Download or read book Once a Jolly Swagman written by Matthew Richardson and published by Melbourne Univ. Publishing. This book was released on 2006-01-01 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Banjo' Paterson's 'Waltzing Matilda' is the one song that has been bringing people together spontaneously since 1895, and the one song that belongs to all Australians.Generations of experts have argued about the original story that Paterson immortalised, about the origins of the tune, and about what Paterson meant by his almost parodic over-use of Australian colloquialisms.Once a Jolly Swagman takes readers off the score sheet into the story of the song, and tells of its evolution up until the twenty-first century. It tries to answer the riddles within the song, and unpick its inherent contradictions: where's the heroism in a suicidal thief? What was jolly about the jumbuck? Is 'Waltzing Matilda' the key to Australian values? What does it mean that a beloved song about Australia's pioneering past is written by a city lawyer?In this age of economic rationalism and a globalised world, how does a voice from the billabong saying, 'You'll come a waltzing matilda with me' still matter, and what does it tell us about ourselves?

Download or read book A Waltz for Matilda The Matilda Saga 1 written by Jackie French and published by HarperCollins Australia. This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story behind Banjo Paterson's iconic Australian song. 'Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong Under the shade of a Coolibah tree And he sang as he watched and waited till his Billy boiled You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me...' In 1894, twelve-year-old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But drought grips the land, and the shearers are on strike. Her father has turned swaggie and he's wanted by the troopers. In front of his terrified daughter, he makes a stand against them, defiant to the last. 'You'll never catch me alive, said he...' Set against a backdrop of bushfire, flood, war and jubilation, this is the story of one girl's journey towards independence. It is also the story of others who had no vote and very little but their dreams. Drawing on the well-known poem by A.B. Paterson and from events rooted in actual history, this is the untold story behind Australia's early years as an emerging nation. PRAISE 'Jackie French has a passion for history, and an enviable ability to weave the fascinating minutiae of everyday life into a good story.' -- Magpies Magazine

Download or read book Waltzing Matilda written by Dennis O'Keeffe and published by Allen & Unwin. This book was released on 2012 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An expose of two cover-ups: one the death of a swagman by a billabong; the other, a torrid affair between Banjo Paterson and his fiancee's best friend, and how the two events come together in Australia's best-loved national song. Australians know Waltzing Matilda, written by their most popular poet Banjo Paterson, as their most loved song and unofficial national anthem. What Australians don't know is that their song is embroiled in a web of secrecy, violence and a triangular love affair. Written at a pivotal time in Australia's history, Waltzing Matilda is as important to Australian culture as events like the Eureka Stockade and the story of Ned Kelly. One hundred and fifteen years after the writing of Waltzing Matilda, Australians continue to be fascinated with the song and sing it proudly wherever they meet to celebrate. Given the facts outlined in this story, they will be further captivated and embrace the song for decades to come.

Download or read book Waltzing Matilda written by Andrew Barton Paterson and published by Scholastic Press. This book was released on 2019-12 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This famous ballad of the outback wanderer who drowned himself rather than lose his freedom needs no introduction. There is no swagman as legendary as the tragic hero of this tale, and there is no Australian song as well-known throughout the world. Here the famous ballad is given new depth and perspective. Talented illustrator Freya Blackwood has explored the intriguing background behind the writing of this song, and has shown us not just the lively story of a proud outback larrikin, but also a glimpse into the clashes and struggles that were so formative of Australian history.

Download or read book The Romance of the Swag written by Henry Lawson and published by . This book was released on 1907 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Classic Poetry written by Michael Rosen and published by Walker Illustrated Classics. This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of favorite poems by such writers as William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Edward Lear, Walt Whitman, and Langston Hughes, with portraits of the poets, brief biographical background, and illustrations.

Download or read book The Last Continent written by Terry Pratchett and published by Random House. This book was released on 2008-11-21 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Anything you do in the past changes the future. The tiniest little actions have huge consequences. You might tread on an ant now and it might entirely prevent someone from being born in the future.' Rincewind, inept wizard and reluctant hero, has found himself magically stranded on the Discworld's last continent. It's hot. It's dry. There was this thing once called The Wet, which no one believes in any more. Practically everything that's not poisonous is venomous. But it's the best bloody place in the world, all right? And in a few days, it will die. The only thing standing between the last continent and wind-blown doom is Rincewind, and he can't even spell wizard. Still . . . no worries, eh? 'A minor masterpiece. I laughed so much I fell from my armchair' Time Out 'A master storyteller' A. S. Byatt The Last Continent is the sixth book in the Wizards series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Download or read book A Bush Christening written by Troy Dann and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Action Dann tells his best friend Oakie about the young boy who hides in a log to avoid being christened. What happens next is hilarious!

