WITH LEE TAYLOR-FRIEND
By the time this column goes to print I will be in the centre of Australia exploring our unique and rugged outback with my family. We will be joined on this journey by friend and mentor, Jean Gamon, 95 years young. She has a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom to impart from her many years spent travelling through the ‘Red Centre’ and beyond. I trust it will be a journey filled with inspiration, joy and learning. I might just return with a few new poems…
As we head towards a new vision and era with the proposed ‘Snowy Hydro 2.0’ it was not long ago, 2006 in fact, that the three shareholder governments were planning to sell ‘Our Snowy Hydro’.
There is no doubt ‘People Power’ played its part in stopping the sale of this ‘Aussie Icon’.
This month I share two poems with you – political/protest poems.
The first poem, ‘Don’t sell our Snowy Hydro’, was used in the media campaign to stop the sale, read on radio, printed in newspapers and even read in NSW parliament by the Hon. Charlie Lynn…
‘Never Give Up’ was written on 2nd June, 2006, the day that John Howard, then Prime Minister of Australia, announced that the Federal Government would not be selling their 13% share which led to the NSW and Victorian Governments also pulling out of the sale.
Below is the foreword and poems, both in my book ‘Tommy’s Girl’…
Have a wonderful Month – Believe…Achieve…Lee…xx
The following two poems are a bit like ‘Bookends’ to me. ‘Don’t sell our Snowy Hydro’ started my involvement in the fight to stop the sale of our national icon whilst ‘Never give up’ was written on the day the sale was stopped 2nd June, 2006. What a fight it was! I likened our home to being like a bunker, on the go 24/7 running a full-blown media campaign and organizing protest rallies from our living rooms! It was a truly remarkable experience and a great reminder that by coming together for a common cause, for the greater good, we, the people, can achieve great things.
Don’t Sell Our Snowy Hydro!
They came from countries far and wide
To build the Snowy Scheme.
They left behind the ‘scars of war’
To build Australia’s dream…
A ‘melting pot’ of cultures
All working side by side.
They toiled through conditions harsh,
They did it all with pride…
Whole towns were moved to ‘higher ground’,
Farms buried ‘neath the lake.
The ‘Mighty Snowy’ lost her flow
And many a heart did break…
A ‘feat of engineering’,
The ‘dream to end all dreams’.
But now it seems its being sold,
Yet no-one heeds the screams…
How can politicians promise?
That ‘all will be O.K.’
For ‘assurances’ get broken
And the people always pay…
Water is a precious resource,
And one that we must keep,
For once it’s gone, it’s gone for good
And promises are cheap…
DON’T SELL OUR SNOWY HYDRO!
The people rise and say!
We gave so much to build her,
Don’t throw it all away…
So listen up Australia!
Before it is too late…
If were selling off our water
Then ‘God help us’, what’s our fate…
Never Give Up…
The power of the people show,
We’re stronger than we’ll ever know,
United, yet again we rose as one…
Australians standing tall and proud,
Our voices echoed long and loud,
We’ve shown an uphill battle can be won.
Our heritage, our history,
The politicians couldn’t see,
Meant so much more than just a balance sheet.
Our power, water, land,
We had to make a stand,
As the ‘power brokers’ hastily retreat…
The lesson now, I know,
Is to never, ever grow
Too complacent or give up on what is right.
For honest hearts ring true,
Beating strong in me and you,
So we battled on and YES! We won the fight…