Writer, campfire philosopher and octogenarian, Herb Wharton is a dying breed, a bright ember still despite the years which have seen him go from beer-loving horseman to a true Australian sage.
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If only more listened to him.
And laughed and learned at his own quiet irreverence.
It just may cast issues we think important in a “new”, old and forgotten light: flickering campfires and the stars where “the grass is green and the water deep” and the voice of old men sooth and comfort and pass on the deeper lessons of long lives and of generations gone.
Such as Australia Day.
Last week, the country’s leader Malcolm Turnbull was vociferous in his defence of January 26 as its national day.
As he did, Herb sat, as he so often does, watching the world from the veranda of a small shack he calls home, just outside Cunnamulla.
We doubt he would have heard of Malcolm’s tirade. The PM was criticising a Melbourne council's decision to drop all references to Australia Day until another term or day is adopted nationally. He was angry anyone would use a “day of unity” to “divide” the country.
"An attack on Australia Day is a repudiation of the values the day celebrates: freedom, a fair go, mateship and diversity.” As long as you don’t ask for that “fair go”.
"I recognise Australia Day, and its history, is complex for many Indigenous Australians but the overwhelming majority of Australians believe January 26 should remain our national day,” Mr Turnbull said.
But what if we posed the question: Would January 26 be a national day of celebration if more concern had been shown to Australia’s first residents when the decision was first made? But back then “my mob” were a forgotten people says Herb, with no bitterness but rather the matter-of-fact statement of a fact he can not change.
“I left school at 12 and I was always confused by the stories about the explorers across the “trackless wasteland”. Then I’d talk to the old Murris and they’d say, the explorers were shown where to go...that they only followed the paths of my mob made over a 100,000 years.”
For the man who has called men “boss” more than he should have ever had to, that, and life, is reason to laugh.
“We were called boy and fella, so we had one name for them, “boss”, and we laughed. On Friday he joked with Australian songwriter Allan Caswell, “you just have to, we all do”. The joke this time? He’s not a Kiwi? Or British? or Italian?
He’s proudly Australian.
“At least we don’t have dual citizenship, we know who we are, we’re those old black fellas down at the camp...Anyway none of us should be too worried (in today’s world). Look, it’s giving us a better class of boat people...You gotta laugh.”
And those present in Goondiwindi did. The irony not lost nor the infectious, antipodean humour of “taking the mickey”. There was no insult intended, and none taken, because Herb laughed at others, his “mob”, and himself most off all.
“I left school at 12. I was always confused by the stories about the explorers crossing the “trackless wasteland”. And then I’d talk to the old Murris, and they’d say, they (the explorers) were shown where to go...that they were only following the footsteps (of the aborigines) made over a 100,000 years.”
The Festival was entitled, “Distant Voices”. We can only imagine what the voices of Herb’s ancestors would think? How much they would laugh at how much a furore one day of the year can make, especially a day which, for many, is notable as a day off, a barbie, beers in the backyard and Triple J’s hottest 100.
Anzac Day it is not. But we shouldn’t downplay it’s importance according to many including Maranoa MP, David Littleproud.
“Reconciliation is about changing attitudes, not trying to bury our history with a date change. I represent wonderful communities, large and small and each Australia Day event commences with an acknowledgement or welcome to country because we respect our First Australians – the oldest human civilisation in the world,” Mr Littleproud said.
And as such it’s a date which won’t change, he said. However, we’d urge Dave Littleproud and Malcolm Turnbull to sit with Herb on that small shack outside Cunnamulla.
He just may make them agree with TV personality Karl Stefanovic who said, “(It) is a rubbish day for a party anyway.” Yes Herb, you gotta laugh.
