Louey the Bluey

By Nicole Collarafi
Stories of Australian Animals Competition
Dandenong Secondary College, Melbourne. 2004

Once upon a time, on a sheep farm, there was a three-legged blue heeler named Louey. He used to be the best rounding up dog in Worrawangawee. He could herd one hundred head of sheep all by himself.

However, two years ago, he went to chase a sheep back to the flock that had wandered into some long grass. Unfortunately the tiger snake that was living in there had other plans. When Bluey’s owner took him to the vet, they had to amputate his right hind leg to save him. After that his owner decided that he couldn’t round up sheep anymore.

So everyday from then on his owner would but Max and Misty, the border collies, in the back of his dented, filthy ute to round up the sheep. Everyday Louey the Bluey would watch them leave, and would spend the rest of the day hobbling around after his owner’s five year old daughter, Matilda. One day, just after his owner had left to muster the sheep, Louey was lying under the veranda in his little hammock dog bed when he saw Matilda wandering around. She was fine, so he decided to take a nap. A short time later he was awakened by a scream and then a loud splash.

Louey jumped up and ran towards the noise as fast as he could. He followed that noise all the way to the dam. When he reached it, he saw what was making that noise. Matilda had gone swimming in the dam but, as she was not a good swimmer, she couldn’t handle the deeper, colder water. Without another thought, Louey dived into the dam and swam over to her. She wrapped her arms around his little stumpy neck. He pulled her all the way back to shore. Just then his owner came running over the hill.

Louey was declared a hero, and allowed to help with the mustering from that day onward.

From Sway of Yarns summer 2004

The Snow Maiden

By Yuri
Takes about eight minutes to tell

Many, many long years ago, in a small Russian village, there once lived an old couple – an old man and his Babushka – his old wife. Though they lived in peace and in comfort, their lives seemed empty and without joy, somehow. You see, they had no children to cheer their passing days.
Then the winter arrived and a carpet of snow was laid on the countryside. The old couple gazed wistfully at the children playing in the snow outside and they were more lonely than ever before.
One day the old man said to his Babushka, “Cheer up, Babushka!” he said, “though God has seen fit not to bless us with children of our own, let us go outside – let us make for ourselves a daughter from the snow – let us make ourselves a Snowmaiden.”
And so, they dressed warmly and they went outside. They gathered the snow and rolled a ball. They fashioned the arms and the legs. Next came the head of snow and the little nose. Finally, the old man placed the eyes and the mouth. And then, my friends, the thing that happened next was so strange and so wonderful, the old couple could never explain it or forget it. For, as they were finishing the Snowmaiden, a stranger journeyed by and with great cheer in his voice, he called out to them. He said: “May heaven bless you, dear friends!”
And they called the spontaneous refrain: “May God bless us all, dear brother!” but when the old couple turned back to their Snowmaiden, a wonderful thing happened – her lips became pink, then red. Her eyes opened – and they moved! Her limbs took shape and her fingers twitched. And when her face took shape, she smiled at the old couple – such a warm, wonderful smile. The snowflakes shook away and she stepped forward – a real, living girl.
The old couple were enchanted and they could not speak. How they embraced and welcomed their long awaited child. And so they led her back to their cottage.
Well, the time passed as it must, and the snow maiden, she grew – not by the day, but by the hour! Her loveliness was a wonder to behold. Her skin was fair as the snow itself. Her hair was russet like the autumn leaves. Sometimes her eyes shone like the raven’s wing or seemed to have no colour at all. She set about her work in the little cottage with great cheer. When she lifted her voice in song, the whole village stopped to hear.
The old couple loved their Snowmaiden with every shred of their being. And so the deep winter came and passed. Yet, with its passing, the Snowmaiden changed. She had become noticeably quiet and sad. Though the old couple fretted for her sake, she assured them all was well. The winter snow melted and the spring flowers burst forth in full splendour.
Yet, the days that passed saw the Snowmaiden grow eveb more quiet and even more sad than ever before. More and more she hid from the sun’s light and she sought out the deep shadows.
One day a wild hailstorm burst its fury over the land and cast the greatest hailstones ever seen. Yet, this seemed to excite the Snowmaiden! She ran around and gathered them up as though they were fine gems. When they melted away, the Snowmaiden sat herself down and wept with great, great bitterness.
The summer followed the spring and her little friends prepared for their woodland games. How eager they were to play and to dance and gather wild berries. They called on the Snowmaiden to join them, but the Snowmaiden held to the shadows. The old couple cheered her on: “Go, dearest one! Enjoy yourself!”
And so she obeyed them and she followed her friends into the forest. And so the children gathers and they danced and the played and they picked their flowers. But the Snowmaiden could not join in – she sat utterly alone and sadder than ever before.
The twilight came and the girls gathered wood for a great bonfire. When the fire was at its fullest, they all took turns to jump over the flames – all except the Snowmaiden – alone, sad and terrified. Soon enough, jer turn came and the others girls pushed her playfully forward. With tears streaming down her pale, lovely cheeks, the Snowmaiden ran to the fire and leapt high above the bright flames. For a moment, there was a sad, sighing hiss and a wisp of mist rose up in the cool night air – and she was gone.
Her friends looked around but the Snowmaiden was nowhere to be seen. They cupped their hands and called out: “Aooo! Snowmaiden! Where are you?”
And all they heard was the echo of their own voices – and far off in the distance, the hooting of an owl … somewhere in the deep, deep forest.

