The Sandalwood Puller – a verse

We have another great verse from well know writer and poet John Terrell:-

Trees of gold: How it was done around 1900. As time progressed, sandalwood pullers shifted from camels to trucks to cart their “hard-earned” to market.

In the rugged goldfields scrub
he pulls sandalwood for a living
Beyond all bitumen roads
in conditions unforgiving

He’s a different type of bloke,
a recluse some might say
But spot a big ‘un in the bush
and he’ll holler, hip-hoorah!

His go-anywhere Bedford truck,
a long way from high-tech
Dented, one headlight missing;
it’s the next thing to a wreck

Hard to find, this sandalwood;
so sparsely does it grow
Across the Western Woodlands
and other places that we know

If you can pull a ton or two,
a rare feat that would be
A fortune for the taking
from this scarce native tree

A straggly parasitic kind,
its heartwood full of scent
Burnt mainly for its aroma,
to the orient it will be sent

Perfumes of many a joss stick,
linger in temples all over Asia
Its oil also prized for medicine,
this rare wood of Australia

                                                   John Terrell

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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