There was a certain wharfie on the Melbourne waterfront who was suspected of stealing. Each day he left the wharf where he worked, pushing a wheelbarrow filled with straw. So a police detective was detailed to watch him. The detective… Read More ›
bill wannan
Diggers of Two Wars
On a footpath in Tel Aviv one day in October, 1942, an old English colonel and a young American major were discussing the war situation in general when they were approached by four youthful Aussie soldiers who had been imbibing… Read More ›
Arrack and Sympathy
During the second world war two Aussie soldiers were in Damascus on leave from a camp nearby. During their perambulations around the city they sampled quite a number of noggins of the local brew, arrack, and eventually they became hopelessly… Read More ›
Where there’s a will…
The Australian platoon was under heavy Japanese frontal attack. The commander yelled out, “Fire at will!” “Cripes,” growled Chiller, “if you can pick Will outta that mob, you’re a better man than I am !” — Bill Wannan in Come… Read More ›
Unusual Commands
There was a certain Australian sar’major during World War I who gave his commands in a most unorthodox manner. “Slope arms — you, too!” “Present arms — you, too!” “Forward march — you, too!” After the parade one day, a… Read More ›
Hell vs gaol
[Jack]* was arrested and charged with cattle stealing. At the trial the judge asked him what would happen if he told a lie. “Well, boss,” said [Jack]*, “I think I go to hell.” “And,” continued the judge, “what happens if… Read More ›
On whether the town cemetery should be fenced:
Whoi wurry; them that’s in don’t want to get out, and them that’s out don’t want to get in. — Tom Doyle, mayor of Kanowna, Australasian Post, October 30, 1958. Quoted in Bill Wannan’s Come in Spinner
Too slow
Barracker, to slow player: “Kick it — don’t autograph it!” Bill Wannan’s Come in Spinner
Argument
Old Gentleman: “Look ‘ere, me young bantam, I saw football played 30 years ago, afore you was born.” “That wasn’t football,” says the bantam, “that was civil war in them days, and they threw in a football to make it… Read More ›
Heading Them
On one occasion The Drongo applied for the job of cook’s offsider on a cattle station in the north. As nobody else was offering, he was taken on. The cook said, “We’re having good old stew for dinner, Drongo, and… Read More ›
Where the convicts come from
A dear old Australian lady, many years ago, won Tatts’ lottery. She was asked if she would take a trip to England. “England!” she shuddered. “Certainly not! Why, that’s where the convicts come from!” — Bill Wannan’s Come in Spinner… Read More ›
Dog lore
When a bushman tells you his dog knows as much as himself – don’t argue. — Bill Wannan in Come in Spinner
Drive Safe
— from Pam Thornton in Bill Wannan’s Come in Spinner
Can’t Hit
Why Men Lie and Women Cry
So mean…
— Phil Wall quted by Thomas Lumley in Bill Wannan’s Come in Spinner
Threadbare
— Alan Marshall quoted in Bill Wannan’s Come in Spinner
Blankets
Bill would say: ‘He gave me some blankets, thin enough to keep a bloke warm by making him shiver into a sweat.’ —Colin Hollis quoted in Bill Wannan’s ‘Come in Spinner’
Rafferty's Rules is Closing Down 