No longer held in thrall by the call of the big smoke, Outback Jack had returned home, like a boat returning to the port where it had once dropped anchor. Back down the track, in Woop Woop's only pub, he heard the blokes talking about the clever tricks done with bunyip cubs by his good mate Crooked Mick every night, out beyond Woop-Woop, in the swamp there.
So Jack had set off from his home in Bullamakanka to see what his old mate was up to. Humping his bluey out 'beyond the old black stump; out beyond the ranges where the roos hop, skip and jump,' he went looking for Mick, humming 'Waltzing Matilda' to himself as he trudged through the red dust.
He'd seen some of Mick's performances in the past, but from what the blokes in the pub had told him he wanted to find his old mate before night-fall. Bunyip cubs, eh?, He wouldn't want to miss that!
Shenton
A contest entry
- IF YOU ARE AN AUSSIE, THEN THIS CONTEST IS FOR YOU! by Dinky Di.
600 points, ended June 15, 2007, 5 entries
Honorable mention
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Looking for bunyip cubs
I read this twice. I really ejoyed it. I had no idea of some of the terms i.e., bunyip cub, and have not a single relation to Australia but found that it sparked my common sense to gather that it was of a make-believe nature or 'mythical' based story. I also deduced what a 'bluey' was by just imagination alone. After reading the comments below, I wonder where creativity went? Must be the contest or something. -
This was brilliant! I remember when i was a kid, we were told not to walk across the bridge near where we lived cause that's where the bunyip lived and they were grab us. Scary story. I love stories about mythical creatures and you certainly know how to capture me. Now, i have never heard of the bunyip cubs so would be more than interested if you decided to continue this wonderful tale you have created. A great story teller that left many questions for the reader to wonder about. Excellent! Thanks for the read.
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condor
Thankyou for your most complimentary comments. The only reference to a bunyip cub, that I know of, is in the legend of the three aborigines who fished one out of a water hole one day and were punished by the parent bunyip by being changed into featherless birds , and left beneath a tree in which crows were nesting. The crows, taking pity on them, showered them with their black feathers, with the result that they changed into black swans.
I hadn't thought of inventing tricks for Crooked Mick to teach to the cubs, perhaps I should have a word or two with Nabunum the eel.
Best wishes from W A.
Shenton
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Thank you for taking the time to enter the contest. Bunyip cubs LOL... you do realise they're a mythical animal don't you?
This story was ment as a commedy and I can appreciate that. I liked the aussie slang and idioisms, although the story would have been more witty with real town names.
Are you going to add more to this story? I would love to see this story expanded. It has a lot of potential. As it stands though, it didn't have a real middle or ending. Let me know if you change it at all. Best of luck.
~ Diane. -
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Diane
Thankyou for your comprehensive cmments.
My short story is about mythical animals, and mythical people in mythical places, the names for which were not 'made- up' by me, but are well recorded in G A Wilkes' book 'A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms'.
With all its apparent flaws it seems to have to have prompted you to hope for a sequel. Perhaps I should enter it as a contest and let you and other AP members decide how it might have ended up.
Best wishes from W A.
Shenton
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I don't like your story, if you want to write about our country in this sort of contest please use REAL animals! Not mythical ones, the flow to your story was also rather jumpy... you didn't catch and hold my interest. Try using real names of places we have a lot with very interesting name with out having to make some up!
~Princess~ -
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Princess
I'm sorry you don't like my short story about mythical animals, and mythical people in mythical places, the names for which were not 'made- up' by me, but are well recorded in G A Wilkes' book 'A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms'.
I would be interested to read how you would have dealt with this subject in a story about REAL people, places and animals.
Best wishes from W A.
Shenton
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hah!
I'm pretty sure that was in english, but...I...have...no...idea.
It was like the Clockwork Orange. But less violent. And in Australia.
Heh. Okay. Good job! I enjoyed boggling at the weird words. :-D -
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For Delfishie and other non-Aussies
The story was written in answer to a contest set by an Australian member.
Most Aussies would recognise my references to mythical people and places, but, for those who do not, here are a few notes, principally based on references to be found in:
'A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms'
by G A Wilkes.
Pub 1978 by Sydney University Press.
ISBN 0 424 00034 2
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The 'outback' consists of those regions in Australia remote from the settled districts.
'Woop Woop' is an imaginary place which is a byword for backwardness and remoteness. Sometimes defined as 'where the crows fly backward, to keep the dust out of their eyes'.
The 'bunyip' is a monster of Aboriginal legend, supposed to haunt swamps and water-holes.
Described as having a round head, an elongated neck, with a body and tail resembling an ox.
'Crooked Mick' is a mythical figure, particularly in the Northern Territory and Queensland, who is credited with prodigious feats.
'Bullamakanka' is another imaginary place, as backward and remote as Woop Woop.
The 'black stump' is an imaginary last out-post of Australian civilization, of which the geographical position will vary, according to the State in which it is supposed to be situated.
'Bluey' is another name for the 'swag' in which a 'swagman' or tramp carried his essential belongings, like tobacco, tea and sugar, and a spare shirt and pair of trousers, rolled up in a blanket.
Carrying a swag is frequently referred to as
'waltzing Matilda'.
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This short short-story is really a preface to a longer tale in which the two old mates, Jack
and Mick are re-united and combine to exploit the antics of the performing bunyip cubs.
You wouldn't want to miss that, would you?
Thankyou for you comments, they are much appreciated.
Shenton -
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THAT's what 'waltzing Matilda', thank-you very much for explaining, I have this song that goes,
'will you come a waltzing Matilda with me'
I always just thought it meant, 'will you come and dance with this girl called Matilda and me'. Huh, intreasting.
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