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Nick1986
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Topic: Australian swagmen Posted: 01-Jun-2011 at 20:53 |
In addition to bushrangers the Aussies have their own hobo: the swagman made famous in Banjo Patterson's song Waltzing Matilda. The swagman, usually accompanied by his dog, traveled from farm to farm with a pack on his back containing his bedroll, billycan and sometimes a tent. Some had a mule or packhorse to carry their tools for shoeing horses, gold panning or repairing bores. Like the hobo the swagman did seasonal work to support himself, often shearing sheep or rounding up cattle, but was not above stealing the odd jumbuck to fill his tuckerbag
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Nick1986
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Posted: 02-Jun-2011 at 19:18 |
"Matilda" was the swagman's backpack: often his only companion. To go a-waltzing Matilda meant living the nomadic life of the hobo.
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unclefred
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Posted: 03-Jun-2011 at 00:37 |
Our future, perhaps.
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Nick1986
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Posted: 03-Jun-2011 at 21:06 |
Possibly. The number of swagmen did increase during the Depression as farm workers hopped on freight trains in search of work
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Nick1986
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Posted: 02-Aug-2011 at 20:32 |
When foraging for food the swagman would take a sack with him known as a "tucker-bag." Nuts, fruit, roots, leaves, mushrooms, insects, Witchetty grubs, and the odd jumbuck, lizard, emu or boomer could be stuffed into this sack and eaten later on.
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Nick1986
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Posted: 03-Aug-2011 at 21:22 |
The Aborigines have long considered these grubs a delicacy. They have a rich almond flavor and are usually fried until crispy
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Nick1986
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Posted: 10-Aug-2011 at 20:06 |
Australia's national dress, the cork hat, was invented by these swagmen. The corks, suspended from strings, kept biting insects away from the face
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Nick1986
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Posted: 30-Sep-2011 at 20:45 |
The swagman's billycan was originally a tin can with a wire handle. This was easy to make and could be used as a cup, kettle or saucepan
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Nick1986
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Posted: 12-Oct-2011 at 21:13 |
A swagman could also be a gold prospector. In the 1850s many left their hometown for the outback. Like the Westerners, they lived in vast "tent cities" and panned for gold in the nearby river. Although some found gold, most were unsuccessful and instead settled the vast tracts of land and became farmers
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Nick1986
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Posted: 18-Feb-2012 at 19:10 |
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Nick1986
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Posted: 19-Feb-2012 at 19:07 |
The tin can stove was used by these intrepid hobos when wood for an open fire was scarce. By making holes in the bottom of the can and turning it to face the wind, you can save a lot of fuel and boil the billycan or skillet much faster
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Nick1986
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Posted: 27-Apr-2012 at 19:45 |
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Nick1986
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Posted: 13-Aug-2012 at 19:31 |
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toyomotor
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Posted: 03-Jan-2014 at 12:57 |
Originally posted by Nick1986
When foraging for food the swagman would take a sack with him known as a "tucker-bag." Nuts, fruit, roots, leaves, mushrooms, insects, Witchetty grubs, and the odd jumbuck, lizard, emu or boomer could be stuffed into this sack and eaten later on. |
Give us a break! Swagmen weren't Aboriginals, his tuckerbag would more likely contain his billy, tobacco and whatever food, like Damper for instance, he might have. They weren't much into "Bush Tucker".
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