Our Aussie Blog

The sun was hot already – it was only 8 o’clock
The cocky took off in his Ute, to go and check his stock.
He drove around the paddocks checking wethers, ewes and lambs,
The float valves in the water troughs, the windmills on the dams.

He stopped and turned a windmill on to fill a water tank
And saw a ewe down in the dam, a few yards from the bank.
“Typical bloody sheep,” he thought, “they’ve got no common sense,
“They won’t go through a gateway but they’ll jump a bloody fence.”

The ewe was stuck down in the mud, he knew without a doubt
She’d stay there ’til she carked it if he didn’t get her out.
But when he reached the water’s edge, the startled ewe broke free
And in her haste to get away, began a swimming spree.

He reckoned once her fleece was wet, the weight would drag her down
If he didn’t rescue her, the stupid sod would drown.
Her style was unimpressive, her survival chances slim
He saw no other option, he would have to take a swim.

He peeled his shirt and singlet off, his trousers, boots and socks
And as he couldn’t stand wet clothes, he also shed his jocks.
He jumped into the water and away that cocky swam
He caught up with her, somewhere near the middle of the dam.

The ewe was quite evasive, she kept giving him the slip
He tried to grab her sodden fleece but couldn’t get a grip.
At last he got her to the bank and stopped to catch his breath
She showed him little gratitude for saving her from death.

She took off like a Bondi tram around the other side
He swore next time he caught that ewe he’d hang her bloody hide.
Then round and round the dam they ran, although he felt quite puffed
He still thought he could run her down, she must be nearly stuffed.

The local stock rep came along, to pay a call that day.
He knew this bloke was on his own, his wife had gone away
He didn’t really think he’d get fresh scones for morning tea
But nor was he prepared for what he was about to see.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief at what came into view
For running down the catchment came this frantic-looking ewe.
And on her heels in hot pursuit and wearing not a stitch
The farmer yelling wildly “Come back here, you lousy bitch!”

The stock rep didn’t hang around, he took off in his car
The cocky’s reputation has been damaged near and far
So bear in mind the Work Safe rule when next you check your flocks
Spot the hazard, assess the risk, and always wear your jocks!

Received via email – Author unknown.

This is an old Australian favourite, made even more famous internationally with the release of ‘The Man From Snowy River’ movie.

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER

by A.B. “Banjo” Paterson

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses – he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.

There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up –
He would go wherever horse and man could go.
And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle girths would stand,
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony – three parts thoroughbred at least –
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry – just the sort that won’t say die –
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, “That horse will never do
For a long a tiring gallop – lad, you’d better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you.”
So he waited sad and wistful – only Clancy stood his friend –
“I think we ought to let him come,” he said;
“I warrant he’ll be with us when he’s wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.

“He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko’s side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse’s hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen.”

So he went – they found the horses by the big mimosa clump –
They raced away towards the mountain’s brow,
And the old man gave his orders, “Boys, go at them from the jump,
No use to try for fancy riding now.
And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,
If once they gain the shelter of those hills.”

So Clancy rode to wheel them – he was racing on the wing
Where the best and boldest riders take their place,
And he raced his stockhorse past them, and he made the ranges ring
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.
Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.

Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black
Resounded to the thunder of their tread,
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,
Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;
And the old man muttered fiercely, “We may bid the mob good day,
No man can hold them down the other side.”

When they reached the mountain’s summit, even Clancy took a pull,
It well might make the boldest hold their breath,
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat –
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
Through the stringybarks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.

He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill,
And the watchers on the mountain standing mute,
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.
Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.

And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam.
He followed like a bloodhound on their track,
Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home,
And alone and unassisted brought them back.
But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,
And where around The Overflow the reed beds sweep and sway
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,
The man from Snowy River is a household word today,
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.

Welcome to our next installment of Learn the Lingo - in this article we’re looking at where people are from.

One thing I feel it’s important to mention here, sometimes Australians are thought of in a bad way and part of that comes from a lack of understanding. Australians are proud of their country, their heritage (no matter where they are from in the world) and also are very accepting of people from other countries. Australians embrace that their country is multi-cultural and we enjoy our mates from far and wide.

