I grew up in the era when Australian ballads were taught at school and of course can recite most of many. Banjo was one of my favourites and his words would take me far out of the classroom, in my imagination.

Have several books of his works that I pick up from time to time to refresh my memory.

It is sad that, speaking to the young today, Australian stories and ballads are not longer taught. Our history deserves better.

I would like to know how he got the nickname of Banjo and I hope my use of his name, as my pen, will help perpetuate his name.

Truly a great Australian. Thanks Steele for reminding us.

Dear Pericles,

You will get no anti-globalisation rant from me since the fact that it has been responsible for lifting lifting hundreds of millions of people from around the world out of poverty is cause enough for its celebration.

But globalisation does not translate to unfettered capitalism. Many governments have rightly have gone to great lengths to protect employment in both their manufacturing and agriculture sectors whilst still taking advantage of the fruits so to speak of global trade.

If an Australian government was to truly leave our fortunes to a rampant, unconstrained marketplace then there is little reason to doubt we would be far worse off. A case in point is the recent finding by our Anti Dumping Commission.
http://www.adcommission.gov.au/cases/documents/062-SEF-217-AllegedDumpingofPreparedorPreservedTomatoesExportedfromItaly.pdf

“The Commission is satisfied that the Australian industry producing like goods has
experienced material injury in the form of;

• loss of sales volume;
• loss of market share;
• price depression;
• price suppression;
• reduced profits;
• reduced profitability;
• reduced revenues;
• reduced return on income; and
• loss of employment.

The Commission is satisfied that the material injury experienced by the Australian
industry is as a result of dumped imports from Italy.”

Note there is a judgement being made here about what is fair or unfair.

NZ has enacted anti-dumping safeguards far more robustly than Australia, so by your measure are they being utopian, nationalistic and jingoistic?

Banjo writes;

“Adam Smith says, "It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy." No, but if he has to keep some of his family doing nothing, it is better to make the article, even at a loss, than submit to the loss of keeping the family idle, and also buying the thing.”

Banjo recognised the 'loss of keeping the family idle' was something that had to be taken into account. That thinking would not suit the boardroom but it sure as hell should be part of how we are governed.

Dear Hasbeen,

You do realise that except for my introduction it was entirely a piece by Banjo Paterson?

Banjo a Green? It will take some getting use to.

Dear Banjo,

My pleasure. I also need to go through my collection of his books more comprehensively and break the tendency to reserve him for Australia Day.

Dear Shockadelic,

Indeed. I think the message is probably pretty universal but it was refreshing to hear it put in that fashion. Perhaps it was afforded that clarity because it was unclouded by the smoke and mirrors of our current partisan politics.

I recently gave the full works of Banjo to a young girl who consumes such Australian stuff.
But see my head holds every page still so gave away only the hard copy.

Happy birthday Banjo. Rest in peace for there are others who follow you. Modern times, still the same old problems,

“BLUDGERS”

Bludgers, should be drowned, at birth,
although all men deserve some chance…
Some show the signs, of meagre worth,
as towards a dole queue they advance.

That ‘free ride mentality’ is congenital,
at least, that’s the way it would appear.
Bludger parents do seem instrumental,
in a second generation, welfare career,

They know, the lurks and all the perks,
to screw the system and live like kings.
Two generations, where nobody works,
that’s the sad result, this gestalt brings.

Nobody scoffs at ‘true blue’ misfortune,
that, ‘helping hand’, is the Aussie way,
Hackles rise, at that pillage opportune,
that bludger’s stipend, tax dollars pay.

What is amiss with the ‘powers that be’,
and the hand on the Government purse.
Why do welfare legions, a leniency see,
as a worker’s lot goes from bad to worse.

No more are we, “The Lucky Country”,
we’ve watched that image disintegrate.
Why shirkers for life, deserve a bounty,
is one point, we should rapidly debate.

Powers, should prioritize an obligation,
not to neglect need, or sick, and infirm,
Term bludgers, the curse of this Nation,
unto Society’s apple a putrefying worm.

May the shirker, so smug and contented,
then bear the derision, of Society’s snub.
Might dole, be returned to that intended…
May the orchard then be free of the grub.

http://www.bushverse.com/smf/index.php?topic=4517.0

That great Australian literary celebrity; Andrew Barton (Banjo) PATERSON.

As a consequence of my (paternal) grandfather who happened to have fought in the Boer War, I was sufficiently motivated to read as much material as I could get my hands on, about that particular conflict. As I'd already been fortunate enough, to learn much about my other (maternal) grandfather, who happened to have fought in the First World War.

In order to understand a little more about this conflict, I managed to purchase a book titled; 'From the Front' - Despatches from the Boer War. Penned by none other than, A.B. (Banjo) PATERSON.

It was revealed Paterson had been appointed, A Special War Correspondent, in South Africa - from November 1899 to July 1900. essentially he worked for; The Argus, The Sydney Mail, and the Sydney Morning Herald. This book had been edited by; R.W.F. (Robin) Droogleever, who was a South African by all accounts, and later, he and his family moved to Australia, and helped found the; 'Anglo Boer War' Study Group.

It would be impertinent of me to describe, either the style or quality of Paterson's writing other than to say, it is as you'd expect, anything coming from this gentleman's pen is absolutely Brilliant !

Interestingly, I cannot recall anything written about Harry (the Breaker) Morant. Other than to shamefully admit, I hadn't read the book in it's entirety.

In conclusion and upon the 150 Anniversary of this great man's birth, I thought it appropriate that I share this little gem with you all, and to commend it to the readership at large.