From Swag of Yarns spring 2002

Truth and Story

By Tanya Batt

In the beginning there was Truth, and she wore not a thread of clothing upon herself. Into the towns and cities she would go, out into the countryside she’s venture knocking on the doors of villagers and the farming folk. But every door that was opened for her was instantly closed again when the people looked upon her naked body. Poor Truth, there was not a house, nor a home that would have her. Neither the rich nor the poor, neither the young nor the old.

Now it so happened that our crisp winter evening Truth found herself alone once again, sitting naked on the steps of a stately home. From inside she could hear the sound of voices, their warmth oozing, she could smell delicious food, the clatter and cheerfulness of conversation and company BUT she knew it was pointless knocking on the door. The minute the door was opened it would be closed on her naked form, and so she sat alone and miserable.

When all of a sudden she was distracted from her misery by a bright flash of colour. She looked up and saw walking along the street a woman in beautiful bright coloured clothes. Silks and satins, brocades and lace. She has rings on her fingers and bells on her toes and it certainly seemed that where ever she stepped music followed – the music of happy voices. Truth watched as the woman knocked upon door after door in the street and at every door she was warmly welcomed.

Truth watched puzzled until finally the woman in her fine, flouncy frock reached the stately home and bounded up the steps.
“Hey,” said Truth, “wait a minute.”
The woman stopped. “Who are you?” Truth asked.
“I’m story,” smiled Story, “who are you?”
“I’m Truth,” muttered Truth miserably.

“Well Truth,” laughed Story, “you don’t look like you’re having much fun to me. Why don’t you come in and join me.”
“Me! Join you?” exclaimed Truth, “I don’t think so. I’ve been watching you and every door you knock upon you are warmly welcomed, whilst every door I knock on is closed on me.”

Story looked long and hard, “Have you looked in a mirror lately Truth.”
“Why?”
“Well, I don’t mean to be rude Truth, but you’re … naked. Stark naked.”
“So,” said Truth, “I’m Truth.”

“Well Truth el’natural is all very beautiful and everything but it’s kind of hard to look on. I don’t think Truth was ever designed to be a centre fold model. Listen take a page from my book or better still a shirt off my back.” And that Story slipped from herself one of her many bright coloured layers and handed it to Truth. “People like colour, they like brightness, texture, design, intrigue, concealment … they appreciate a good frock!”

Truth took the bright coloured cloth from Story and wrapped it about herself. She slipped bracelets and bells upon her hands and feet. And together they walked hand in hand into the stately home.

And so it has been from that date forth, you will find Truth at all good parties and gatherings. She’s often hard to recognise but she’ll be there wrapped in the bright coloured layers given to her by story.

From Swag of Yarns spring 2003

Dear Zoo

Last Christmas I wanted the very best pet in the entire world. So Mum suggested that I should write to the zoo. So I wrote to the zoo and asked them to send me a pet.

The next day the zoo sent me a big red box and inside the box was …
(trumpet sound) an elephant! He was sooo cool. But … he squashed the azaleas in the front yard, so Mum sai8d I had to send him back.

The next day the zoo sent me a tall red box and inside the box was ….
(stretch giraffe puppet up high) a tall giraffe! But … when I took him inside to sleep at the end of my bed, he made a hole in the ceiling. So Mum said I had to send him back.

The next day the zoo sent me a square red box and inside the box was …
(Ooh ooh ooh sound) a cheeky monkey! He was fun. But … he took all the dirt out of the pot plants, painted the walls with mud and did a handstand on the toilet seat. So Mum said I had to send him back.