In saying that, some of our slang can come across bad and I want to explain that it we might take the mickey out of others, but we’re well known for laughing at ourselves first. We can dish a joke out and we can take one well, that’s what helps make us who we are and why so many people all over the world love us Aussies. None of the terms below are derogatory in any way, they’re often delivered with a smirk and believe me, we get it right back from them all (and love it!).

• Aussie [pronounced Ozzie] – Australian
• Banana bender – a person from Queensland
• Cane toad – a person from Queensland
• Cockroach – a person from New South Wales
• Crow eater – a person from South Australia
• Mexican – a person from Victoria (south of the border)
• Sandgroper – a person from Western Australia
• Taswegian – a person from Tasmania
• Seppo – an American
• Sheepshagger – A New Zealander
• Pom, pommy, pommie – an Englishman (thought to originate from “POHM – Prisoner of Her Majesty” from back in the convict days – when white settlement started here).

We have had a number of bushrangers during the short history of Australia but none have stirred Australians more than Ned Kelly and the “Kelly Gang”. Love him or hate him, there seems to be no middle ground when it comes to opinions of our most infamous bushranger.

Who is Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly?

Ned was the eldest son of John Kelly (ex-convict who was transported from Ireland) and Ellen Quinn (a free immigrant from Ireland). There is much debate over when he was actually born as there are no records of his Catholic Baptism but evidence suggests that it’s likely to have been sometime between late 1854 and June 1855.

When Ned’s father died in 1866, Ned was 11 years old and was the eldest child of 7 children at the time. His mother moved with the children to be nearer to family and get on with their lives as best as they could in those tough times.

Bushranger beginnings?

When Ned was 16 years old, a well known bushranger, Harry Power (who had escaped from prison at the time) came along and asked Ned to join him as his offsider. Needing the money to help his mother he went along. It’s most likely that during his time with Harry Power that he learnt a lot of his bush-skills.

His time with Power was short-lived with him being arrested and Power eventually being caught. When Power was brought in, it was made to look as though Ned was the informer but in fact it was Ned’s uncle who had turned him in.

From his release there were various charges against Ned Kelly and at one time during the lead up to the Kelly Gang, Ned was sentenced to hard labour for 3 years.

Trouble with the Law

In 1878 there was an incident with a Constable Fitzpatrick while attempting to arrest Dan Kelly. Ned and Dan decided it would be better for everyone if they got out of the way and went out in the bush to hide out.

Warrants were issued for their arrest for “attempted murder” of Constable Fitzpatrick with a £100 reward. Their mother was arrested and sentenced to 3 years in gaol with hard labour for attempted murder of Constable Fitzpatrick.

Kelly Gang Formed

Shortly after this a police party of four went in search of the two Kelly’s in the Wombat Ranges. It is often reported that Ned Kelly (along with Dan, and their friends Joe Byrne and Steve Hart) just wanted to disarm the officers and take their horses but things didn’t go to plan.

At Stringybark Creek on the 26th of October police officers Sgt Kennedy and Constables Lonigan and Scanlon were shot dead. Perhaps a kill or be killed situation? Constable McIntyre was the only one to survive and he raised the alarm about the other officers.

On October 29th the government issued a notice of a reward of £800 for the arrest and conviction of all four, now known as the ‘Kelly Gang’. In November this was changed to £2,000 (£500 for each offender) and they were legally declared Outlaws which meant any civilian could legally shoot any of the gang members on sight.

Following this, the Kelly gang robbed a bank in Euroa as well as holding hostages at nearby Faithfull’s Creek in North-East Victoria.

A lot of the Kelly Gang’s friends and sympathisers were arrested and were able to be held up to 3 months to stop them from assisting the outlaws in evading capture. This only increased their numbers of supporters who were starting to resent the government and the police of the state.

In early February of 1879, the gang held up the town of Jerilderie in NSW and robbed its bank. It’s during this time that Ned Kelly wrote his famous ‘Jerilderie Letter’ where he explained his version of events and asked for leniency for their families, friends and supporters who had done no wrong. The reward for the gang had risen to £8,000 – £2,000 per outlaw.

Last Stand

It all came to a head in Glenrowan during a siege between 26th and 28th of June. Clad in the famous armour that has become a symbol of the Kelly Gang they had a shoot-out with the police which brought the gang undone.

