The Nation-probing Bush Tales of Keith Garvey (1922-1999)

Abstract

This reflective reference to the New England-domiciled, Keith Garvey, may serve to introduce the folk tales to one of Australia's most insightful, reflective, and prolific writers, a shrewd chronicler of the evolving national temper, and wrongly deemed to be unduly narrow or regional. For his stories of a largely forgotten sprawling 'bush' lifestyle covered perhaps one hundred years and were largely acted out in his chosen region, that of northern New South Wales, especially along the border with Queensland - as he probed laconically such significant themes as:the harsh lifestyle on the frontier for emancipated convicts and their stock;the typical categories - and experiences - of Irish exiles to Australia;the sexual mores, both amoral and heroically supportive roles, of many carefully individualized bush women of humble rank;the integrity displayed, or more often, shallowness and brutality proffered the unfortunate by omnipotent police troopers in the lonely outback; and the nurture of lowly/illiterate bushmen so ready to volunteer and die in World War One.