|
Life stories from the Oral History and Folklore collection of The National Library of Australia
LOLA WRIGHT REVISITED
by Rob Willis
I must admit that the prospect of another visit to Lola Wright pleased me. Since Bruce Cameron and I had visited, Lola had been in touch and come up with some more material from her interesting life. Her memory is amazing. Here is Bruce's quote from the last article about our first visit.
|
“Lola sang us songs from her days at Armidale Teachers College, old parlour songs, political songs, bush songs and parodies and spoke at length about her fascinating life. Russell Hannah's article quotes Lola describing her involvement with Australian music as "something of an honour to have been in on the ground floor". It seemed to us that this forthright and committed woman of the left has found herself in on the ground floor for most of her life - a passionate life of active involvement in industrial and political issues, of working to improve gender equality, and of promoting Australia's musical identity.”
On this our second visit Lola had delved more into her childhood in Queensland and remembered dance music as well as some of the games and songs from the school yard. These included a series of songs, Maggie Maggie Magpie, Oh Cuddly Native Bear , Merry Brown Thrush, Twenty Froggies and others of this ilk.
|
|
Lola also remembered a fragment of a very racist rhyme that I have collected on various occasions that was taught in the schools. I include this poem only as an example and reference to the material that was taught in the 1930's.
Little Jika Jika, all the darkies like her
Dressed up in her dainty dress and pinny
Give her Wattle blossom and a little joey possum
She's a good Australian Piccaninny
She lives outside Benalla
With her father Tootagallah
Who eats snakes for his breakfast till he's pale
He kills them with a waddy
And devours the head and body
And little Jika Jika does the same.
|
From her days as an Infants teacher Lola also remembered how to make jelly pads, which were the method of duplicating before the dreaded Gestetner and later photocopiers. (If anyone (ex teachers?) want the recipe please email and I will oblige.)
Of particular interest was a song that Lola sang me about Ultimo, an inner suburb in Sydney in New South Wales, and references to abortion.
Lola Wright singing
|
Ultimo
Oh take me back to the shack in the back of Ultimo – I want to go
Right down the track at the back of Ultimo – I want to go
I want to be there with my honey, and she'll cost me all my money
But she'll make me a puddin, a dirty big puddin
Down where the breezes blow.
Down in the dell where the girls drink Gilbey's Gin – to make them thin
Fried fish and chips are the only flowers that grow – in Ultimo
And you can meet my sister Suzie, with a face as bold as brass
You can eat her Christmas pudding or put it – on the shelf
Down in the shack at the back of Ultimo – I want to go
|
My mother, among others, mentioned that drinking Gilbey's gin along with a hot bath was a supposed method of terminating an unwanted pregnancy, but all my informants also mentioned that it never seemed to work. This particular song is unique in my collecting experience because it is about an inner suburban location and also touches on a topic that would not have been openly discussed in public (c1940's?).
I have the feeling that we will be going back again to visit Lola and she will also be at the Jamberoo Folk Festival in September. Make sure you don't miss wonderful lady.
|