Joe Byrne was shot and died from blood loss; his body was taken away and strung up for spectators and photographers. Daniel Kelly and Steve Hart died inside the Inn they were holed up in. Ned Kelly was shot and badly injured but escaped, then came back to try and rescue Dan and Steve. He came upon the police line from the rear and boldly took them on single-handedly, known as Ned Kelly’s ‘last stand’.

He was shot and captured, the only surviving Kelly gang member, he was taken to Melbourne to await trial and his fate.

Ned Kelly was found guilty of wilful murder and sentenced to execution by hanging. When Judge Barry declared the sentence, Ned responded, “I will go a little further than that and say I will see you there where I go”.

There was a petition for a reprieve organised with over 30,000 signatures but it did no good. Meanwhile Ned continued to write letters to explain his version of events and to ask for his mother’s release from gaol but nothing came of it.

November 11th 1880, Ned Kelly was executed by hanging at Melbourne Gaol; his last words were “Such is Life!”

One interesting fact is that 12 days later, the judge who sentenced him to death died also.

In 1881 there was a Royal Commission into the Kelly Outbreak which painted the police involved in the lead up to them being declared as outlaws in an unfavourable light though it didn’t excuse or condone the actions of the Kelly gang either! Regardless, it brought about major changes to the Victorian Police force which are still in effect today.

There has been much speculation about Ned Kelly and the Kelly gang over the years; even today they still make news headlines!

• Where are the remains of Ned Kelly and will he be given a proper burial?
• Where is Ned Kelly’s skull?
• Did Steve Hart and Dan Kelly actually escape?
• Did Ned Kelly get married?

Ned Kelly is firmly lodged in our psyche – love him or hate him, he will live on in one way or another as an outlaw but also a legend!

For me personally, I am a supporter. I certainly do not condone their actions BUT looking at the way events played out back then (or what we know of them) I believe Ned Kelly was mostly misunderstood. Circumstances beyond his control seemed to force his hand. No matter what wrong doings the Kelly Gang did, we also need to look at the Police of the time and see their part in the whole drama too.

Ned Kelly has been much written about over the years and of course there have been movies made about him, the first one made in 1905. Another one made in 1970 starred Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones as Ned and in 2003 Heath Ledger starred as Ned Kelly in the film of the same name. It’s been knocked by Kelly fans for being little more than a romanticised Hollywood attempt at history and inaccurate in parts, I couldn’t say as I haven’t seen it. My personal favourite was the 1980 mini-series ‘The Last Outlaw’ which seems to be the most accurately portrayed (as best as can be) version of events.

At Australian Native T-Shirts we have many fantastic Ned Kelly t-shirts, pewter figurines and buckles, stubby holders and other merchandise. These make great gifts for those admire Ned Kelly – the Legend!

We posted 10 ways to tell if you’re Australian earlier in the blog and here are another 10 – how many apply to you? We have also added brief explanations to the end for our visitors from across the sea!

You know you’re Australian when:

1. You know the difference between thongs and a G-banger (thongs go on your feet, a G-banger is what others may call thong underwear!).
2. You know that while we call our friends ‘Mates’, we don’t use terms like ‘Sheila’ and ‘Shrimp on the Barbie’, contrary to popular belief (it’s true, we really don’t say that – advertising has a lot to answer for!).
3. You’re familiar with Neighbours, Home and Away, Playschool, A Country Practice, Norman Gunston, Barry Humphries, Blue Heelers, Ray Martin, Bert Newton, Lisa McCune, Jon Burgess, Number 96, Molly Meldrum, Kerry O’Brien etc (TV shows, characters and well known Australians – a bit of an institution really!).
4. You drive on the left-hand side of the road (and sit in the right hand side of the car to drive!).
5. You know that you can’t eat Fantales alone… Otherwise who will you play the “Who am I…” game with when you’re reading the wrapper? (Fantales are a yummy confection with celebrity bios and trivia written all over the wrappers).
6. You feel obliged to spread salty black stuff that looks like congealed motor oil on bread… and actually grow to like it. You’ve also squeezed Vegemite through Vita Wheats to make little Vegemite worms (think of two thin wheat crisps with little holes, spread your margarine and vegemite on top, put two together and squeeze – little wormy shapes of spread come out all the holes – done it!).
7. You have the ability to compress several words into one – ie ‘g’day’ and ‘d’reckn?’ (why use a whole bunch of words when one word will get the message across?).
8. You know what fairy bread tastes like, and you can’t imagine your childhood without it (fairy bread is buttered bread covered in 100s of little coloured sprinkles – in Australia they are known as hundreds and thousands).
9. Sausage rolls and meat pies. End of story (a must have snack food at all childrens parties, school lunch, pub lunch, pretty much anytime actually!).
10. The private lives of footy and cricket players become more important than local and national news stories (Australians really love their sport and sporting heroes – what else can we say?).

