VALE - Jack Bourke.

The "bloody ol' bugger" recently died or as he would express it - 

"fell of 'is perch".

I attended the cremation -

“G’day”.

 Because I am not a family member, I am very pleased to have been invited to be here today to celebrate Jack Bourke, who is also known to me as ‘Outback Jack the Tall Tale Teller’.

NOW - 

In earlier times those men that wandered the bush were known as – ‘Drifters’.

A writer unknown to me, once described them this way –

‘ This is a portrait of one of those characters you

can still meet when traveling through the Australian outback –

self imposed exiles from the cities who drift from town to town,

never settling in one place for very long, who try

vainly to escape the ghosts of their conscience

or their past.

He loves a drink, a fight and a yarn with a mate. ‘

##

But this does not - really describe the man I came to know.

He loved to drink a cuppa. Never heard him mention fighting.

But Mate, a yarn      -       Yeah, he liked to chew the fat a bit.

Now, I’m goin’ to steal titles and details from some of me -

Jack Bourke Jottings.

Outback Jack and Bitsa -

Jack and I first met in Goolgowi, a small country village in N.S.W., probably in early 2000.

I have recorded many of his ‘adventures’ in rhyme, but Jack would not see them as adventures, he was just getting on with life, as and when he wanted.

Since that meeting Jack and I have met in Coonabarabran and also Bourke a few times to  'ave a bit of a yarn.

However we have regularly written, probably on average once per month during the past few years, Jack always to my home address - me to many and various. He is a tad nomadic and at times difficult to keep track of - Nevertheless, a salt of the earth bloke as bushies can be.

Outback Jack in Louth - From memory this would have been his first move after our initial meeting.

His letter is dated 26/1/03. Replies via Shindy's Inn.

Beers Better at Byrock - Following a period at Fordsbridge Jack moved to Byrock. From him I learned about the beer, the golf and the

Mulga Creek Hotel.

Chew'n the Fat - was in Bourke. I was returning from a trip through Southern Queensland via Cunnamulla and Jack drove up early one morning to 'ave a bit of a yarn.

He decided to camp down there for a short time before returning to Louth.

Flyin' Doctor and Jack's Birthday - happened because they did. During this time Shindy's Inn and the Post Office at Menindee became contact points.

Jack's Mum and Jack's Dream - appeared I think after we met this time in Coonabarabran. We visited Baradine together. Jack recounted many memories because this is his home town. I'm not sure whether the Yowie or the Warumbungles made Jack move on. Remember, he has become a flat country man.                                                                                                          

Lil' Jack also 'van to Menindee and Cold Weather Solution - all seemed to happen during more time in Bourke, a short spell at Tullamore, a big break in Fordsbridge, then back to Bourke where at the time of this writing Jack may have settled ?

Them Crows - well, I said in the beginning he is a

Tall Tale Teller.       So six years on  - ! ! !

Well, that was then. Now to his recent ‘adventure’ –

dancin’ down the Darlin’  - - - 2007.

Did ya see the rain’s been fallin’

out  the back o’ Bourke

that’s where Outback Jack is livin’

now ‘e doesn’t work.

He’s retired in a village

somewhere in the town

where the lack of rain’s been makin’

everybody frown.

Now, I saw water,

dancin’ down the Darling

last night on TV,

a lady just near Budda

thought it might reach her knee.

It was still an early trickle,

but flowin’ fairly fast,

she had a paddle in it

as it went wanderin’ past,

makin’ for the Murray

which might allow those Silver Perch

to swim upstream to Jack’s place

so ‘e wont ‘ave to search.

(c). Rimeriter.

1/10/07.

Outback Jack –

in the Big Smoke - - -  2010.

That very early trickle soon filled

Menindee Lake,

it flooded many rivers, left some problems

in its wake.

The outflow is to open, a creaking will be heard,

music for the animals and every type of bird.

Jack

now, will not hear it, he’s come to

Sydney Town,

the Flying Doctor brought him

from Bourke to Camperdown.

They are checkin’ on his ‘ticker’ ‘n other things you know,

makin’ sure his power is not gettin’ far too slow.

Bit like,

 the Darling River anabranch,

‘e needs a top up too - so that in time for

Christmas

he can go to see the view.

 ©. Rimeriter. 23/9/10.

Well, I’m sure he can see it now.

“Good onya Jack ‘n ooroo”

Rimeriter. January 2011.