DEAR phill Parsons of Elizabeth Town,
A point of clarification. the song you quoted from in your comment, here is not the ‘Jackey’s Marsh Anthem’. it is, indeed, the much loved ‘Tasmanian National Anthem’.
I should know — I have the honour to be a co-composer of that anthem. Naturally, over the years many people claim to have written this stirring composition, and, true, there were many people at the party in Richards Avenue, Launceston, in 1974 hosted by Steve Mars who came up with the intital idea and chorus.
But, in much the same way that anyone who can remember the Sixties wasn’t there, anyone who can clearly recall contributing something to the anthem’s rousing melody or lyrics probably didn’t!
I only know of my part because I woke up three days later clutching the scribbled notes. Also, some verses were subsequently added in more lucid moments. the scanning and flow was improved and the most flagrantly libellous parts were extracted.
It is also ironic that you should quote from the anthem in an article lauding the Tasmanian Geens. I am, thirty years later, by an odd coincidence, convenor of policy for the Tasmanian Greens.
Yours,
Alan Taylor,
Blackwood Creek
