By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton

There’s a soldier’s memorial at the end of our street, from a war they claim we lost For 41 Australian

. PEOPLE RARELY SEE MY FACE. IT HIDES BEHIND A MASK TO FREE ME FROM ITS VACANT STARE, IS NOT

. Everything was surreal, the calm before the storm With G&T at Raffles and playing bridge till dawn They swept

We fought like ancient Spartans, with no shame or fear Amongst the tales of bravery, very few came near During

WE ARRIVED HERE MANY YEARS AGO, BUT NOW I STAND ALONE BENEATH THE MOUNTAIN’S SHADOW, IN THE HUNTER TOWN OF

Barney was a treasure, one of my great finds We met up in hospital, where they patched up broken minds

I first met Frank on Anzac Day and times of commemoration We both came to this great land, by way

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID  AS HE GAZED DOWN ON THE POPPIES, IN

The bells of peace, rang loud and long, 5 million lost in war  But the pandemic about to break, would

I knew Ernie for many years, until he passed away He related to me this story, late one ANZAC Day

I have little trust, in fate or superstition If religion is your soap box, it depends on what rendition I

He was just a lad when his luck ran out and he fell in mortal sleep While a world away

He was just a kid with acne, when he first wore his jungle greens About to learn the hard way,

“Don’t forget me cobber,” the cry rang out from hell that was Fromelles bloody battlefield, where five thousand diggers fell

THERE’S A PAIR OF BOOTS, WITH A DIGGER’S HAT, MOUNTED FOR ALL TO SEE – A SILENT IMMORTAL TRIBUTE, FOR THEY’RE SURE TO OUTLAST ME.

The military has long had mascots, eagles, bulls and sheep, But when parades are over, someone has to sweep, The droppings…

It’s just a battered tea chest, with its’ secrets long secured Within its tired and weathered frame, their future was

I had not long left the service and had so much time on hand, I tried to set up a vegie patch, on my little piece of land.

After 30 years in the RAAF, I thought I’d heard the lot And there are times I’m sure, someone has