“Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local” with guest LEX SMITH
PART 1
Taroom 1957

POEM – GLENHAUGHTON RINGERS (1957)
By Mrs Andrews, the Saddlers Wife

We were new saddlers in good old Taroom town,
And were told to look on their credit with a frown.
We’d heard a lot about this rowdy gang,
That they’ take us saddlers with a bang.

First, we met quiet Ron Bowman, who ordered a suit.
It arrived months later, and he paid, without a dispute.
This chap who had the name of a drunkard and being wild,
Showed women the greatest respect, and I’d be proud to call him my own child.

There was Peter Dick, who’d rather a fight than a feed.
He could hold his own too but couldn’t be referred to as a weed.
With young Glen Lambert, the ladies like to trip the fantastic.
Let’s hope his romance to wall flowers doesn’t prove too drastic.

Bob Lambert, a quiet blond, who’d rather shop through his cobber’s.
Yes, they are a great crowd and honest, among them no robbers.
Then there’s Buck Rogers, of him we see neither hide nor hair,
But reports from his mates show he makes the grade and is fair.

Young Lexie is like the Rock of Gibraltar, steadfast and wise,
He does most messages, and we can see to anybody, he’d be a prize.
His lovable brother Trevor is more carefree, and young in his ways,
Life will never worry him unnecessarily – at times this pays.

Laurie has moved on, when drunk they say on all fours he barks like a dog.
This cheerful six foot nothing, I believe, when crossed, could drop one like a log.
He is sincere, loyal, honest as the day is long,
And to cobber on horse, would do no wrong.

Also, that quiet cove from Ipswich, young Jim McGuire,
For station or rodeo, no better horseman one could require.
He first came to our place with Mully, who’s weakness was women and horses.
One at a time was okay, but with Mully they joined forces.

Good luck to you mate, wherever you are, we understand
It’s experience that counts, far better than any reprimand.
The Irishmen and Sydney-ites arrived and were referred to in town as lairs.
Dick McCullagh gave them a chance to prove they weren’t Bodgies or Squares.

Irishman Ernie showed they had guts, and took to horses and work,
With bruises and sore tails, but he didn’t shirk.
Amid flies, mosquitos, Bully Beef, cattle, and the sun,
Jim Booth and cobber’s see that they have plenty of fun.

Well, I hope you haven’t the impression, these ringers don’t believe in wine, women, and song.
If you do, all I can say is, they are normal young Aussies, healthy and strong.
But in my eyes, those of a mother, they can do no wrong.
So, with regret, we leave them and move along.

To yarn at their campfire about Ronnie leading in the scrub without fear,
And remember how so-and-so, threw young Trevor about here.
Then that time poor old Mully broke his hip,
And the so-and-so scrubbers that gave you the slip.

The Irishman, and Sydney-ites, who kept getting lost,
And some of the bosses in your days that you’d crossed.
If only the rest of the ringers we meet are half as good,
And also as honest, on this we both touch wood.

So, farewell to the Glenhaughton gentlemen of the bush,
May you never get lost in the jungle of the city push.

Mrs Andrews, the Saddler’s wife wrote this poem for the Glenhaughton ringers when they moved on. She gave it to Lex Smith to share with his mates in 1957.

MUSIC CREDITS

Jazzy Old-time Music:

Morning Stroll – Steven O’Brien (Credit CC-BY, www.steven-obrien.net)

Happy Days – Steven O’Brien (Credit CC-BY, www.steven-obrien.net)

Music by https://www.steven-obrien.net/
Morning Stroll – Steven O’Brien
Happy Days – Steven O’Brien

SOUND FX

Horse Whinny Close, A: By Freesound.org
Inspector J, February 25^th 2018, Attribution 4.0, https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/419231/

AMBIENCE:

Birds near the River by Freesound.org –(FRESCO, May 1^st 2007, Attribution 4.0, https://freesound.org/people/fresco/sounds/34304/  )

LINK TO FEEDS:

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SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/taroomtales/lex-smith-ipswich-lad-to-taroom-local-pt1?si=e854be97ec954b20992a66114f323ee2&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

SPOTIFY: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taroomtales/episodes/LEX-SMITH-1957-Ipswich-Lad-to-Taroom-Local-PART-1-Jan2024-e2fcfgb

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taroomtales/episodes/LEX-SMITH-1957-Ipswich-Lad-to-Taroom-Local-PART-1-Jan2024-e2fcfgb

IMAGES:

Photographs – Authors own
Archive Images from Lex Smith Collection, photographer unknown
Archive Images from Allan Swain Collection, photographer unknown

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS:

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INSTAGRAM – Taroom Tales

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