Ode to Burke and Mills

They ventured to the Cooper

You couldn’t call them dills

a hardy group of travellers

They called them Burke and Mills.

Now Burke was no relation

To the one in history told

But they could vouch that Mills, like Wills

In truth was just as bold.

Family and friends made up

This most intrepid breed

In all they numbered twenty-three

with driver, Roadie Reid.

Unlike the poor originals

They travelled there in style

In air-conditioned comfort

All eighteen hundred miles.

Now the object of their mission

Was to see where Bub had bin

With yella belly fishing

At the Cooper, thrown in.

Bub’s spirit was there with them

as they travelled oer the miles

At times they thought they saw his face

Weathered in his sunny smile.

Mike Smith provided lots of jokes

And funny little ditties

The repartee throughout the bus

Must be classed as witty.

To celebrate Gran’s 89th

They stopped at Thargomindah

Michael Smith was 59

Many candles on the cake.

Travelling on they came upon

The pub at old Noccundra

And with XXXX close at hand

They gazed at it in wonder.

Now the Cooper is a legend

For it’s multitudes of fish

But they must have heard them coming

For they hardly filled a dish.

Luke landed a three pounder

You should have seen his grin

Twould have measured twice the size

Of the fish from fin to fin.

Waljo Miller took the cake

For bloody sheer persistence

When late one night he hooked a bite

He’d worn down their resistance.

Mr Porkey was their cook

He looked like a galah

No reference to his expertise

Just the feathered cap he wore.

Behind the barbeque he slaved

They said “let’s call him Sir

The tucker that this bloke serves up

Would rival Cordon Bleau”.

Roumers spread throughout the camp

Most will go unlisted

But “They said this “and” They said that”

Was often heard being whispered.

Maria Cridland topped the lot

Said their June was adopted

“Black Sheep” one brave soul chimed in

“That’s rubbish! “Gran retorted.

To verify that it’s a lie

Just ask old Earnie Braden

He drove the ambulance to the door

Be quick, he’s ninety-four.

The thunder box the boys set up

Was something to be told

And volunteers who pulled it down

Lacked sense of smell we’re told

Breaking camp they travelled on

To Hungerford, next morn

Stopped off at Thargo

Where Peg and Elsie were born.

Bub drove along these dusty roads

Round Hungerford and Eulo

Carting wool, delivering mail

Bet his old trucks could tell a tale.

Now Emery Swamp’s named after Bub

Some old time told them

No signpost there to show the way

Perhaps they’ll pass another day.

Bub had mused about the beauty

Of the Currawinya Lakes

They determined that they’d see them

First hand, make no mistakes.

At Hungerford Pub the rafters rang

With the group’s melodious voice

And Neale performed in humorous vein

Presenting fishing prizes.

Elsie tickled those old ivories

She knows that it’s the rule

Maureen appeared with bolt and chain

To tie her to the patio stool

And Gran recalled fond memories

In most nostalgic mode

Of her parents and her early days

In the pub across the road

Now back in Cunnamulla

Still all rubbing shoulders

Cynthia did a spirit dance

With a scull found at the Boulders

They owe a lot to Ed and Chris

Who did the organising

This pair were offered multi thanks

For effort most outstanding

Well – memories are made of this

So their trip down memory lane

With dear friends and family

Becomes a memory yet again

Written by: Peg Campbell Daughter of Margaret Emery (Gran)

April 1997

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas aliquet laoreet felis id tristique. Duis efficitur, augue a condimentum placerat, tortor nibh maximus neque, eu eleifend tortor urna in odio. Maecenas ultrices dolor a nulla cursus, ut consequat purus volutpat. Donec pellentesque ligula enim, sed luctus ex posuere eu. Pellentesque odio lorem, posuere vel magna vitae, suscipit commodo nisl.

Proin elementum neque et tempor viverra. Suspendisse in ante tristique, facilisis tellus at, commodo augue. Mauris quis sapien accumsan, dapibus ex nec, ultricies nunc. Duis eu enim sit amet sapien scelerisque placerat. Fusce rutrum iaculis hendrerit. In aliquet, nibh at egestas pharetra, nulla nisi molestie nisl, nec interdum ex purus maximus felis.

Let’s work together! Drop us an email to get started!