So the next day the zoo sent me a long red box and inside the box was …
(hissing sound) a snake! A slippery, slimy snake! He was excellent cause he scared my little brother. But Mum said I had to send him back.

The next day the zoo sent me a large red box and inside the box was ….
(horse snorting sound) a zebra! He followed me all of the house, it was great. But Mum said he clashed with the couch so I had to send him back.

Then the zoo had a bit of a think and sent me a truly awesome pet. They sent me a …. (roaring sound) a Lion! He was great! All the bullies stopped picking on me cause I had a lion. But he tried to eat my Dad, so Mum said I had to send him back.

This time I wrote to the zoo again and asked for a truly excellent pet that wouldn’t squash the azaleas, or eat my Dad, or make holes in the roof, but would sleep at the end of my bed, and would scare my little brother… sometimes. And the next day they sent me a small red box and inside the box was … (tail wag outside box) a puppy! And I named him Rex.

How the Turtle Got Its Shell

By Jb
Adapted from a story in One Thousand One Papua New Guinean Nights

Long, long ago in Australia, before this land was called Australia, before people came here, many animals lived on the continent. One of those animals was Turtle but not Turtle as we know him today. In those days Turtle had no shell. Turtle swam in the sea and roamed about on the land.

One day when he was on the land Turtle decided to sneak into Kookaburra’s garden. You see, Kookaburra had a big banana tree that was laden with the most delicious bananas. On this day Kookaburra was out in the bush looking for snakes to eat. So Turtle sneaked into Kookaburra’s garden and climbed the banana tree. There were so many beautiful bananas he became very excited and forgot about keeping quiet.

Willy Wagtail was passing by and heard the noise in Kookaburra’s garden. Willy Wagtail peeped into the garden and saw Turtle stealing Kookaburra’s bananas. Now, everybody knows that Willy Wagtail always tittle-tattles on others and that is exactly what he did. He told all the other birds that Turtle was in Kookaburra’s garden stealing bananas.

All the birds were very angry. How dare Turtle steal from Kookaburra! So the birds all got their spears and surrounded Kookaburra’s garden. They called out the Turtle, “Come out, Turtle. We know what you are doing. Come out this minute.”

Turtle trembled with fear. When he looked through the banana leaves he could see there was no escape. Kookaburra’s garden was surrounded by birds with spears. He climbed down the tree. He sang out to the birds.

I’m just a turtle from the sea,
You wouldn’t wanna hurt me.

“Oh yes we would,” said the birds all together.

Some of the birds grabbed Turtle and dragged him to the big gum tree that was Kookaburra’s house and tied him to the trunk. When Kookaburra came back they told him what had happened. Kookaburra was angry with Turtle. He told all the birds there would be a wonderful feast the next day.

“We will have a feast of fresh turtle,” announced Kookaburra, “Turtles are so delicious when they are freshly killed.”

Turtle felt his legs trembling. The next day all the birds including Kookaburra went out to the garden to prepare for the feast. Turtle was left with just the young kookaburras guarding him.

“Want to play a little game?” he asked them.
The young kookaburras thought that would be fun until Turtle said they’d have to untie him so he could show them how to play the game properly.

“I’ll teach you how to play turtle dress-ups,” he said.
The young kookaburras were not sure what to do but Turtle finally persuaded them to untie him. When they had set him free they watched him carefully, but he made no attempt to run away.

“Bring me all your pretty ornaments,” he said.
One by one the young kookaburras brought him their ornaments: shell necklaces, leaf hats and one brought a carved wooden bowl. Turtle put the shells around his neck and a leaf hat on his head and slipped the wooden bowl around his back. Then he began to dance and sing:
I’m just a turtle from the sea,
You wouldn’t wanna hurt me.

He looked so funny the young kookaburras laughed. As Turtle danced he moved a little further away from them. He looked so funny the kookaburras continued to laugh. They didn’t notice that Turtle was getting further away from them and closer to the sea.

Finally he ran to the sea and dived in, his leaf hat flying into the air as he did so. The kookaburras stopped laughing and called out to the other birds. All the birds ran to the shore and pelted stones at Turtle. One of the stones hit his shell necklace and it broke off. Most of the stones fell on his back which was protected by the wooden bowl and they did not hurt him.

Turtle was now safe in the ocean. The birds stopped throwing the stones because he was too far away. The Kookaburra realised how funny it was and laughed and laughed.

And that, so they say, is how Turtle got his shell. Now if you are up north where the turtles swim, listen to the sea and you might hear Turtle as he sings. He sings to the fishermen now.

