Thanks to everyone who put fingers to keyboards and sent us emails. Below is a selection of those that arrived in the inbox. If you have anything to say... even if it is just hello... please send it through to us at letters@simplyaustralia.net



In regards to Loren's letter trying to locate a poem possibly called 'A Ride For A Ransom' printed in Simply Australia letters issue 8:
I cannot advise on the poem but I can advise on a source that will identify the poem. The poem refers to an actual event that occurred in NSW Australia in the late 19th century. The novel ‘Robbery Under Arms’ by Rolf Boldrewood (a pseudonym) fictionalizes many of the events of this time. In Chapter XLV (45) the home of Goldfields Commissioner, Mr Knightly, is captured by Starlight and his gang. Mr Knightly’s wife, mounted on a ‘gray’ and accompanied by a member of Mr Knightly’s household is sent to Bathurst to collect a ransom of ‘a hundred fivers - £500 in notes – by tomorrow at four o’clock’ in exchange for her husband’s life.

This is obviously the same event as Loren’s poem. An annotated copy of ‘Robbery Under Arms’ (it exists, as I have seen one) will certainly give further references to the facts applicable to this particular event. From then it should be a simple piece of detective work to track down the name of the poem and its author.

Good Hunting
Robert


Dear Jim,

'WHEN I MADE HISTORY
"I like art and stuff," said the child.
"I've got an uncle who's an artist."
"Indeed?" said the artist. "What's his name?"
"Uncle Tootsie," said the boy.' .... . .

Jim, this is the most compelling lead in to any story I've come across anywhere for I don't know how long. Thank you! As a result, I just HAD to read your story of course, and glad I did for it's a touching story, esp for it's reality!

Can't agree more what you say about the 'reality' of history. You have to think all around the possibilities of what's given as history as it just may or may not be true, probably is inevitably shaded - and really the best thing is to read as many sources on the subject when looking for the reality.

I've subscribed to Simply Australia for yonks and enjoy it muchly, though like the rest of life, never seems enough time to do it 'all' - keep up the good work!

Best wishes,

Keri

[Ed: As you ca n see, Keri, this is just part of your email. The rest has been sent on to John Low who would have emailed you by now. Jim and John are brothers and Jim wrote the article to which you glowingly refer. You can learn more about our regular contributors here. The article appeared in Issue 9].



Night in Cairo ??

I'm looking for a WWII army song called, I think, "A Night in Cairo".
The only line I know is "Shuftie bints & wahie wallas".
It may have been a New Zealand army song


John Neilson



Hello

I'm an Aussie who left after I married a Yank and had 3 kids. Since we were living in Adelaide at the time, my husband had a hard time finding a job, so I took over as breadwinner, long before that became "acceptable" - so we came to the US. For the last 18 years, we have run a Bed and Breakfast on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Our website is www.bbcanada.com/lookout Would that be an acceptable link and, if so, where and how do I add it?

Regards
Marj Wilkie

[Ed: You just did! Looks like an idyllic spot, Marg.]




Would you agree to me putting a link to Simply Australia on my web page at http://members.malleenet.net.au/~jenki/index.html I think it would be appropriate for the Icons page on http://members.malleenet.net.au/~jenki/icons.html
And can I pinch your Simply Australia logo for the page too, please?
I think you've got a great site and I plan to spend a long time reading through the past issues.
Laurie

[Ed: We are always happy when someone wants to add a link to Simply Australia, Lauren. Thanks! And yes, use the logo if you wish. Here's a small logo with a white background and another with a black.]
   




Hello Simple Australians! .. um .. that's not the start I was looking for ...

Friends, I see that David Mulhallen is a contributor to your site. In the event that you're there, David, a sentimental thought crossed my mind recently. I was wondering what ever happened to some of the recordings that were made by ABC-FM in the seventies (late?) and played on 'Sunday Folk' which you were presenting. I hoped the recordings might still exist. (I'm remembering concerts such as Ralph McTell, John Renbourn & Stephan Grossman, Mike McLelland and getting goosebumps all over.) I made some enquiries at the ABC, with little luck. It seems you would be the keeper of all knowledge ...!

