The Tribe of Place sub-tribe alternative perjorative 'illegals' in my earlier post was just for you, Bronwyn. I am glad to see that it got you in, and that you were so obviously pleased to see it in the context in which I placed it. Your digital shout of recognition brought joy to my heart.

This favourite tribe of mine may equally correctly be called, in Latin, the 'pro testare' tribe: translated, meaning 'to set forth'. As you can see, I have set it fourth in my tribal list. A freer translation might be 'to tell it like it is', and I think I fulfilled that aspect of the alternative tribal name translation in the sentence "And by golly all these bastards had better bloody well see things the way I do or there'll be trouble!", in my first post.

I know you want to be a member of my favourite tribe, Bronwyn, and I truly desire to see you accepted into it, believe me. However, that isn't up to just me. That is why I have to advise you that a post of only 102 words just doesn't cut it, Bronwyn, diatribally speaking. To properly enter into the diatribe, you must almost unfailingly use up your 350 words per post allocation. Now I know you embrace the discipline of this with respect to limitation of the maximum size of posts, for you have said so, but there is also the requirement to not waste it, to use it all up, on almost every occasion. Master that, Bronwyn, and I am sure you will be admitted to the tribe, provided you are prepared to work like an igger.

While we are on the subject of Australian ethnic sub-tribe perjoratives, have you any suggestions of one for 'us', as opposed to ones for 'them'? 'Skips' seems positively tame and inoffensive. 'Jokeln' is a bit arcane. 'Anglo' lets the celts off scot free. 'Swill', which might have filled the bill, has been degraded by our noble Prince having applied it to asylum seekers. I feel positively cheated.

Forrest,
I got sucked in properly ...oh the shame :-(
I have a suspicion I qualify for the status of a tribal member, the crazy one locked in the attic. Let out only to disgrace him self at major festivals....
Very droll.
I'm gonna watch your posts more carefully in the future. :-\

Foxy,
My adopted maternal grand mother when from Bourke Western NSW to a cattle station over the border in QLD in about 1898 by bullock train it took them 6 weeks.

We have some very early photos of that period and the head indiginees some dressed in suits, bowler hats and the women in long dresses and bonnets and of one "king Billy" with his breast plate and all. Real historical pioneering stuff stuff.

We offered them to the Qld library for their 150 yeas display.
They told us they were the only photos of that time from there and in fact was about the only real information except for the name of the property. Despite that they were very ambivalent about us donating them.

Once my 85 yo mum goes that will be the end of the history. She's the only one who knows the details. Sometimes bureaucracies disappoint me.

my kids are 6th generation ozzie...decendant off the femail line from county kerry...thus they are related to a previous poster...lol

can trace my family femail line back to early 1700...in netherlands to hoogen boom[high tree]..that begat a de hoog..[a high]..that made a de bon..[a good]..that created a homer.son...

[lol..bart simplson in my matriarchal assention..lol..?]

..that created..van[of]..lent..that begat van[of] ingen...that begat..a janson/..that begat me..son..of the horns of the head of the stag and the single golden/horn of the ox...bound with blue/yellow braid on shield

anyhow enough family secrets..gotta track down my mob from melville..that joined the son of the hoorn[me]..via the male janson...[beloved of god/son]..whos heraldic..title is an open book...lol..

shame i cant make this stuff up ...lol

Dear Sharky,

Thank you for your kind words. I love Celtic art, jewellery,
music, and mythology. A friend of mine who's an artist
has made some beautiful pieces for me that I treasure and
wear with pride. And, what an interesting backround you've
got. Your daughter must be quite a beauty!

Dear Suze,

I imagine they certainly would have been pretty tough in
the 1800's - but think of the strong genes you've been
lucky enough to inherit.

Dear Piper,

Your mother's an amazing woman - I'm very envious. I only
wish that mine would part with a tiny bit of info. about her
ancestry. Gran was from St. Petersburg in Russia - and how
I'd love to know more about the way she lived.

Dear Forrest G.,

You represent everything I love about this land of ours -
a laconic sense of humour, an irreverance for authority,
a disdain for pretence and snobbery... :-)

Dear Examinator,

I agree with you, bureaucrats can be very frustrating.
I guess that's how they get promoted - they're not a
threat to anyone. What a shame they didn't realize
what a treasure they were being donated by your family.
I'm sure that a local historian would have jumped at
the chance. Your background is awesome - 6 weeks by
bullock train? Latvian reffos - PNG - and so much more.
Now I know where your willingness to pitch in and help
others less fortunate comes from.

Dear OUG,

I love reading your posts - they're quirky - but ever so
informative and fascinating.
Thank You. Please keep them coming...

can anybody else here name the Aboriginal land on which they were born?
in a couple of weeks i'll be back on Bunnerong land
celebrating my old mum's 93rd at the corroboree tree.