Page 9 - eMuse Vol.9 No.08

attention becomes fixated on James and Desmond Gibney
Richard Burgess, a middle-aged write the first book, ‘The Gat- The Betty Olle Poetry Award
swaggie and petty criminal. ton Mystery’ in 1977. Merv Lil-
When Constable Robert Chris- ley had been told by his mother
tie protests that Day is still a that his father, William John Lil-
prime suspect, Urquhart silenc- ley, had confessed to her to be-
es him and threatens to ‘make ing the murderer. He reads the
it hot’ for him, saying, “He is a book and the details confirm
beardless boy!” Day visits Ur- to him that Thomas Day was
quhart and receives permission indeed his father, William John
to leave the district, which he Lilley, and he writes the book
does on 10 January 1899. ‘Gatton Man’ in 1994. William
was a violent sociopath, a Jekyll
The case against Burgess col-
lapses after a thorough inves- -and -Hyde character, the farm- WRITTEN COMPETITION
tigation, and the police chase er and charming tea salesman
Day, who cannot be located. who dominated and terrorised
He has joined then deserted his family, committed domes- • For traditional Australian rhyming poetry with
tic violence, and tried to rape
the Queensland Permanent an Australian theme.
Artillery, giving a false place of his own granddaughter aged • Open and Junior (12 years and under) sections.
birth. A Magisterial Inquiry is five. He had worked for Break- • Open section - First Prize $500 plus trophy.
held in January 1899, then a er Morant as Day had under Runner-up $200 plus certificate.
Royal Commission in October at the name Thomas Wilson. He • Junior section - First Prize $100 plus trophy.
had enlisted for the Boer War
which Urquhart is interrogated Runner-up $50 plus certificate.
unsympathetically. Christie and had returned only after
gives evidence against him for seven years. The man near the • Entry fee - Open $10 per entry form (2 poems)
working on a ‘one-man system’, sliprails that night walked with • Entry fee - Junior section - free.
is transferred from mounted an intermittent stagger. Lilley • Closing date - 31st August 2020.
was a swayback. Lilley was 21
duties to foot patrol the same • Entry forms and conditions of entry available
day by Urquhart, but is later in 1898, Day’s age as estimated from the ABPA website - events and results page.
reinstated by Commissioner by Detective Head. Lilley died in • Conducted by the Kyabram Bush Verse Group in
W.E.Parry-Okeden. Yeppoon Hospital in 1952.
A third book is written memory of foundation member Betty Ollie
based on the inevitable con-
spiracy theory that a gang was
involved, but I dismiss it for its W.A. Bush Poets
flimsy evidence: only one man
was seen near the sliprails by & Yarnspinners
six people that night. Association
I believe I have located the
ancient spotted gum under SILVER QUILL
which Norah’s body was found,
and it has been placed in a Coun- WRITTEN COMPETITION
cil register for preservation.
Next month: a new story Conducted in conjunction with WA State Championships
Commissioner William Friday 30th October – Sunday 1st November 2020
Parry-Okeden. Tooday. W.A.
Entries Close Friday 2nd Oct 2020
1. Open Serious }
2. Open Humorous } The Overall Champion Poet will be
judged across these 2 categories
3. Novice Only for poets who have never won a Bush Poetry
Written Competition
4. Junior 5 – 12 years old
5. Junior 13 -17 years old
6. Local The best poem by a resident of the Avon Valley
Entry Fees: Adults $10 per poem; $5 per critique. Juniors Free.
treasurer@wabushpoets.asn.au

“WA Bush Poets and Yarnspinners Ass’n
c/o Rodger Kohn,
16 Stoddart Way,
The author at the tree believed to be where Norah’s body was Bateman, WA, 6150,
found
August 2020 eMuse 9