Mr. Egan's response:

Dear Max
Good question.

Yes, I wrote the song. First Bangtail Muster Festival was in 1969 in Alice Springs and I was on the committee.

"Nosepeg" Jabaljari was a very famous and highly esteemed First Australian, a Pintubi – sometimes in those days referred to as the Bindaboos.
He was called "Nosepeg" because he, like most other adult Aboriginals of the period had a pierced septum through which they inserted for cermonial reasons, a "marabindi", usually a kangaroo or an emu bone. The name was deemed particularly appropriate in that Nosepeg assisted in searching for Lasseter when he was lost. They used camels and "Nosepeg" always noted his affinity to the fact that domesticated camels have to have a peg in their noses for control purposes: being ruminants, they can not tolerate a steel bit like horses.

He was a great bloke, with a wicked sense of humour. Check him out in various Google spots: I think there was a film made about him

And have a look at my webpage for other songs

Cheers

So that effectively answers our few remaining questions, and we can now post the corrected lyrics:

BANGTAIL MUSTER
(Ted Egan)

In the Outback, it's a pretty big job
When a cattle-man has to tally his mob
So they have what the Bushies*(1) call a bangtail muster*(2)

Every ringer*(3) lends a hand
Every cleanskin*(4) cuts a brand
And you bang 'em on the tail when you count 'em at the bangtail muster

And we all sing "Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Put 'em in the big yard--chase 'em 'round, about
Pick up the mob; we're havin' a bangtail muster!"

Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Put 'em in the big yard--chase 'em 'round, about
Pick up the mob; we're havin' a bangtail muster!

Now every year, in the month of May
People come from miles away
To the great little town of Alice Springs
And for days and nights all of Alice swings

Everybody heads for town
And it doesn't matter if you're black, white or brown
'Cause you'll knock out a mighty fine time at the bangtail muster

And we all sing "Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Come to The Alice, dance and sing and shout
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster, oh yeah!"

Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Come to The Alice, dance and sing and shout
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster!

The Warlipri*(5) come from Yuendumu*(6)
And Nosepeg*(7) brings in the Pintupi*(5), too
Yes, all the tribes are in for the bangtail muster

People from the cattle stations
Come to town for the celebrations
Led by Wallaby Bill at the bangtail muster

And we all sing "Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Come to the Alice, dance and sing and shout
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster!"

Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Come to the Alice, dance and sing and shout
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster!

In Todd Street, there's a big parade
So why not join in the cavalcade
You can ride on the camel train at the bangtail muster

Or if you want to take a chance
You can learn to do the Kangaroo Dance
To the music of the didgeridoo at the bangtail muster

And we all sing "Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Come to the Alice, dance and sing and shout
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster!"

Muster 'em up, count 'em all, about
Come to The Alice, dance and sing and shout
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster!
Head for the center, we're havin' a bangtail muster!
Come to The Alice, we're havin' a bangtail muster!

*(1) people who live in the bush of Australia
*(2) counting cattle by hitting their tails with a stick
*(3) A highly-skilled sheep shearer/a stockman in general
*(4) An un-branded animal
*(5) aboriginal Australian tribes
*(6) towns
*(7) "Nosepeg" Jabaljari was an important person from the Pintupi tribe