On Sunday it was the birthday of one of Australia’s best known poets, Banjo Paterson.
The Queenslander 14 Dec 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21269362
Andrew Barton Paterson was born on 17th February, 1864, near Orange in NSW. He was not only a poet, among other things he was also a journalist, a war correspondent and a WWI soldier.
Banjo Paterson wrote many poems about the harsh life in the Australian bush, although this one published in The Queenslander in 1901 called A Mountain Station is more amusing than anything else. 🙂
He also wrote some of Australia’s favourite poems, The Man from Snowy River, Clancy of the Overflow and, one I’m sure you have all heard, Waltzing Matilda.
The Man from Snowy River was even made into a film in the early 80’s, and Banjo Paterson is also on our ten-dollar note, along with an illustration of The Man from Snowy River.
I was looking for a Banjo Paterson clip to add and found this one, accompanied by great images, old and new illustrating the tale of Clancy of the Overflow (with the strains of Waltzing Matilda playing in the background).
Buried words and Bushwa. 
I had no idea “The Man From Snowy River” was originally a poem.
There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around….. Even Aussies who have no idea about the rest of the poem will instantly recognize that line 😀
The movie was extremely popular at the time and now you have given me an excuse to put in a clip of the most iconic scene, Jim’s ride… 😉
Oh… thankyou so so much!!! All members of my family are totally smitten with the works of “Banjo” and that video is so so so good 🙂
There were a few other readings but this one really appealed, what great old pictures they are. I’m so glad you liked it 🙂
I’d heardf the name with Waltzing Matilda but not with other works. This was excellent for me except for the background music which seemed a bit jazzy to my ear for such a poem.
Clancy of the Overflow got an honourable mention in the poem The Man from Snowy River too, Banjo Paterson could certainly evoke the right images with his great poems.
You have now inspired me to do a post about Waltzing Matilda! I guess most people would only think of it as a song rather than a poem as that is the most common way we hear it.
I’m off to youtube right now 🙂
My youngest now has his own claim to fame… Same birthday as our Banjo! Loved the Snowy river movie.
If you start calling him Banjo he might not take it in the right way though 😉
I put a clip of Jim’s ride from the movie in my reply to the comment from JG just in case you are interested 🙂
I’ve never heard Clancy of the Overflow read out loud before and I’m really impressed. The images were perfect too. Thanks so much for this Metan. 🙂
Glad you liked it! 😀 There were a lot of Paterson readings on youtube. Jack Thompson does a few and even though he has the perfect voice for it he gives his own interpretation of them, this one seemed to be just a straight reading.
I think that’s what I liked about this one – no embellishments. The imagery is strong enough as it is.
🙂 I agree.
Happy Birthday Banjo! (Isn’t “Banjo” such a good nick name?)
It certainly is 🙂 Clancy of the Overflow, Waltzing Matilda, the colt from old Regret…. He certainly had a way with names too!
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Whooo Hooo!!! … love that movie clip 🙂 Oh yes, each of my brothers had their own “take” on: “there was movement at the station for … ” 😉 ha ha ha…
I think that “Clancy…” begins with “Waltzing Matilda”… then changes to “The Road from Gundagai”, then back to “Matilda”? … Can you hear that too Metan or are my ears playing tricks? 😀
I’m not sure, one of the versions of Matilda is unexpectedly jazzy though!
I admit that we use “There was movement at the station…” in a multitude of situations too…. 😉
Thanks for the Aussie history/literature lesson!
You’re welcome!
I love going through the town on a weekend and seeing a few horses tied up outside the pub with a couple of blokes having a drink looking like modern-day versions of Jim Craig (the man from Snowy River) or Clancy. Nice to know that lifestyle hasn’t completely disappeared 😀
That was a great reading [much better than my uncle’s whose party trick it is] , and the visions were splendid! I also liked the Mountain Station poem. I can imagine ABP scribbling it on the back of receipt or similar 🙂
I thought the Jack Thompson one would be the one to post but this one was perfect. The images were great weren’t they 🙂 I was really pleased with that find!
I can just imagine the sheep “tumbling off the run” up in the high country too 😀 I am trying to talk the Man into taking a drive up to Craig’s Hut over the weekend so I can get a few photos but I don’t like my luck…