Having used poetry as a way of processing the highs and lows of life, national bush poetry champion Mark ‘Bushie’ Thompson passed through Seymour on April 5. A swagman for over 40 years, ‘Bushie’ did not stay for long; but he left behind one of his works to be shared in the lead-up to Anzac Day.
“It’s April 25 again, and all the old ‘Diggers’ are in town,
they’re the kind of men that fought and died, to gain Australia such renown.
They fought with fierce determination at Tobruk, and El Alamein,
and if the sirens wailed, and the bugles called, they’d do it all again.
They fought for ‘King and Country’, in that hell-hole Suvla Bay,
so the Turks might have won a round or two, it was Australians who showed the way.
Australians fought on land and sea, then took to the air,
to keep our homeland free and safe, and to cause our foes despair.
They fought the Chinese in Korea, and apathy in Vietnam,
because they found that when they came home safe, that no-one gave a damn.
Well it’s over now, and it’s really grand to see them march,
right down the street from the RSL, standing tall and stiff as starch.
And they’ll bend your ear, if you shout a beer, and with their tales they will regale ya’,
they’ll tell you all about this ‘war’, these heroes of Australia.
Yes they are the heroes of Australia, because they fought to keep this country clean,
so when those ‘Dogs of War’ start barking again, let’s hope you’re just as keen.
You see these men have started a legend, with their strength; their heart; and guts,
and if that legend is going to stay alive mate, it’s really up to us.”
As requested by Bushie, the poem will be available for hard copy purchase via gold coin donation at the Royal Hotel and Seymour Telegraph office. Proceeds will go to the Goorambat Veterans’ Retreat.