Taroom Catholic Priest who followed on from Father Leo Hayes (1924-1940s)

IN TAROOM TOWN – A poem by Father McNamara

I took my chattels to the West,
And where I’d stay I cared not,
In Taroom town I took my rest,
And there I cast my life’s lot.

The fairest township in the West,
Sits in a spacious valley.
By God and Nature is she blest;
Oh, there I’ll ever tarry.

By Dawson’s waters is she set;
far, far you fain must travel,
Till she and you at length have met,
And in her charms you revel.

The hills around with joy look down,
As they have done for ages,
And well I know they love our town
For they are wise old sages.

Out there do men forever live,
Or so at least they tell us,
For into Death they rarely give
Till they are ancient fellows.

Her lands are fair, her daughters rare
Her sons are strong and hefty,
All may abandon anxious care
If they are wise and thrifty.

With mighty wall will men throw back
The waters of the river.
Then nought Taroom will ever lack
But prosper on forever.

Oh, there I’ll stay and there I’ll lie,
In peace amongst her people,
Where troubles past go swiftly by
And make the faintest Ripple.

Extracted from book: Pioneers of the Taroom and Wandoan District, by Gwen Fox published 1959 by Taroom Shire Council [P.140]