I’m just a turtle form the sea,
You wouldn’t wanna hurt me.

From Swag of Yarns summer 2004

We're going on a bear hunt

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re going to catch a BIG one
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day

Uh Oh!

GRASS!
Long wavy grass!

We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
We’ll have to go through it
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re going to catch a BIG one
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day

Uh Oh!

A FOREST!
A tall dark forest!

We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
We’ll have to go through it
STUMBLE, STUMBLE, TRIP. STUMBLE, STUMBLE, TRIP.

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re going to catch a BIG one
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day

Uh Oh!

MUD!
Thick, oozy mud.

We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
We’ll have to go through it
SQUISH, SQUISH, SQUISH, SQUISH.

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re going to catch a BIG one
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day

Uh Oh!

A CAVE!
A dark, scary cave!

We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
We’ll have to go through it
TIPTOE, TIPTOE, TIPTOE, TIPTOE.

OH!
What’s that?
Over there!

1 Black shiny nose
2 big fury ears
2 big goggly eyes

It’s a bear!!

Ahh!!

Quick, back through the cave, tiptoe tiptoe
back through the mud, squish squish squish squish
back through the forest, stumble stumble trip
back through the grass, swish swish swish

Run through the gate, shut the gate
In the door, shut the door.

Few! We made it!

I’m never going on a bear hunt again. No way!

The Gingerbread Man

Once upon a time there was a little old lady and a little old man. One day the little old lady decided to make a gingerbread cake that looked like a boy. She made a jacket out of chocolate, and eyes out of two big currants. Then she put it in the oven to cook.
When she opened the oven door, out jumped a gingerbread man! Suddenly he jumped out of the window and ran away!
The little old lady and the little old man chased him, but he shouted:
“Run, run as fast as you can!
You can’t catch me,
I’m the gingerbread man.”
The little gingerbread man ran on and on.
A cow saw him and said, “You look nice, I want to eat you.”
But the gingerbread man said, “I have run away from a little old lady and a little old man and I can run away from you too.” And he shouted to the cow:
“Run, run as fast as you can!
You can’t catch me,
I’m the gingerbread man.”
The little gingerbread man saw a horse in a field.
“You look nice. I want to eat you,” said the horse.
“I have run away from a little old lady and a little old man and from a cow and I can run away from you too,” said the gingerbread man.
And he shouted to the horse:
“Run, run as fast as you can!
You can’t catch me,
I’m the gingerbread man.”
At last the gingerbread man saw a fox and shouted to him, “You can’t catch me.”
But the fox was clever.
“I don’t want to,” he said with a smile.
Soon the gingerbread man came to a river. He wanted to cross over but he couldn’t swim.
“Jump on my tail and I will take you across the river,” said the fox.
The fox started swimming across the river with the gingerbread man on his tail. “Jump on my back or you may fall off,” said the fox.
Then the fox said, “Jump on my head, or you may fall in the water.” And then he said, “Jump on my nose.”
When they got to the other side of the river the fox threw back his head. The gingerbread boy fell into his mouth and the fox gobbled him up. And that was the end of the gingerbread man!

The Fox and the Crow - Aesop

A hungry fox saw a crow sitting in a tree. The crow had a piece of cheese in its beak. The fox loved cheese, but he knew the crow wouldn’t give the cheese to him. What could he do?
The fox thought. He plotted. He planned. He got an idea!
“Oh crow,” he said, ‘how beautiful you are. Such lovely glossy black feathers.”
The crow preened proudly.
“Oh crow,” said Fox. “What magnificent wings you have. Please flap them for me.”
The crow flapped proudly.
“Oh crow,” cried the fox, what a glorious voice you have. Everyone knows you have the finest voice of all the birds. Sing to me,” he pleaded. “Please, dear Crow, sing to me!”
The crow preened and flapped proudly. He took a deep breath. He opened his beak and sang: “CAW!”
When he opened his beak, the piece of cheese fell out. The Fox caught it as it fell, and gobbled it up.
“Thanks for the meal, Crow,” he laughed, and ran off.
The crow sat on his branch and sulked.
“Caw, am I cheesed off,” he grumbled.

