Anniversary of the birth of Banjo Paterson Bush Poet and Nationalist

Banjo Paterson's poetry and stories, still popular to this day, are among the best writings of our national culture, often evoking a strong affection for, and affinity with, the Australian bush and community; he was one of Australia's most popular writers of poetry and prose.

Primarily, Banjo wrote about the Australian bush that he loved; as well as about horses and racing, of which he was so fond. Importantly, he also warned about the dangers of Asianisation to Australia.

Australian poet

Banjo created many of Australia's great poetry classics, such as "Waltzing Matilda" (regarded as Australia's national song), "The Man From Snowy River", and "Clancy of the Overflow". His poetry included works that were light and humourous (e.g. "A Bush Christening", "The Geebung Polo Club", and "Mulga Bill's Bicycle") to those which were sad and melancholy (e.g. "Lost", "A Bunch of Roses", and "The Road to Old Man's Town").

Paterson's writings invoked the spirit of bush life in Australia, communicating its essence to the ever-increasing sector of the Australian population who lived in the big towns and cities. A significant aspect of the Australian ethos stems from the bush writings of authors such as Banjo Paterson. His popular output contributed to the developing national consciousness, helping to create the unique Australian identity.

Many of Paterson's works reflect an awareness of the stark yet brilliant natural beauty of Australia;

Andrew Barton Paterson was born of pioneering stock, near Orange in New South Wales, on the 17th of February 1864. He later came to use the pseudonym of "The Banjo" for his magazine writings; a name which was derived from the name of a racehorse that his family owned. Not only did he excel in his academic studies, but he was also an all-round sportsman. He had a deep affection for horses, being a natural horseman, winning note as an amateur rider, and - not surprisingly - many of his works are centred around horses and riding.

In 1885 he commenced contributing to The Bulletin magazine, becoming a regular contributor under the pseudonym of "The Banjo" in 1889. The Bulletin was at that time a significant force for Australian nationalism, one which found favour in all sectors and areas of society, and which - under the editorial direction of its founder, J.F. Archibald - pursued Australian nationalism in the face of the British mind-set current at that time.

In 1886 he became a solicitor, although he still spent much time engaged in sports (tennis, rowing, polo, and especially horse racing). In 1895 his first book of poetry, The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses, was released, breaking all publishing records in Australia and becoming a cultural icon itself. Well over 100 years later it is still being republished.


Banjo Paterson, Protectionist

In 1889 Paterson published Australia for the Australians: A Political Pamphlet Shewing* the necessity for Land Reform, combined with Protection, in which he advocated land reform (to "unlock the lands", a significant problem in those days) and protectionism.

