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by David Howard is a collection of bush poetry set in the geographical area surrounding the channel country rivers and other rivers of north-west Queensland and New South Wales. The poems tell of country folk, past and present, who have stories to tell about life in this unique part of Australia. Some are fantasy, some are fact, but all reflect a deep appreciation of the country and people of outback Australia, as well as the dry sense of humour of the author.
Poet David Howard is a former ABC Radio broadcaster who lived in Longreach in western Queensland for many years. His show was a Country Hour type of program, and his voice (and personality) were much loved and appreciated by his listeners. While he was living in Longreach, his enquiring mind led him to seek out and absorb the history and folk lore of this unique part of Australia. His delightful bush poems are enhanced by the addition of carefully researched, entertaining and informative prose which he uses to explain the more unusual and less well-known aspects of his poems. As well as a fascinating collection of bush verse, David provides an historical account of life in this area of outback Australia.
Back Country Rivers provides an entertaining glimpse of a part of Australian life that is less well-known today. The book will appeal to lovers of bush poetry, outback Australian history, laconic Australian stories, and original humour. The book is available from the Shop.
Howard, David. Back Country Rivers. Cairns: Jabiru Publishing, 2019.
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November 9th, 2020 at 2:42 am
ABC RN ‘Maca on Sunday morning’ … delighted me by reading the ‘geographical’ wonderful poem – Back Country Rivers/Creeks!-
Our Children must … yes! must learn it by heart and recite it in schools and elsewhere.
Absolutely brilliant!
Thank You so much Maca for ‘airing-it’ on Radio.
And to You, dear David Howard, worthy son of A Sun Burnt Country …. Thank You!
To You and All the people, i wish Loving Blessings from The Loving Living Good God of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for good health and safe, Joyful days this 2020/21-30 dark years, with all your Families, Friends and Colleagues here, there and anywhere on this fragile Planet Earth, right back from the beginning of time! Amen!
Luciana
Very Concerned Families Network
Friends of humanely ethical and moral science in all matters re. Church and State Governments’ Population Policy.
November 13th, 2020 at 12:49 am
Hello David,
I too enjoyed hearing your poem Back Country Creeks/Rivers. I would love to obtain the words. Would the whole Poem be printed in your book Back Country Rivers? If so I shall purchase the book. Thank you so very much for allowing us the opportunity to listen to such a wonderful and educational history of our river systems from Queensland through to Lake Eyre.
Please let me know if the book contains the whole Poem.
Kind regards, Joy
January 13th, 2021 at 6:03 am
I loved the poem Back Country Rivers & would like to buy a copy of the book.