World Radio Day — RURAL ROOM

a wireless connection

In honour of WORLD RADIO DAY on February 13, Petula penned a poem to celebrate the role of the radio out in the bush.

While Old Man Emu’s racing ‘roos, someone else is singing the blues,

And the windscreen wipers are still a-beatin’ in time.

A lonely truckie on a lonely road, no company but for his heavy load,

His thoughts are whisked away with every rhyme.

And Lawsie on his microphone - though it might as well be a velvet throne -

Solving the country’s problems, call by call.

Hadley, Jones, and Mitchell too, speaking sense that rings true blue,

For Aussies with their backs against the wall.

Through the Ashes’ you will hear the crack; leather ball on willow bat,

It’s Bradman smacking boundaries all around.

While milking cows in the evening heat, Richie’s voice paints a picture sweet.

You feel as though you’re right there on the ground.

And all the strife at Percy’s school, Dr. Pym always made to look like a fool,

As he tries in vain to teach the rowdy boys.

With Bottomly’s lashings for practical jokes, and tales of Greenbottle’s odd-living folks,

You wish you could be there laughing amongst the noise.

As you do the rounds in your dusty tractor, loneliness is a common factor,

But the airwaves let you know you’re not alone.

And when you knock off work in the afternoon - in amongst the latest tunes-

Hamish and Andy will be there; ‘driving you home’.

So if you need a little smile, all you do is turn the dial,

No point in cursing phones with no reception.

While social media may seem the queen, there’s something better ‘off the screen’;

Who knew the wireless could bring us such connection?