          The question between free trade and protection, when you come to the bedrock of it, is simply whether it is better for a community such as ours to exchange its raw materials for the manufactures of other countries, or to tax its own people and so create manufactures. It is quite clear that the stock protectionist arguments hardly put the matter properly. It is rather feeble to talk about being overwhelmed with foreign boots, and inundated with cotton material. These things are not curses but blessings. We wear boots and clothes; the question is whether it is better to make these things for ourselves, or to get them from other countries where they can be produced cheaper. The free trade theory is that so long as any foreign country will furnish us with manufactured goods cheaper than our own people will make them, it is advisable to let them come in free, because our own people can go to something else more profitable.
          ...So long as there are unemployed or only partially employed men, crowding into our cities eager for a job of work, it is no use for the free traders to say that there is no need to foster manufactures, because the people can go to something else. They can't get anything else to go to. So long as they try to keep up their wages, i.e., to maintain a high standard of living, they cannot hope to compete with the underpaid labourers of the Continent and England.
          ...The true reason of the American success is simply that they have a huge local market secured to them by protection. The bigger the market, the cheaper can the articles be sold. If any coachbuilder here were to try and make buggies of the same quality as the Abbott or Fleming buggies, he would promptly go smash. They have a huge home market, and where he could sell one they could sell a hundred, so that they can gain all the advantages derived from doing things on a big scale. They can compete with foreign labour because of their huge home market, because of their immense start in machinery and scientific knowledge, and because they are protected heavily against foreign competition both of goods and labour - no unemployed foreigner can land in America without paying a tax, nor can his goods go in without paying a tax. It sounds rather well for them to talk about fair competition with the world! The fact is that where labour is high no manufactures can stand without protection.
          ...This question of free trade and protection is purely a wages question. While we have men unemployed, or half employed, it is idle to talk about the economic value of their labour and to say that they need not manufacture, as they can go to something else. It is for the free traders to say to what else they should go. Failing an answer to this question, the country will inevitably go for protection.
          ...We can of course, all devote our attention to wool growing and farming, two things in which, by reason of our superior natural advantages, we are bound (for the present, at any rate) to find something to do. We can exchange our products for those of other countries. With all our best land available, we might command the markets of the world for raw material. But is it a fitting destiny for such a nation as ours that we should have no higher objects than to grow wool and reap corn? Are we to have no arts nor manufactures? These things will only grow by protection. ...Our own farmers and wool growers will have a certain market with their own manufacturers; and the manufacturers will have a certain market with their country people, instead of having to compete with auction sold goods sent out here in huge batches, and made by starving wretches working fifteen hours a day. ... But we cannot long devote ourselves entirely to wool growing and farming, and as soon as we get any surplus labour we must give it a chance.
          Here is the gist of the whole matter. Adam Smith says, "It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy." No, but if he has to keep some of his family doing nothing, it is better to make the article, even at a loss, than submit to the loss of keeping the family idle, and also buying the thing. This, then, should be our policy: Reform our land tenure, so that we may get the best possible use out of our lands; and reform our tariff, so that we may give our industries a start on some other basis than that of cheap labour. We will, of course, amass a huge revenue of Government; but I have yet to learn that that is an evil. There are plenty of ways of spending Government money besides building the North Shore bridge. We can start irrigation works, and go in for artesian water.
          ...We must always keep in view that our object is the greatest good for the greatest number; and as soon as we get all the colonies under one government and under a proper land system, then we will know that everyone has a fair chance, and it will pay us better to put some of our people on to manufactures and art, rather than to go on being "a country where they grow wool". This will be better than letting our manufactures grow up, by our population growing down in their standard of living.

Written 12 years before federation occurred, the pamphlet advocated free trade policies internally within Australia and protectionist policies externally - to nurture and protect Australian industrial growth. He promoted the unification of the Australian colonies as one nation, as is also shown in his poem "Johnny Riley's Cow: A Ballad of Federation".


War correspondent

During 1899-1900, Paterson spent time in South Africa as a war correspondent in colonial Australia's commitment to the Boer War, and later gave many popular public lectures on the subject. He eventually left the law permanently for journalism in 1902, and became the editor of the Sydney newspaper Evening News for several years.

Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he tried unsuccessfully to again become a war correspondent. Instead, he became an ambulance driver in France. Finding out that a remount unit was to be formed, he returned to Australia and was commissioned as a lieytenant in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). He served in Egypt with the First Australian Remount Unit (which trained horses for the Australian Light Horse). Banjo rose to the rank of Major, and returned to Australia in 1919. His writings on the war provided a particular flavour and record of the participation and sacrifices of the Australian forces.

He became editor of the Sydney Sportsman, but also wrote freelance articles.


Warnings against Asianisation

As a freelance writer, Banjo contributed to various newspapers and magazines. In some of his articles he warned Australians that the threat of Asianisation to the Northern Territory was not being effectively challenged, and was scathing of the demands of some employers for cheap Asian labour. He warned of the dangers and consequences for our nation from Asian immigration:

His concern over Asianisation also shows up in his poetry:

He was concerned that Australia should be strong enough to protect herself against outside dangers.

If he were alive today, Banjo Paterson would no doubt be appalled at the continuing environmental destruction and degradation of our eco-systems to meet the demands of international trade and Australia's "Asian destiny".

Banjo also wrote a warning about a future for Australians should personal freedoms and independence be lost:

Part of the Australian identity

"Banjo" Paterson was an author whose work reflected the new Australian cultural identity, evolved from the blending of our European pioneers with our unique environment, which became the foundation stone for the bonding together of our country's inhabitants as the Australian People, a new nation in an old land.

By the time of his death on the 5th of February 1941, Banjo had provided a timeless literary legacy of Australia's unique cultural heritage and identity. Nowadays, the Australia-haters of the Establishment seek to destroy that heritage by bringing in anti-Australian Multiculturalism, mass Third World immigration, and Asianisation.

Australians need to recognise that our national heritage and way of life is under threat by globalists and other nation-killers. In order to protect our people and our national identity, Australians must join together to win back Australia.