Eerwah Poem by Ted Middleton

Eerwah

It was north of Brisbane's pace
Where the Blackalls run their race
And the rolling hills and hinterland unite
I'd abandoned all the fettle
As I chose this place to settle
To escape the city bustle and its plight

Settled in to Browns Creek Valley
Midst the Eucalypts and malee
Cloaked by Eerwah, I was facing to the east
Next to Tempe's crack man Graham
And the 9YE - you'd pay 'em
For a ride with Jack that followed with a feast

There were dancing people singing
Nights of song and laughter ringing
Mavis toiling to prepare for hordes of guests
Geese would scurry, horses pound
'Mongst the movement all around
Was the noise from cockatoos with reddened vests

Got to know those city folks
All the girls and all the blokes
Who had scrambled from the city for a break
And I'd often feel their pain
See the spirits they'd regain
Just a weekend here was all it seemed to take

Now I make no bones about it
And no one should ever doubt it
That a man with years will want to settle down
If his hearts not in the city
Then it seems a downright pity
That he has to pack and move back into town

So with heavy heart forsaken
I now find I'm sadly taken
But no matter where I'm bound or I should roam
When I sit and idly ponder
Then my mind will fondly wander
To the Eerwah greens and hills I once called home