Introduction

It bugs me to see city types pretending to be bushies - you know, with the flash four wheel drive, elastic sided boots and double pocketed shirts on the weekend, but back to three piece suits on Monday. This piece focuses on bush hats and the poseurs who put one on and reckon that qualifies them as "bushies".

City Wallys and Flat Hats

I moved out from the city in January this year
To make my way in country style, if not in country gear.
For I reckon you've to earn the right to wear that old flat hat,
And that don't come in just six months of life at Magpie Flat.

The missus comes from country stock from round Beaudesert way
And doesn't feel the need I feel, of dues I need to pay.
She's quite at home in hat and boots, like it was always so,
Instead of high-heeled shoes and tights and fashion tops cut low.

It's not that she was ever flashy, dressed to catch your eye,
But just that dressing city style is different by a mile.
I still work in town, you see, and wear my three piece suits,
Then out here on the weekends, slosh around in rubber boots.

I've seen too many city wallys ape the bushies ways,
Pretending that they're off the land with the real "bushies" gaze,
From shade of broad brimmed hat that's straight from flash boutique,
A hat they'd never know to use as dipper from the creek.

I'll not pretend to be the kind of man I want to be;
And when the day that finally comes when I can say "that's me"
And know that I have earned the right to wear that old flat hat,
Then that's the day I'll know that home is here at Magpie Flat.

Copyright; Roger Harcourt
Email: harcourt@overflow.net.au