Kevin Fairbrother Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

I penned this poem after attending the Slim Dusty Memorial week at Kempsey in New South Wales Australia. Slim passed away years ago but his country music and his unique way of singing the stories that evolved in country Australia. Slim brought the bush to the city, he told the stories that were the true part of Australian life. Slims popularity has never wavered and is even stronger since his sad parting and the memorial week gave justice to his music.

Love of Slim At Kempsey

Love of Slim At Kempsey
By
Kevin L Fairbrother
The music of Slim Dusty and his bush verse
Played night and day at the Kempsey Muster
A crowd of country music fans in their hundreds
Enjoyed the Slim Dusty memorial weekend

The singers gave justice to Slims songs
Many were well known country artists
Others home grown and new to the game
Gave their all for the love of this great man

Lights on the hill most popular was sung a hundred times
With The Rain Tumbles Down in July a close second
Camooweal, Gidgy Coal the Indian Pacific, Road Train Blues
300 horses, Waltz Sing Matilda and the Pub with No Beer

When the Winter Winds blow the Currawongs Come down
And the classic Pub with no Beer and have a beer with Duncan
Road Train Blues, Old Time Country Halls Slim sang them all
He looked Forward and he Looked Back, living his Natural High

For the words in his songs resonate with the old and young
Bringing the bush and the outback closer to city people
Relive the devastating drought, fires, teeming rain and floods
The characters and hero’s he bought to life in his verse

The bush poets write about things they see around them
The Man from Snowy River or Clancy of the Overflow
The Aboriginal stockmen where legends were born
All put to music and sung by Slim Dusty and his country band

Slim and his family travelled throughout this great land
Bringing their music to the cities the outback and the bush
For his music and the stories of the past and present
He sang in a unique way that everyone could understand. 

Everyone there vowed to return to the muster
For the legend of Slim and his songs will never end
We will play and sing the songs that he made great
Until we meet again at the Kempsey Muster

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Joe Maverick January 6, 2024 at 1:34 PM Well along time since I was in Kempsey mate Beaut place on the coast, morton bay bugs Crayfish oysters and prawns, in my time small Dairy farms, all around love the memories you Brought back real sound.'

Suzanne Delaney November 19, 2015 at 5:47 PM Lots of memories here, I kept all my old 33 albums of Slim and would play them over and over in the nurse's quarters when I was training in Charters towers. Even listened to the Wave Hill track. My Dad raised us on Banjo Paterson's and Henry Lawson's poetry along with Slim Dusty's music. I was a true blue Aussie and never forget it. SuZ Suzanne Delaney January 6, 2024 at 3:17 PM Hello Joe: Happy New Year in 2024, Thanks for saying G’Day. Long Live Slim’s memory. SuZ Joe Maverick January 6, 2024 at 1:35 PM G'day Suz, God bless.' Suzanne Delaney November 20, 2015 at 12:17 AM Thanks Kev: That's good of you. SuZ Kevin Fairbrother November 19, 2015 at 11:06 PM Good onya Suz, you've done us proud, keeping alive your home grown roots, i'll have a beer with Suz, cause Suz is me mate and I'll meet you in the longyard andyou'll come a waltz sing matilda with me. cheers Kev

Peter Lewis Holmes November 6, 2015 at 3:53 AM I remember that song about the pub with no beer....I enjoyed your true to life account of the festival and the other one about saphires...and thanks for your comment on my Vietnam piece Kevin...best wishes..Peter Kevin Fairbrother November 7, 2015 at 6:23 PM Thanks Peter, nice of you to stop by, cheers Kev