Not since this column's exposé of the origins of the elaborate cubby-cum-tank stand on the M31 (Hume Highway) near Campbelltown has such an avalanche of email landed in my inbox, with readers responding en masse to my request to pick their preferred poet, Henry Lawson or Banjo Paterson.
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Banjo led the early polling with comments from a number of readers reflecting those of Evan Croker, of Franklin, who declares, "with his wistful turns of phrase and optimistic outlook Banjo wins for me".
However, it was Henry who ended up getting more overall votes with support from readers including Russell Wenholz, of Holt, who admits that while he "likes Banjo, when it comes to the crunch", he "gets more out of Henry Lawson".
"As well as the ballads, Henry wrote more about how people think and feel," explains Wenholz, adding his "favourites in this category are Since Then and Written Afterwards – both put to music by Slim Dusty, also a Henry fan".
For Carol Nolan, of Chapman, the choice was more clear-cut. "It has to be Henry," exclaims Nolan, who has enjoyed many long weekends with her extended family in the NSW town of Gulgong where Henry spent many of his formative years. "Like Grenfell [Henry's birthplace], Gulgong also celebrates Henry every June long weekend with lots of events and activities," crows Nolan who hails from the historic gold rush town, near Mudgee.
Meanwhile, a number of readers including "Brick", from Hawker, thought it "was just too hard to compare these two very different poets and men," while others, like Don and Julie Rayner, of Bungendore, abstained from voting for either man, instead nominating C. J. Dennis, the Australian poet known for his humorous work, especially The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, published in the early 20th century.
Although staying well clear of the debate as to who was the better bush balladeer, Canberra bush-poet Mike Lavis was quick to highlight that "Yass isn't the only nearby town with a bust of Banjo, there's also a monument to Banjo in Binalong, where he went to school."
"Binalong is actually a hotbed for Australian bush poetry" says Lavis, adding, "they have a competition there each year and a casual gathering at the Black Swan wine bar every second month."
In fact it appears that Banjo isn't the only famous poet with close ties to Binalong. "Robyn Sykes, a recent Australian Women's Bush Poetry Champion, is a local farmer there," explains Lavis, adding, "perhaps it must be something in the water there."
Finally, mention on these pages of Banjo's comical poem Mulga Bill's Bicycle brought back childhood memories for Mark Straughair whose "1975 sixth-grade teacher at St Patricks Christian Brothers College in Albury, Jack Mullavey, made all the boys learn the Banjo classic by heart".
"It was a class contest to see who could learn it first without making an error," recalls Straughair who, every time he drives over Conroys Gap [which features in the poem] on the highway near Binalong, confesses to making his "poor son and wife endure yet another unbidden rendition of the first couple of stanzas."
"I think they are just maybe getting a bit tired of it," muses Straughair.
Fact File:
Henry Festivals: If you are a Henry Lawson fan you are spoilt with choice this June long weekend (June 11 -13). Not only are Grenfell (3½ hours' drive north-west of Canberra, www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au ) and Gulgong (five hours' drive north, www.gulgonghenrylawsonheritagefestival.com) hosting their annual Henry Lawson festivals, but to mark 100 years since he lived in Leeton (four hours' drive west), there is an open day (10am – 5pm) on Sunday June 12 at the Riverina town's Henry Lawson Cottage.
"There will be an unveiling of an interpretive sign on the significance of the building and Henry's connection, an opportunity to inspect the cottage, and poetry recitals, before afternoon tea at 2pm," reports Wendy Senti, president of the Leeton Family & Local History Society. For more information on the Leeton bash: Ph 02 6953 2613 or wendytom71@bigpond.com
Did You Know? Closer to home, a bronze cast of Henry Lawson's right hand is on permanent display in Treasures Gallery at the National Library of Australia. Open daily with free admission.
SPOTTED
Take me to your leader!
While sampling the waters of Yandyguinula Creek near Hoskinstown as part of their annual autumn Bug Blitz, the crew from Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch stumbled across this unusual letterbox.
"We immediately thought of your occasional series on wacky and weird letterboxes," reports Woo O'Reilly, Waterwatch Facilitator, who promptly dispatched the photo to this column's inbox.
The robot-like repository wasn't the only unexpected find, during Bug Blitz, for O'Reilly and her net-wielding team – they also found a rare Toad bug (Family: Gelastocoridae) "It's ugly and brown with a warty appearance, bulging eyes and the ability to jump suddenly on its prey," exclaims O'Reilly.
O'Reilly is definitely on the money with her description of the macro-invertebrate, but in the interests of biodiversity (which despite the antics of some organisations isn't just about cute, cuddly critters) I share it with you today. If you've seen an uglier bug please let me know.
Oh, and for the record, as water bugs are an excellent indicator of stream health Waterwatch staff and volunteers collect data on water bugs from our waterways each autumn and spring. Details about future Bug Blitz's can be found at www.act.waterwatch.org.au No experience necessary.
MAILBAG
Talking Toadstool
The remains of the "talking toadstool" on Red Hill which recently featured in the column's photo quiz prompted a number of readers, including Sam Paterson, to ask which other Canberra points of interest did the 1970s coin-operated tourist information devices once grace. According to ArchivesACT which documented the chattering contraptions in one of their "Finds of the Month" , apart from Red Hill (one on the Woden and one on the city side) they were also installed atop Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, City Hill, and Government House and Scrivener Dam lookouts.
During the week, while rummaging through The Canberra Times photo library, this column uncovered a photo of the Red Hill "talking toadstool" shortly after it was installed. The photo, published on April 9, 1973, features a "Miss Bronwyn Davis, 15, and Miss Mandy Johnson, 16, listening to the "mushroom" with the lights of the city twinkling away prettily in the darkness behind them." Both ladies would now be in their late 50s. I wonder if they are still in Canberra?
CONTACT TIM: Email: timtheyowieman@bigpond.com or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick. You can see a selection of past columns at: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/by/Tim-the-Yowie-Man-hvf8o
WHERE IN THE REGION?
Clue: Not far from our northern border.
Degree of difficulty: Medium - Hard
Last week: Congratulations to Silvano "Mushy" Sartor, of Karabar, who was first to correctly identify last week's photo as the old logging cart located in the courtyard between the Forestry Building (#48) and the Geography Building (#48A) at the ANU. It was an easy win for Sartor who regularly sits next to the old cart to eat his lunch.
Ed Wensing, who submitted the photo and who is currently completing his PhD at the ANU, reports that "the campus is a delightful place to spend time undertaking research as there are many spots like this courtyard where you can find a quiet corner to do some reading or writing".
How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday May 28, 2016, with the correct answer wins a double pass to Dendy cinemas.