courtesey of Jo Jensen

What's in Fox's sack

Fox was digging around the roots of a tree. Up flew a bumblebee. “Bzzz”.
Fox grabbed the bumblebee and put it in his sack. “Bzzzz.”
Off went fox, with the bumblebee in his sack. He came to a tall house. Inside the tall house was a tall woman. “May I leave my sack here while I go visit my friend Squintum?” asked the fox.
“Of course you may,” said the tall woman.
“You won’t look in it, will you?” asked Fox.
“Of course not,” said the tall woman.
The tall woman waited for one, two, three, four, five minutes, until:
“I can’t bear it,” she cried. “I must know what is in fox’s sack.”
She opened the sack. Out flew the bumblebee. The tall woman’s chicken (duck, whatever) chased the bumblebee away.
Fox came back. He felt his empty sack. Where is my bumblebee!”
“Oh, dear Fox, my chicken chased it away.”
“Your chicken chased my bumblebee, so I take your chicken.”
Fox put the chicken in the sack, and off he went. He came to a small house. Inside the small house was a small woman.
x (etc, etc, etc . . . )
She opened the sack. Out flew the chicken. The small woman’s horse chased it away. (etc, etc…)
Fox put the horse in the sack and off he went. He came to a thin house. Inside the thin house was a thin woman.
x (etc, etc, etc . . . .)
She opened the sack. Out jumped the horse. The thin woman’s son/daughter chased it away.
(etc, etc, etc . . . .)
Fox put the boy in the sack, and off he went. He came to a round house. Inside the round house was a round woman.
(etc, etc to “You won’t look in it, will you”.
“Of course not,” said the round woman - and she didn’t. She was baking gingerbread. The smell was delicious. The boy in the sack could smell it. “May I please have some gingerbread?” he cried.
“My goodness,” said the round woman.
“What has naughty fox been up to this time?” She opened the sack and helped the boy out. Then she called to her dog, and had him jump into the sack. Then she tied it up again.
When Fox came back he felt the sack.
He felt something move inside. “Good,” he said, “my lunch is still there.”
Off he went, into the woods, to have his lunch. “Come out, boy,” he growled, opening the sack, “for I am hungry, and “—“
The dog jumped out. Fox yelped. Dog barked. Fox ran, far, far, away. Dog went home, and got the biggest piece of gingerbread. As for Fox - he’s still running.

Courtesy of Jo Jensen

The Strange Visitor

Once upon a time there was a little old lady. She was sitting at home, minding her own business, doing what little old ladies do when they’re sitting at home minding their own business, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said the little old lady.
In came a pair of feet, that sat themselves down on the cold, cold, floor.
That’s strange, thought the little old lady, but before she could say anything, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said the little old lady.
In came a pair of legs that sat themselves down on the feet that sat on the cold, cold floor.
*Ditto*
In came a body that sat itself down on the legs that sat on the feet that sat on the cold, cold, floor.
*Ditto*
In came a pair of arms that sat themselves down on the body that sat on the legs that sat on the feet that sat on the cold, cold floor.
*Ditto*
In came a head etc etc
“What do you want?” asked the little old lady.
“I want food, and I want it NOW,” said the strange visitor. And it didn’t even say please.
“How rude,” said the little old lady. And then she said “BOO!”
Away flew the head and the arms and the body and the legs and the feet, and all that was left was the cold, cold floor.
“What a Strange Visitor,” said the little old lady. “I wonder who will visit me tomorrow.”

courtesey of Jo Jensen

Dirty Dave: The Bushranger

By Roland Harvey & Nette Hilton

Dave was a bushranger,
He was tough.

Sue was his sister,
She was rough.

Maude was his mother,
She was really fierce.

And Dan was his dad,
And he liked to sew.

Next day, on the road, they
held up the coach with guns blazing.

Dave roared, “Stop!”

Sue bellowed, “Whoa!” to the horses.

Maude boomed, “Hands up!”

But Dan stayed at home.

Dave shouted, “Money!”

Sue demanded, “Jewels!”

Maude wanted, “Lollies, please!”

And Dan stitched shirts.

“Go!” shouted Dave,

“Go!” shouted Sue,

“Gee up!” said Maude,

But the travellers said,
“Please don’t go!”

“Stay?” asked Dave.

“What?” asked Sue.

“Why?” demanded Maude.

“Because,” a trooper said,
“You dress just so!”

“Who is your tailor?
That shirt’s really fine!”

“Look at his trousers!”

“I wish her dress were mine!”

“Tell us. Who does your stitching?
We’d pay well to know.”

Dave looked tough.

Sue looked confused.

Maude rolled her eyes and said,
“Their dad loves to sew.”

Now…..

Dave models clothes,
He’s still tough.

Sue’s a model too,
But not quite as rough.

Maude’s still their mum,
And she still loves lollies (boiled).

And Dan stays home,
And sews and sews and sews.