And while on the subject of old radio days, thanks a million for Sunday Folk and Currently Playing Rock, and for helping to wearout my Sony 1/4inch machine! Great days; great music and, for me, a great education.

Best Wishes for now
Neil

[Ed: Thanks for the email Neil... great days indeed. Your full email has been sent to David who would have replied to you privately by now.]





Hi, Thank you for replying to my email and your kind comments re the poems. The internet certainly helps to bring the Australian community closer together through shared interests. I attend a monthly writers' group and look forward to the social interaction as much as the opportunity to express set topics.
I think Australians are now fiercely proud of their country, environment and people.

Best wishes,
Yvonne.

[Ed: You can read one of Yvonne's poems, Last Man Standing, in this issue of Simple Australia. Thanks for your contribution,Yvonne.]



Hi,

My son was asked to check the link to this song by his year 4 teacher. The link does not appear to be working. Is there anything you can do to help as my son's teacher would like the children to hear this song.

regards
Narelle


RABBIT TRAPS

I recently found an article on the internet from your publication in regards to a gentleman who collected rabbit traps. In the article he mentioned a club for rabbit trap collectors. Do you have any further details on this club, or know where i might find details about it.

Thank you
Grant

[Ed: I've sent your email to Rob Willis who wrote the article. We don't have any further information on the club but hopefully one of our readers will be able to help.]



I live in a area called Stratton in Perth western Australia.
I had the house I'm in for 13 -14 years old and we have ghosts in this house who want to play with my daughter and we need help. She is scared of the two back rooms as the are cold and that's where they are. The room I'm typing in is freezing cold. I have a little information on the murder that took place. Many year ago in World War 1 this place was called Black Boy Hill. I live in Stratton which also used to be called Wescombe. The murder took place in the 1900's.

There is a little boy that cries huddled in my daughter's room and the little girl plays. They wake my daughter up to play and she can see them as she can see you or me. There is a man coming to the fore front now. He is the murderer I think. Please help if you can. I need to know what happened so i can release them .

Thank you
Rosa

[Ed: Can anyone help Rosa with more history or details as to what she could do? If you wish to contact her let me know.]



Hi,

I just stumbled on to your sight while looking up about the art thefts at New Norcia. As an ex student of over three years I was surprised to see that the blue lady made a mention. When I went to school there the popular belief was that she was a past student, not nun and was actually pushed down the stairs by a nun for being out of bed. A much older past student who claims that she was there at the time said that the girl (the blue lady) had a fever and fell down the stairs. Either way there is a hell of a lot more than one spirit roaming around there.

I don't' know where to start. There was the lady with the gruesome face long white dress and no feet whom I personally saw flying around the third story window of saint Gertrude's. I had also seen her face outside other windows on many occasions, usually the windows would mysteriously unlock and open by them selves. I could not count how may kids who claim they were pushed down thee stairs by nothing.

One night in particular that springs to mind was in 1988. When myself and approximately 5-6 other girls, including 2 or 3 that I still keep in contact with, were sitting in the dormitory in front of our fire escape stairs, that could only be opened from the inside thus setting of an alarm. Nobody walked into the dorm or could have, without me seeing as I was facing the entrance door. My friend (whom I still keep in contact with and still recalls the event.) was looking straight at the fire door when it popped open on its own with nobody in front or behind it. When our house mistress came to shut the door and alarm, she asked us what happened.She then shut the door and turned off the alarm, only to have the matching door one floor above it do exactly the same thing. The alarm could only be trigged by opening the door, and each door had to opened and alarm trigged individually.

Like I said there was quite a group of us sitting there at the time and there was no way any one could open the door with out us seeing them. We were so accustomed to this sort of activity that we didn't think anything of it. So much more to tell but I don't know if you are interested I would hate to waste your time.

Tamara


[Ed: Yes, Tamara, we are very interested in such history and folklore. If you have more tales to tell perhaps you would like to write an article for us. The Blue Lady is mentioned in Graham Seal's article, The Haunted West in Issue 4]


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