Continuing in our series of Australian native animal facts, this page contains information and interesting facts about the bilby!

1. The bilby is a desert living marsupial.
2. There were originally two species of bilby, but one became extinct in the 1950s.
3. The name bilby is an Aboriginal word meaning long-nosed rat.
4. It is an endangered animal due to habitat loss and competition between them and other animals.
5. Bilbies have a long muzzle and very long ears – apparently hearing is not an issue!
6. They are burrowers and can build tunnels with their strong limbs and claws.
7. The female bilby has a pouch which faces backwards so her pouch does not get filled when she is digging.
8. Bilbies are nocturnal omnivores that do not need to drink water – they get all the moisture they need from their food, which includes insects and their larvae, seeds, spiders, bulbs, fruit, fungi and other very small animals.
9. Bilbies are only pregnant for 12 to 14 days, one of the shortest of all mammals.
10. The bilby also has a long tongue which helps it find/reach food.
11. There was a movement to have the Easter bilby replace the Easter bunny in Australia with some of the sales raising money for the protection of these unique little native animals.
12. There is a national recovery plan to help revive the bilby population which sees bilbies being bred in captivity and introducing them back to areas where bilbies once lived.
13. Bilbies are closely related to the bandicoot.

Check out our products featuring the Australian bilby.

One of our most famous Aboriginal artists would be Albert Namatjira who is best known for his water-colour landscapes of the Macdonnell Ranges and the nearby regions of Central Australia. His painting style was more of a conventional approach to art unlike some of the Aboriginal art we see but his paintings do capture something special in them.

Aboriginal art has existed for many thousands of years. Some of the rock carvings and aboriginal paintings are 30,000 years old. These painting and carvings narrate the stories of the painter or sculptor.

The colours used in ancient Aboriginal art were natural shades of earth colours such as red, brown and yellow. The other colours used were white made from pipe clay and charcoal made by burning wood.

One of the traditional visual art forms of the Aboriginals is known as “Dot painting”. In dot painting, minute dots are used to create symbols and patterns on canvas. Traditional dot painters still use natural pigments derived from plants and seeds but some contemporary artists now use acrylic paints on canvas instead of natural earth colours.

At Australian Native T-Shirts we have quite a selection of Aboriginal art on t-shirts, ladies clothing, gift items, prints and wallhangings.

Just something a little different in this Learn the Lingo post, these are the names we call people or how they are perceived to us in Australia.

• Ankle biter – toddler or small child
• Bloke – a man or guy
• Bludger – generally someone who relies on other people to do things for them; lazy
• Bogan – person with little pride in their appearance
• Bushie – Someone who lives in the bush
• Cobber – a friend
• Dag – a funny person or a bit of a goof
• Dill – an idiot – but not meant in a nasty way
• Dipstick – an idiot or loser
• Dole bludger – someone who is on welfare and doing nothing to change it
• Drongo – stupid person
• Dropkick – an idiot or loser
• Fruit loop – fool
• Galah – fool or silly person
• Hoon – refers to a hooligan, especially driving unsafely, too fast, wrecklessly
• Mate – a friend, and often something to call a person when you can’t remember their name!
• Mongrel – despicable person
• Mug –  gullible person or friendly insult
• Nipper – young surf lifesaver
• No-hoper – someone who will never do well.
• Ocker – an unsophisticated person
• Oldies – parents
• Postie – postman or mailman
• Rellie or relo – a relative
• Sheila – a woman (though rarely used in Australia except if it’s someone’s actual name)
• Sook – cry baby
• Stickybeak – a nosy person
• Tall poppies – someone successful
• True blue – patriotic
• Vego – a vegetarian
• Yobbo – an uncouth person

I’m definitely a dag at times, and always a good mate!

I just wanted to share a picture taken by one of our visitors of a real Australian road sign designed to protect the native animals from cars. Isn’t it sweet?

At Australian Native T-Shirts, we carry a lot of native Australian animal road sign gifts – take a look.