"The Wilcannia Lockup Keeper"

New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police

It is widely known
that Wilcannia has the heat
the distance and the poverty
makes for a hard copper's beat

When Constable Carmody arrived,
There was no formal induction,
but his smile and his handshake,
were his only introduction.

Treated everyone fairly,
Whether black or white,
always well presented
whenever called out at night.

Rode a pushbike to Sydney,
Just to help sick kids,
Stopping at country towns,
Collecting money in a tin.

When there was a funeral,
It's usual to hear the priest,
But not when the next speaker
Is a Constable of Police.

So now the lockup keeper,
is on the transfer out,
Won't need a bookmaker,
To work the odds on a shout!

In the ordinary sense of the word,
He may not have been tall,
But the shadow as he leaves town,
Can still be seen on the wall.

By

Bryan Michael Doyle

- The Suburban Bloke -

Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 21 April 2000 - All Rights Reserved

and may not be duplicated without permission

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