Page 9 - eMuse Vol.9 No.06_Classical

Reuben and Martha as listed on pounds a side, owners to ride
the marriage certificate. their own horses. The Betty Ollie Poetry Award
The problem is that parents The Chinkie reckoned he was
were sometimes not known de- in for a good thing, and backed
pending on where a man died. himself with six months’ veg-
The only cases of this with a etable savings.
Robert Watson were in New The event came off on a Sun-
South Wales in 1899 and 1914, day morning and all the town
both in the bush. In Queensland were spectators.
the only instance was in 1928, Soon after the start Annie’s
and in South Australia in 1944 long hair flopped down and
and 1954. the Chinaman’s pigtail followed
However, the couple had suit. WRITTEN COMPETITION
split before 1902, as evidenced Then with swinging arms,
by the birth record of Hannah’s legs and hair they rode a rat-
final child. tling race. Annie won by a neck. • For traditional Australian rhyming poetry with
In the mid-1890’s Hannah Perhaps some of your readers an Australian theme.
headed north along today’s can relate other stories about • Open and Junior (12 years and under) sections.
Matilda Highway via Winton for this almost forgotten western • Open section - First Prize $500 plus trophy.
the North-West, to Cloncurry character. Runner-up $200 plus certificate.
and the towns along today’s The second is from The Syd- • Junior section - First Prize $100 plus trophy.
Flinders Highway, and it is no ney Morning Herald of Saturday Runner-up $50 plus certificate.
doubt from this period that we 26 August 1939 by E. S. Soren- • Entry fee - Open $10 per entry form (2 poems)
have two first-hand, priceless son under the heading “Red
sketches which reveal her not Jack” Of The Far West- Scooping • Entry fee - Junior section - free.
as an aimless drifter, but as an the Pool: • Closing date - 31st August 2020.
intelligent, spirited woman, and One of the more pictur- • Entry forms and conditions of entry available
a true bush character going by esque characters on the bush from the ABPA website - events and results page.
the name of Annie Doyle. ‘race’ tracks was Annie Doyle, • Conducted by the Kyabram Bush Verse Group in
The first is from The Towns- who was known all over West memory of foundation member Betty Ollie.
ville Daily Bulletin of 17 April Queensland as Red Jack. In her
1926, under the heading On the life and ways she was more Jack
Track: than Annie.
Fred Leslie remembers an old There was hardly a town or W.A. Bush Poets
identity, and writes as follows: In hamlet or big shearing shed & Yarnspinners
past ‘Track’ articles you have re- in that back country that she Association
ferred to ‘Annto Baggs’ and the hadn’t visited. And always with
‘Eulo Queen,’ and I’ll admit both her was a Carbine in disguise, SILVER QUILL
these women were famous in wandering in the humble ca-
their day, but did you ever hear pacity of a pack-horse.
tell of Annie Doyle, perhaps Sometimes the latter, af- WRITTEN COMPETITION
known to many as ‘Red Jack’? ter having made a name on
Annie has long gone the way the turf down south, had been Conducted in conjunction with WA State Championships
of her ancestors, but years back passed out or disqualified. Run- Friday 30th October – Sunday 1st November 2020
she was a fine old character of ning him under another name, Tooday. W.A.
Western Queensland. Red Jack often scooped the Entries Close Friday 2nd Oct 2020
The writer had many a good pool from the average muster
yarn with her, and her knowl- of grassfed hacks that were op- 1. Open Serious }
2. Open Humorous } The Overall Champion Poet will be
edge of the Colonial turf was posed to him.
surprising. She generally trav- Annie never put much of a judged across these 2 categories
elled out West with a smart polish on her favourite; a rough 3. Novice Only for poets who have never won a Bush Poetry
horse, and made good money appearance was an advantage; Written Competition
when she struck a soft snap at and at many a place he made 4. Junior 5 – 12 years old
5. Junior 13 -17 years old
bush races. history as the ‘Flying Pack 6. Local The best poem by a resident of the Avon Valley
She was also a well-known Horse.’
shed cook, and a favourite with Entry Fees: Adults $10 per poem; $5 per critique. Juniors Free.
shearers and rouseabouts. On treasurer@wabushpoets.asn.au
one occasion she took a job The story of
droving. Red Jack continues “WA Bush Poets and Yarnspinners Ass’n
Travelling with a good horse next Month . . . c/o Rodger Kohn,
she once made a match with a 16 Stoddart Way,
Bateman, WA, 6150,
chinaman in Cloncurry for ten
May 2020 eMuse 9