G'day,

Lil' Neo, many thanks for needling us into this thread, you ain't no Neophyte or Neofight - there's a beautiful brain between your ears. BlueJay, LOL for that story. Spaw, Art, Rick, Peter T, et al - thanks too. Never realised there was a "reacreational hobo" movement - sad to hear how it's changed.

Our "downunder" version of the "hobo" was the "swagman" - on the road (rather than the rails) looking for seasonal work, from the 1870s though "THE" Depression, to the 1940s, I guess. I just remember one or two coming in for a "cuppa" when I was a kid - well, in truth, they sat on the verandah (porch).

As well as the classic Aussie "Waltzing Matilda" type songs, and Banjo Paterson and Will Lawson poems/yarns, there were a few equally classic NZ swaggies. "The Shiner", "Barney Whiterats", "Arawata Bill" and Charlie Douglas come to mind. Mind you, the last two weren't really "swaggies".

[Aside] I've just been called out on a "mercy mission" to deliver three "riot packs" (wine casks) to "Bazza", who's suffering withdrawals, and used to be Prof of Classical Music at one of the "Seed-knee" Universities, and plays "Classical" with a ragtime beat. He's related to Norman Lindsay, who did the illustrations for "On Our Selection", from which evolved "Dad & Dave" (C'mon OzCobs pick up, I'm still on-track for the thread). I'm tired, had a couple of whiskys - AND - there's something like 70 "Rusty Nutters" (geriatric bikies = affluent mobile Hobos) on the Island. Catters, if you don't read this, it means I haven't survived the trip. There'll be no Funeral, and "No Flowers by Request", BUT, please sing "Hobo Bill's Last Ride" as my eulogy.

CYA - Sam

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