Download or read book Flock written by Ellen van Neerven and published by Univ. of Queensland Press. This book was released on 2021-05-04 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This wide-ranging and captivating anthology showcases both the power of First Nations writing and the satisfaction of a good short story. Curated by award-winning author Ellen van Neerven, Flock roams the landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, bringing together voices from across the generations. Featuring established authors such as Tony Birch, Melissa Lucashenko and Tara June Winch, and rising stars such as Adam Thompson and Mykaela Saunders, Flock confirms the ongoing resonance and originality of First Nations stories.

Download or read book A Book for Kids written by C. J. Dennis and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2019-11-25 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Start a magical journey in these pages of 'A Book for Kids' — a delightful collection of playful verses that will ignite imaginations and captivate young readers. Let the enchanting words of C. J. Dennis transport you to a world where talking animals and fantastical adventures await at every turn. Here's an excerpt from one of the poems presented in this book, 'Growing Up', showcasing Dennis' ability to enchant the readers: "Little Tommy Tadpole began to weep and wail / For little Tommy Tadpole had lost his little tail / And his mother didn't know him as he wept upon a log / For he wasn't Tommy Tadpole, but Mr. Thomas Frog."

Download or read book Waltzing Matilda written by Andrew Barton Paterson and published by Harpercollins Australia. This book was released on 1991 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrates the lyrics of the Australian song about the adventures of an old tramp.

Download or read book THE MAGIC PUDDING written by NORMAN LINDSAY and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2015-11-11 with total page 147 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A magic pudding who changes from steak and kidney to jam roll and apple dumpling in seconds. A walking, talking dessert that never runs out of pleasing things to eat. A koala bear, named Bunyip Bluegum, A sailor named Bill Barnacle, and Sam Sawnoff the penguin have a wonderful hilarious magical adventure defending the Pudding against thieves who want it for themselves.

Download or read book A Swag of Memories written by Brian Taylor and published by Hachette Australia. This book was released on 2010-07-01 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A quintessential Australian bushman, Brian Taylor has spent most of his life on the land. Working as a drover, a stockman, a fencer, a shearer and a saddler, he has gathered a swag of stories over the years as he travelled way out past the Barcoo, along the dusty plains and beside the dry creek beds under the endless southern sky. In A SWAG OF MEMORIES Brian Taylor shares with us these stories, of the people he has met, the places he has been and the moments, long-gone, that define the traditions of the Australian bush. Like those bush poets and storytellers of days past, Taylor brings to life the characters and the creatures of the bush: men like Dangerous Dan Smith, a hard, self-reliant man who had a gentler talent; Father Peter, a parish priest and occasional hero; Charlie Gibson, an Aboriginal stockman who knew the land better than anyone; and Banjo, the ever-alert dingo watchdog. These colourful and evocative bush tales delightfully capture a slight of Australian life that many of us will never get to see. Luckily, with this collection, you can sit back with a billy of tea and read all about it.

Download or read book Campfire Songs for Ukulele written by Hal Leonard Corp. and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. This book was released on 2014-08-01 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: (Ukulele). 30 favorites to sing as you roast marshmallows and strum your uke around the campfire. Includes: Blowin' in the Wind * Drift Away * Edelweiss * God Bless the U.S.A. * Hallelujah * The House of the Rising Sun * I Walk the Line * Lean on Me * Let It Be * The Lion Sleeps Tonight * On Top of Spaghetti * Puff the Magic Dragon * Take Me Home, Country Roads * Wagon Wheel * You Are My Sunshine * and many more.

Download or read book Life in the Australian Backblocks written by Edward Sylvester Sorenson and published by . This book was released on 1911 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Vignettes of Australian bush life.

Download or read book Swagman The Guardians of Time Book One written by Vivienne Lee Fraser and published by Vivienne Lee Fraser. This book was released on 2019-09-01 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if Waltzing Matilda's Swagman didn't die when he jumped into the lake? What if he ended up in medieval England embroiled in a plot to set a new king on the throne? For once in his life Swagman John is lost for words. Accused of stealing the lamb he rescued fears being thrown in jail. But instead of protesting his innocence he backs into the waters of the billabong and falls. Certain he is dead, John cannot believe the lamb when he tells him he has been brought through a time and space portal to Medieval England. When Mistress Barabal and Squire Stanislaus stumble upon John in the New Forest he is taken back to Winchester Castle where he actually finds the King has been killed and his brother Prince Henry is about preparing to take his place and his new friends are assisting him. Suddenly talking lambs are the least of his worries. Caught up in political intrigues he does not fully understand, John finds dungeons and magic are not just for fairy tales, and that there are people prepared to go to great lengths to see William the Conquerer's other son crowned king—even as far as murder. Just as John wonders if going to prison for stealing sheep was not a better option all along, he finds there is an even more sinister foe meddling in with history. Against such odds how can John set history straight so he can return home to his family?

