going on. One application was withdrawn on account of a member of the family only being 16.
On the flats they grew vegetables mostly for the Walhalla market. These were packed across a track direct from Medowra. Also grew mint, pennyroyal and opium poppies for the Melbourne drug market. Poppies grown under a special permit which expired on the death of the those who held them. Compact crops easier to pack out to the market. Easier to handle. After a while they also began cheesemaking.
Moved their house up on a hill above the flat and named it Alpine Villa. Suffered heavy losses in the 1882 fire and moved out of the area shortly afterwards.
In the early 1870s a local cheese industry began in the towns around Glenmaggie. There were factories at Maffra, Stratford, Briagolong and Upper Maffra. A private factory was operated by the Turpins on the Medowra flats. When the Turpins sold out in 1882 their clearing sale included screw cheese presses, urns, vats, and a new pit saw.
By 1877 the Turpins had a "magnificent edifice". Too hard to transport the timber in to build the more substantial homes. In the case of the Turpins and Molphys, a sawpit was built and the timber sawn on the property. (p34)
After the 1882 fire, John and Martha went to Melbourne, Arthur to America. George stayed on in a hut at Blanket Hill and later went to Heyfield where he died in 1924. Their property 'Alpine Villa' (renamed 'Medowra???)'was sold to Hoddinott in 1882, later to Riggall abt 1890, .
Gee, now I'm wondering where those photos are. It was before I had a digital camera.
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Gary Harding
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Re: The Crossing Place
Thanks Stephen,
Nah I think her advice was excellent. I was actually becoming a real "graveyard bard" (a Lawson expression). An occasional wistful piece is OK, the death of a character in a poem too is fine ("But she died at one and twenty and was buried on the rise") but this was becoming an obsession with me, as if I had to write about death, dying in battle, losing loved ones, or cancer etc. .. up-close unhappy stuff, to make people sad or relive their own personal tragedies in order to be a Good Poet. Silly.
A few poets today in my opinion are locked into this style, and I think it is a shame. The Fire at Ross's Farm I still cannot read through without crying! .. and nobody dies! Death/Misery are not needed to get emotions stirred. Skill is! ... in bush poetry.
Henry Lawson got fed up too and talked about them in his work "Poets Of The Tomb". You would know it well I am sure.
It took a rebuke from a great critic (me Mum!) to wake me up. Thankfully.
I appreciate the courtesy and kindness shown to me on this forum. Yourself, Heather and Bob. I have watched it for a long time, and observed all the nice folk here.... and thought finally, well, why not!
Dylan? Not a fan of his poetry or singing, (Byrds/Turtles renditions of his songs are great). I have a very large vinyl catalogued collection including four Dylan LP's. Played a track "Tombstone Blues" on HW61 Revisited for fun expecting the worst and hey it was up-tempo blues with funny lyrics!? So I dunno. His first album may be a rarity, and worth $$$s if you have it.
The interpretation of his quip? I think I see what he is alluding to, but who knows for sure.
Thank you again all for your kindness and one day I might get brave enough to post one of my own poetic attempts for forum criticism, Gary
Nah I think her advice was excellent. I was actually becoming a real "graveyard bard" (a Lawson expression). An occasional wistful piece is OK, the death of a character in a poem too is fine ("But she died at one and twenty and was buried on the rise") but this was becoming an obsession with me, as if I had to write about death, dying in battle, losing loved ones, or cancer etc. .. up-close unhappy stuff, to make people sad or relive their own personal tragedies in order to be a Good Poet. Silly.
A few poets today in my opinion are locked into this style, and I think it is a shame. The Fire at Ross's Farm I still cannot read through without crying! .. and nobody dies! Death/Misery are not needed to get emotions stirred. Skill is! ... in bush poetry.
Henry Lawson got fed up too and talked about them in his work "Poets Of The Tomb". You would know it well I am sure.
It took a rebuke from a great critic (me Mum!) to wake me up. Thankfully.
I appreciate the courtesy and kindness shown to me on this forum. Yourself, Heather and Bob. I have watched it for a long time, and observed all the nice folk here.... and thought finally, well, why not!
Dylan? Not a fan of his poetry or singing, (Byrds/Turtles renditions of his songs are great). I have a very large vinyl catalogued collection including four Dylan LP's. Played a track "Tombstone Blues" on HW61 Revisited for fun expecting the worst and hey it was up-tempo blues with funny lyrics!? So I dunno. His first album may be a rarity, and worth $$$s if you have it.
The interpretation of his quip? I think I see what he is alluding to, but who knows for sure.
Thank you again all for your kindness and one day I might get brave enough to post one of my own poetic attempts for forum criticism, Gary
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Stephen Whiteside
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Re: The Crossing Place
Hadn't heard of The Turtles before. Just checked them out on YouTube. Not sure...
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
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Heather
Re: The Crossing Place
Post away Gary. It is really really scary the first time but you sound like you've been writing (and winning) for a while so I don't think you have anything to fear. You don't need to be "assessed" - just post so we can enjoy and learn.
Heather
Heather