Almanac Poetry: Sunday Night Country Devotions
Campbell Bairstow’s football life: West Perth (the Cardinals), Kukerin Football Club, and Geelong of course.
Campbell Bairstow grew up on a farm in the West Australian bush in the 1960s and 70s. His family had a 60-foot high TV antenna but the reception was hit and miss. Campbell and his mum would watch VFL highlights every Sunday evening, but only if the plane carrying the reel could fly out of Melbourne on Sunday morning!
Sunday Night Country Devotions
Nearly 5.00pm Sunday evening
Cold winter’s night in Kukerin
Mallee roots crackling in the fireplace
Timmy the failed sheepdog a sleepy sentinel
Mother and son praying that the TV signal will be strong
Disciples gathered to adore the VFL highlights
Liturgy led by Father Doug Heywood
Sacramental sherry for Mum
Cardinal robes for the acolyte
But it’s grumpy George Grljusich in Perth
Bad news for the faithful
Dense fog in Melbourne
No flights out
No VFL highlights tape
West Perth jumper and Burley football abandoned
Early tea
And tears for the true believer
TTFSD unmoved
Campbell Bairstow
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About Campbell Bairstow
Great memories Campbell. The Winners were a religious experience for a WA kid and who could ever forget George! I coached Boddington in 1997 and played with my younger brother Glen. Very fond memories of Kukerin Dumbleyung who were coached by John Ditchburn at the time. I lived in Freo and would stay 2 nights in Boddington for the KD game! Met Ross D in the pub after the game and remember his massive hands! Thanks for sharing. Cheers. Also I love the old names of the WAFL clubs like the Cardies and Old Easts.
Love it. Few words. Lots of meaning. Great stuff.
The rhythmic, lilting voice of Father Doug also filled the loungeroom of 4 York Street, Oakey – at about midnight on Sundays. I do like that, these days, both Howie and G. Whateley have taken on “Back from whence it came”. As in, “Bruce Nankervis sends it back from whence it came.”
And I do love that the most vital cog in the farm wheel has an acronym.
Long live The Winners !!
The word “whence” means “from where”, so there is a redundant “from” in all of that.
I’m still waiting for a resurgence in “up the guts”
A double tautology if you consider the word ‘Back’.