Download or read book The Bush written by Don Watson and published by Penguin Group Australia. This book was released on 2014-09-24 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most Australians live in cities and cling to the coastal fringe, yet our sense of what an Australian is – or should be – is drawn from the vast and varied inland called the bush. But what do we mean by 'the bush', and how has it shaped us? Starting with his forebears' battle to drive back nature and eke a living from the land, Don Watson explores the bush as it was and as it now is: the triumphs and the ruination, the commonplace and the bizarre, the stories we like to tell about ourselves and the national character, and those we don't. Via mountain ash and mallee, the birds and the beasts, slaughter, fire, flood and drought, swagmen, sheep and their shepherds, the strange and the familiar, the tragedies and the follies, the crimes and the myths and the hope – here is a journey that only our leading writer of non-fiction could take us on. At once magisterial in scope and alive with telling, wry detail, The Bush lets us see our landscape and its inhabitants afresh, examining what we have made, what we have destroyed, and what we have become in the process. No one who reads it will look at this country the same way again. 'Nothing he has written quite matches the wonders of The Bush . . . There is no dull page or even lifeless sentence between its covers and my urge is that if anyone wants a full blast of what Australia is, was, or might be, thrust The Bush into their hands. Watson seems to have been preparing to write it all his life, from when he was a small boy (born 1949) open to wonders on his family's Gippsland dairy farm . . . It's the unalloyed wonder of that small boy . . . that guides the reader most of all . . . a fountaining freshness of spirit that gives everything he sees and does the vivacity of being sighted for the first time.' Roger McDonald, The Age 'Flawlessly elegant writing . . . But this is excellent, hard-headed history, too . . . Utterly mesmerising and entrancing . . . A challenge to contemplate what it really is about this country that makes us who we think we are . . . A literary-historical odyssey.' Paul Daley, The Guardian (Australia) 'A loving rumination on Australia, the landmass, and those who live on it and from it . . . Watson refuses to be captured by easy categorisations or received opinion . . . The writing is crisp, witty and sardonic . . . Watson is an original, with an authentic, prophetic voice.' John Hirst, The Monthly 'An overwhelmingly affectionate portrait, one that's never sentimental or indulgently nostalgic, and one that defiantly resists lamentation . . . There is no doubt that The Bush stands with Bill Gammage's The Biggest Estate on Earth as one of the most important books published on the history of this country in recent years . . . The Bush is the crown in Watson's oeuvre, a magnificent, sprawling ode to the best in Australia, a challenge to us all to find new ways of loving the country.' The Saturday Paper 'Don Watson's magnificent, celebratory, contradictory study of the Australian bush will challenge the national imagination . . . An amiable, learned, playful and engrossing book . . . [A] great, succulent magic pudding of a book . . . Most of what we read is nothing like we would have expected . . . There is a sense that an amiable and eloquent uncle is telling us everything piquant he knows about theology and culture and land use and the beasts and flora and families of the bush.' Thomas Keneally, Weekend Australian 'The power of this book does come from the way Watson positions himself as both an insider and outsider to the Australian bush . . . A meditation on Australia itself through a reflection on the bush.' Frank Bongiorno, Australian Book Review 'A sprawling, fascinating book . . . Watson has pulled off a marvel, a book that educates and fascinates at the same time as it calls for action to preserve some things before they're lost. The best part, though, is his prose: bare and dry, with a dark sense of humour. A bit like the country he's describing.' Margot Lloyd, The Advertiser (Adelaide) 'Every now and again a book comes out that is so groundbreaking it causes you to think about a particular subject in a radically different light. Don Watson's The Bush: Travels in The Heart of Australia is one such work; a masterpiece of research, inquiry and poetry that challenges our basic assumptions of the Outback. Watson . . . has pulled off a dazzling achievement with The Bush, blending philosophy with science and storytelling . . . A beautifully written and thoughtful book.' Johanna Leggatt, Weekly Times 'Elegant, intricate, sprawling and sometimes harsh . . . [Watson] explores the bush with a mix of academic insight and campfire yarn . . . In a word: hypnotic.' Jeff Maynard, Herald Sun 'His romantic prose moves seamlessly through autobiographical tales to discuss the landscapes and histories that have shaped Australia.' National Geographic 'One of my favourite reads this year. What a writer he is . . . You find yourself sneaking off from others to be with it.' Kathleen Noonan, Courier-Mail 'Vast in scope, richly sourced, soaring and poetic, this journey to the heart of Australia has been rightly compared in significance to Bill Gammage's The Biggest Estate on Earth.' Barbara Farrelly, South Coast Register 'The Bush is his homage to Australia's mythic hinterland. Watson travels through the Mallee and the Murray-Darling, to WA's wheat belt and beyond, meeting people, talking, listening. Good writing that engages with Australia's past is a rare beast, too often bound up in the need for ''balance''. Watson has the freedom to ignore the rules; he allows himself to opine and he yarns at will. A delightful read.' Mark MacLean, Newcastle Herald