Boree log bush bash

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
15 February 2004

Birthday wishes for Aloysius

SA parishes merge

Focus on family

Gregorian Schola offers singers big chants

Gibson’s Passion ‘work of faith’, says cardinal

How to help create a ‘culture of peace’

Pregnant pause: The joy of showing our baby the way

There is a doctor in the house

Wollongong diocese buys site for high school

Boree log bush bash

Work in Catholic education brings honour for four

Bishop launches ‘significant’ new faith courses

$80,000 boost for drug fight

Editorial: Greatest story

Letters: Something special

Conversation: Fr Aiden Kelly, prison chaplain - Helping souls in a captive Congregation

On a walk with God ...

A credible Jesus

A biblical-based Mary

A life of Mercy with music

Care, prayer still very much in order

The Polding legacy

‘Catholic-only’ order denied

US-bound on the pitcher’s mound

Boree log bush bash

A scene from last year’s John O’Brien Bush Festival in Narrandera

“We’ll all be rooned”, said Hanrahan,
In accents most forlorn
Outside the church, ere Mass began,
One frosty Sunday morn.

It’s the opening verse of one of the best known poems by John O’Brien, who in real life was Fr Patrick Hartigan (1878-1952), long time parish priest at St Mel’s, in the NSW country town of Narrandera.

Half a century has passed since his death, but Mons Hartigan’s work and his life are still celebrated each year in his beloved Narrandera.

The John O’Brien Bush Festival runs for four days, beginning – fittingly – on St Patrick’s Day (March 17).

The festival takes its cue from the poetry that fills the anthologies Around the Boree Log and The Parish of St Mel’s and celebrates Australian bush culture with humour, song and dance and bush craft.

There will be poet’s breakfasts, get-togethers, and shows based on bush lore, bush verse, and song featuring some noted bush performers.

The music – like the poetry – is in the Irish-Australian tradition.

Busking, pub sessions, concerts and a bush dance are all part of the festival.

For a program call 1800 672 392, write to Narrandera Visitors Centre, PO Box 89, Narrandera NSW 2700 or visit www.johnobrien.com.au

In the meantime, consider O’Brien’s words:

The years have turned the rusted key, and time is on the jog,
Yet spend another night with me around the boree log.