shearing industry: poems7

Written by Bernie Walker in May 1983

Have you heard of Mickey Thomas, the Big Whirly from Moree?
Not many have been the shearer who could shear'em as could he.
Have you heard of Billie Harris, from the hills 'round Taggerty?
A legend in his lifetime with his shearing ability.

There was the mighty Ivan Orchard, who died so tragically,
The Big Swede and the Boy Wonder, their skill a treat to see.
From a district near Echuca came a young man - Kevin Sarre,
Another master shearer whose fame has spread afar.

And over there in Tassie, a 'New Aussie', Jimmy the Greek,
Shore himself a shedfull in eight hours, not a week.
There have been so many champions throughout this big country,
They're the men who became the legends of the shearing industry.

There are many more well known who trod the shearing board
And men still talk about them and the tallies that they scored.
But many more are nameless and it's a kind of tragedy;
Known only to their pen-mates, not the likes of you and me.

They were Kings of the Boggi, and the woolshed was their realm,
The Masters of the Jumbuck, lesser men they overwhelm.
For they all made the effort and they had their share of fame,
Even if only locally everyone knew their name

And they had their share of torture, and other agony,
It was part of the price they paid to be a part of history.
They were the top gun shearers most can only aspire to be,
They were the Masters of the Jumbuck, and the shearing industry.