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There is a story from Renmark in the Riverland
Of a man in the bush as his legend began
He was a shearer from New Zealand in the Depression
Who came to Australia in the 1920s for shearing sessions

But hard times meant he could not buy his Union ticket
This put him out of work without it
So he went into the bushland
And lived his life there not so grand

Cause people were different in those days
And Possum was proud staying out of the way
So he lived on bush tucker all the time
Doing odd jobs he would be just fine

Surviving on track rations from police stations
He travelled the bush tracks of the Australian nation
Taking no charity working for salt he’d need to do
This he said it would get him through

Max Jones was a local detective sergeant there
Who tried  to look after this legend as he did care
But Possum would look after himself 
Using his bushcraft skills as his wealth

As the years went on his legend grew
He’d mend a fence or chop firewood too
But he would not take handouts 
As he would travel the Riverland on walkabout

He would say he’d be alright
When he would get his Union ticket as his right
One of a disappearing breed
Only taking what he would need

And so now Possum has gone from this world too
With his body being found next to the river in 1982
They built a statue of Possum at Wentworth town
At the place where the Darling meets the Murray flowing down.

© Paul Warren Poetry

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