Yeoval, a Banjo story!

I usually try to fit description of smaller towns in longer blogs specially if it is only a stop over, but I reckon Yeoval deserves its own blog entry and I will tell you why.

Yeoval (or previously known as Buckinbah) is the town where “Banjo” Andrew Barton Paterson spent his childhood years. Two years ago, when we did our trip through the centre of Australia we stopped at Winton, outback QLD, which is where Banjo’s waltzing Matilda was first performed publicly at the North Gregory Hotel, we actually had dinner there. This is where my interest in Banjo started. Significance also to Carlos as his sister's name is Matilda and back in Africa, an Aussie put her on his lap and sang the song to her..

On our current trip, just past Ophir on what used to be Narrambla was the place “Banjo” or A.B Paterson was born.

Yeoval is the next stop, a town of 300 people, one pub, one high school, a chemist that is only open two days a week and one local pool. A “free camp” or camp for free behind the pub, the price? you join the locals for a meal at the pub, fair income I thought. We set up camp, it was really hot, no shade, went inside to suss out the food options for dinner and get a drink and two, 80 year old men where sitting at the bar, having a beer, playing cards. For some reason, it was so difficult to understand what they were saying, even the bar tender, I could already see myself struggling to explain “vegetarian meal” when ordering dinner.

A museum dedicated to Banjo was walking distance from the pub, actually everything was walking distance since been such a small town, we walked there and it was, of course, closed, till the morning, the milk bar/information centre/cafe lady told us. In the mean time we went to the local pool which was great, like Yass, it is a popular place to visit, especially when its so hot.

That day was also Noah’s12th birthday, slightly different to the usual celebrations but I’m sure he’ll treasure the experience later in life when he looks back.

Night time came and we went to the pub, fortunately for us a younger, meaning on the 30’s, family ran it, husband, wife and young daughter. They live next to the pub and the wife cooked all the meals, we were very impressed as they were very tasty. Having 5 visitors in town meant it was a busy night at the pub!

Finally morning came and we went to the museum, Sharon and her husband Alf ran the museum and they are very knowledgeable about his life and as a bonus, she makes the best scones and Devonshire tea I’ve ever had. We had a great chat about Andrew (Banjo), his life, his children, grand children, his writing and where he is buried now. I bought myself a collection of his poems, kids got a souvenir coin, we were all happy. What I really like about Banjo is the love he had for the bush, being himself from the bush, he captured the essence of Australian life in his poems and stories.

So far I’ve found that it is through talking to people at museums that you learn the most, they are so devoted to the cause and are usually volunteers.

I was so inspired about Banjo that I was nearly inclined to write a poem…..maybe next time :)

I finish this entry with a poem written by Edward Harrington…