So fascinating. I lived and studied poetry and published poetry in Australia and at Australian institutions, but never knew of this movement. Beautiful work that gels well with Namatjira's paintings. I loved visiting Hermmansburg and learning about that strange oasis where cultures dwelled properly together for a short time.
Thanks mate, yeah the movement has been a bit obscured by time and the politicisation of everything. Would love to get to Hermannsburg some day. Journey to Horseshoe Bend is one of the best Aussie books for sure.
This is fascinating. I've often thought that here in Australia we need to develop a truly authentic culture and set of metaphors especially around the church calendar but also more generally, similar to how South America has its own carols and hymns (yes there's Spanish influence there, but they've come up with traditions, cuisine and imagery that is very different to Spain's, partly because of indigenous influence, and different climate and landscape). Here, we seem to have Anglo-Irish culture and indigenous culture, but they haven't really blended or built on each other to create something new. At least, not as much as I believe they could and should, and maybe one day will.
Thanks Donal, Les Murray often wrote in his essays and indirectly in his poetry about his idea of "Creole Australia" an organically blended culture like the Cajuns or Boers or Latin Americans, as you mention. The task in coming years is more likely to be preservation in the face of the numerous threats we're all aware of, but there's certainly hope for the eventual fulfilment of the Jindyworobak idea.
Yes Donal, “The Human-Hair Thread” from his book Persistence in Folly is probably the best place to start. Also “The Bonnie Disproportion” which is about Scottish influence in Australia, and “Some Religious Stuff I Know About Australia”, “The Australian Republic”, and “On Sitting Back and Thinking About Porter's Boeotia”, all from A Working Forest.
Just wanted to drop a note mentioning another Christian poet influenced by Bill Hart-Smith: Andrew Lansdown. Essay by Andrew about Bill here for anyone interested. https://andrewlansdown.com/articles/literary-essays/
So fascinating. I lived and studied poetry and published poetry in Australia and at Australian institutions, but never knew of this movement. Beautiful work that gels well with Namatjira's paintings. I loved visiting Hermmansburg and learning about that strange oasis where cultures dwelled properly together for a short time.
Thanks mate, yeah the movement has been a bit obscured by time and the politicisation of everything. Would love to get to Hermannsburg some day. Journey to Horseshoe Bend is one of the best Aussie books for sure.
This is fascinating. I've often thought that here in Australia we need to develop a truly authentic culture and set of metaphors especially around the church calendar but also more generally, similar to how South America has its own carols and hymns (yes there's Spanish influence there, but they've come up with traditions, cuisine and imagery that is very different to Spain's, partly because of indigenous influence, and different climate and landscape). Here, we seem to have Anglo-Irish culture and indigenous culture, but they haven't really blended or built on each other to create something new. At least, not as much as I believe they could and should, and maybe one day will.
Thanks Donal, Les Murray often wrote in his essays and indirectly in his poetry about his idea of "Creole Australia" an organically blended culture like the Cajuns or Boers or Latin Americans, as you mention. The task in coming years is more likely to be preservation in the face of the numerous threats we're all aware of, but there's certainly hope for the eventual fulfilment of the Jindyworobak idea.
Thanks Lucas. 'Creole Australia' is such a great term/concept! Can you point me to any of Murray's writings that discuss this?
Yes Donal, “The Human-Hair Thread” from his book Persistence in Folly is probably the best place to start. Also “The Bonnie Disproportion” which is about Scottish influence in Australia, and “Some Religious Stuff I Know About Australia”, “The Australian Republic”, and “On Sitting Back and Thinking About Porter's Boeotia”, all from A Working Forest.
It's all excellent stuff, must read.
I’ve given this a quick read and will probably return to give it more attention. It was really interesting, thanks.
Just wanted to drop a note mentioning another Christian poet influenced by Bill Hart-Smith: Andrew Lansdown. Essay by Andrew about Bill here for anyone interested. https://andrewlansdown.com/articles/literary-essays/
That's a great story from Andrew, thanks for posting it.