Patriot Realm

Henry Lawson managed to capture the heartbeat of The Bush. And that heart is under attack. From our own government.

In modern Australia, where most people live in cities, the vision of the bush or the Outback is part of our cultural heritage. Contemporary Australian literature, film, and art still draw on The Bush that Henry Lawson wrote about. Our National Identity is still tethered to the life west of The Great Divide. For the moment.....

Yet too many folk living in the cities think of the romantic version as conveyed by Banjo Patterson when, in truth, Henry Lawson painted a much more accurate picture. Sadly, that portrayal is becoming more accurate again, over 100 years later. The feeling that the people have been ignored, abandoned and left to survive because no one in the cities has a clue what life is like for their rural cousins. Take away the land, cover it in wind turbines and solar panels and then tell us that they care about the Outback?

If most of our politicians and bureaucrats actually took the time to drive out ( instead of flying ) into the regions or travel into the " bush " or the towns like Quilpie, Boulia or The Alice, they would see that their Australia is nothing like " our " Australia. We people who have been there and done that and felt the heat, eaten the dust and felt the isolation. Yet somehow enjoyed the comfort of a community that is so close knit that a city sider would have no idea what we were talking about.

I left The Bush a long time ago but The Bush never left me. It is in my blood now, a welcome vaccine against the pandemic of wokeism and laziness, invasion and betrayal. The Bush may be a harsh place to live, but at least it and its people are honest and don't lie to you. What you see is what you get.

So here is my article for today. All about one of Australia's greatest poets and writers. Henry Lawson.

Henry Lawson (1867–1922) was known for capturing the struggles and triumphs of the Australian working class and rural life. His deeply real portrayals of the harsh Australian outback, coupled with his deeply moving commentary on social justice and nationalism, made him a beloved figure in Australian literature.

Henry Lawson was born on June 17, 1867, in a remote goldfield town in New South Wales. His father, Niels Larsen, was a Norwegian immigrant, and his mother, Louisa Albury Lawson, was an Australian-born writer and suffragist. Lawson's childhood was marked by hardship. His father left the family when Henry was young, and his mother struggled to raise him and his siblings in an unforgiving rural environment.

At the age of nine, Henry contracted an ear infection that left him partially deaf. By the time he was 14, he was almost completely deaf, a disability that profoundly influenced his writing. Isolated from the world of sound, Lawson turned to reading and writing, immersing himself in the works of Charles Dickens, Lord Tennyson, and Victor Hugo.

Lawson's writing career began in the late 1880s when his first poem, "A Song of the Republic," was published in The Bulletin, a prominent Sydney-based magazine. This poem was the start of a long association with the magazine, which championed Australian nationalism and democratic ideals. Lawson became one of its key contributors, penning stories and poems that depicted the harsh realities of bush life and critiqued the social inequalities of his time.

Lawson's work is best known for its focus on the struggles of ordinary people, particularly in rural and outback Australia. His writing often dealt with themes of isolation, poverty, and survival, reflecting the hardships he had witnessed and experienced firsthand. His short stories, in particular, gained widespread acclaim for their stark realism, simple prose, and deep empathy.

His best-known short story, "The Drover's Wife," captures the resilience of a bushwoman left alone to protect her children from dangers while her husband is away. The story is an iconic portrayal of the pioneering Australian spirit, highlighting the strength and endurance of women in the harsh conditions of the outback.

Other well-known works include While the Billy Boils (1896), a collection of short stories, and Joe Wilson and His Mates (1901), both of which offer vivid depictions of life in the Australian bush. Lawson's poetry, including "Faces in the Street" and "Past Carin'," frequently addressed the struggles of the urban poor, unemployment, and the working class, showcasing his commitment to social justice.

Henry Lawson is often remembered for his friendly rivalry with fellow Australian writer Banjo Paterson. While Lawson's writing was characterised by its realism and often bleak portrayal of bush life, Paterson's stories and poems celebrated the romance and adventure of the Australian frontier. This literary rivalry came to a head in 1892, when both writers penned contrasting pieces for The Bulletin about the Australian bush, each defending their perspective. Lawson's harsh depictions of bush life, as seen in "Up the Country," stood in stark contrast to Paterson's more idealized view, sparking a debate that highlighted two distinct visions of Australia.

Despite his literary success, Lawson struggled with alcoholism and financial instability for much of his life. His marriage to Bertha Bredt, the daughter of a prominent socialist family, ended in separation, and Lawson spent much of his later life in poverty. He continued to write, but his output slowed, and his health deteriorated. His struggles with mental illness and alcoholism became more pronounced, leading to several periods of institutionalisation.

In 1922, Lawson died at the age of 55 in Sydney, having spent much of his later years in and out of hospitals and asylums. Despite his personal struggles, his contribution to Australian literature remained immense, and he was the first Australian writer to be given a state funeral.

Henry Lawson's works remain central to Australian literary heritage. His writing captures the essence of a young nation grappling with its identity, blending the harsh realities of life with a deep sense of empathy for the common man.

Through his body of work, Lawson gave a voice to the voiceless, whether they were struggling bushmen, working-class labourers, or women on the frontier. His writing not only reflects the hardships of his time but also speaks to the enduring resilience of the Aussie spirit.

In many ways, Lawson's life was a reflection of the Australia he wrote about: tough, unyielding, and marked by struggle, but ultimately filled with a deep love for the land and its people.

This article is for Poddy....... he asked for something and here it is. Monty. Please feel free to add videos and thoughts in the comments everyone. As always, I choose the videos with great care and I hope you enjoy them.