G'day JennyO,

Well, interestingly, I first heard it a song ... around 1963 - sung by Leonard Teale when he ran PACT Folk, in their old premises in the Corn Exchange Building, Sussex Street. By preference, I have always recited it - but it has a firm existence as a song (including field-collected versions, found by Ron Edwards and others).

The words Leonard sang were those collected in an old notebook of poems, found in Lithgow by folklorist John Meredith in the '50s - and I now tend to recite a composite version of this and another version, The Moree Spider, found by Meredith on a cassette tape that veteran reciter Ernie Sibley made for his family, before his death in (~) the late '70s. Ernie's version has some telling details about Moree and the Gwydir more accurately depicted - and I believe his version is closer to the original ... and a lot more robust!

However, the posting I 'blickied', back in May 2001, was for the benefit of bbc, who had requested songs about Australian animals, so I posted both versions of the poem as words along with the version of the tune that I sing. You should always perform anything the way that delivers the greatest integrity - and from your personal convictions, not a copy of anyone else.

Regards,

Bob Bolton