Okay, I guess it's time to get this one out. It's on a double CD of songs from sessions put together by Miguel Heatwole, called The People Have Songs - a bit of a blast from the past for me, but that's a whole 'nother story.....

MARY REIBY

Written, played & sung by Sue Gee
additional vocals by Jenny O'Reilly, Miguel Heatwole, Margaret Walters & Len Neary.

"While researching a workshop on cross-dressing in folk music I discovered the teenaged Mary's brief episode during which she stole a horse, resulting in her being transported to Australia. I have been writing songs for many years now and my pet topics include women in Austalian 'herstory,' especially controversial figures, and political satire."

CHORUS
      Tell me, convict boy James Borrow
      What may be your fate tomorrow?
      Streets of Sydney glowing gold
      For Mary Reiby, merchant bold.

      When you're next at Circular Quay
      Take a stroll down Reiby Place
      See a travel-worn ship docking
      And a teenaged convict's lonely face
      Was she anxious, hopeless, fearful
      Bitter, raging at her plight?
      Or did she see sun on water glinting
      Thanking God he'd spared her life?

CHORUS

      Denied a loving place in family
      Young Mary took a desperate ploy
      To escape her situation
      She masqueraded as a boy
      James Borrow was the name she took
      Three months she roamed a wandering course
      Til penniless, in rags, and starving
      From a field she stole a horse.

      Could she have known this reckless act
      Her whole destiny would shape?
      Despite all pleas she was transported
      To spend her days in a strange landscape
      Conditions on the ship were hard
      A fever cost them many lives
      But Mary, lucky and resourceful
      Somehow managed to survive.

CHORUS

      Assigned to working as a servant
      In Lieutenant Grose's home
      She caught the eye of a young sailor
      Thomas Reiby was his name
      On the banks of the Hawkesbury River
      Together they farmed a grant of land
      Began their lives as equal partners
      In love and business, hand in hand.

      A flood destroyed their Hawkesbury home
      So the Reibys moved to Sydney's Rocks
      Mary ran their trading stores
      Tom sailed the world purchasing stock
      For many years the business prospered
      'Til fever took Tom from her side
      But Mary carried on undaunted
      Although her tears had scarcely dried.

CHORUS

      Alone, she brought up seven children
      Her sons upon her ships enrolled
      Her steady hand made wise investments
      Until an empire she controlled
      She stood her ground among the men
      With commonsense and business skill
      Yes, we salute you Mary Reiby
      Your life inspires all women still.

CHORUS