Between the Lines - Issue Seventeen

The Bennett Brothers of Gunnedah, NSW

When Rob Willis gave me copies of the recordings of the Bennett brothers Jim (1881 – 1978) and George (1878 – 1966) he told me I was in for a surprise. He was not wrong! There is a great selection of lively and lovely dance tunes played on Anglo concertinas, along with some terrific songs. The Bennetts were bush workers - Jim a shearer, and George a timber worker and champion axeman - based in Gunnedah, NSW. George also worked for a while in the Gunnedah coalmine where he suffered a serious accident and lost a leg. It seems George was a man of many talents - he then turned his hand to designing and making his own wooden legs! More of the Bennetts’ story can be found in the excellent Rob Willis and Graham Seal publication “Verandah Music”.

Collecting the Music of the Bennett Brothers

In 1992 John Meredith and Rob Willis recorded Jim and George’s tunes as played by George’s son Ken Bennett (b. 1908, now deceased). Ken lived in an old hut outside of Gunnedah and played his tunes on his father’s rare old Australian made Stanley Anglo concertina. The instrument had been repaired using cheaper “Chinese Lantern” style bellows. Rob mentioned to me the strong contrast between the cheaper bellows and the two beautiful rosewood end-pieces (see the picture below).

You can imagine Rob and John’s reaction when Ken mentioned that in the early 1960s the family had made reel-to-reel recordings of Jim and George. The hut did not have electricity and attempts to transfer the tapes were unsatisfactory. Ken had mentioned to Rob and John that the original tapes were in the possession of his nephew Evan Palmer, and in 2001 Rob, with John Harpley this time, made another trip to Gunnedah to copy the tapes for preservation in the National Library archives.

So there is a team of people to thank for preserving this slice of Australian musical history. I am particularly grateful for the family’s foresight in making and maintaining these remarkable recordings. Rob Willis has mentioned to me many times over the years that, as the older performers grow old and pass away, it is these home recordings and party tapes that hold many undiscovered treasures that otherwise would be lost. I have seen many examples of this including the recent appearance of a recording of the late fiddle player Charlie Kyle of the Nulla Creek area of NSW. Maybe you have old tapes of family or friends that could possibly be of interest? Please contact me if you’d like to share any recordings that you have in a bottom drawer or out in the shed.

Ken Bennett playing his Stanley Anglo concertina - note the "Chinese Lantern" style bellows.

The Capture of the Kelly Gang
As sung by Mr. Bennett of Gunnedah, NSW

Of all the great music on these Bennett brothers recordings there appeared one standout song – an absolutely chilling rendition of “The Capture of the Kelly Gang”. It is probably George Bennett who delivers the song with a remarkable performance – although we are not certain of this.

Below is a link to an mp3 file of Mr Bennett singing "The Capture of the Kelly Gang". It is 7.6mb in size and I'm afraid the quality of the recording is poor. Despite the poor quality I recommend downloading and listening to the fantastic delivery of the song.

Download Mr Bennett singing "The Capture of the Kelly Gang" (7.6mb) now.

The words as sung by Mr Bennett vary only slightly from a version published by the Sydney Bush Music Club in 1956 in “Six Authentic Songs From the Kelly Country”. In that publication the source is given as Mr. J.K. Moir of Melbourne – first published in The Bulletin in the early 1900s. Four verses and a very similar tune to Mr Bennett’s were collected from Gladys Scrivener in 1956 by John Meredith, and appear in his publication “Folk Songs of Australia Volume 1”. Despite my previous exposure to the song it was delivered here with such emotion and conviction that it felt like I was hearing it for the first time. I should add that a version of Mr Bennett’s song appears on Alan Musgrove’s very fine CD “The Bagman’s Gazette”. Alan’s detailed CD liner notes have helped with some of the background for the song – thanks Alan. A very big thanks to Rob Willis for the introduction to the music of the Bennett brothers. The recordings of the Bennett Brothers are in the Willis collection at National Library of Australia - ORAL TRC 4778/26-27 with thanks to Rob Willis, Evan Palmer, John Meredith and John Harpley. Thanks also to Chloe Roweth for her transcription of the following tune as sung by Mr Bennett.




Ye sons of Australia, forget not the brave,
But bring wild flowers and strew o’er their graves,
Those four daring outlaws whose race it has run,
And place on their tombs the brave laurels they’ve won.

To the banks of Euroa they made their first rush;
They cleared out it’s gold and then steered for the bush.
Black trackers and troopers soon did them pursue,
But they cast out their anchors when near them they drew.

Now this daring Kate Kelly was noble of mien,
She sat on her horse like a true born queen,
She rode through the forest revolvers in hand,
Well guarded from danger; who’d dare bid her stand?

May the angels protect her that heroine so bold,
May her name be regarded in letters of gold,
Though her brothers were outlaws she loved them most dear,
And would hasten to tell them when danger was near.

But this daring Ted Kelly came forth to the inn,
To reek his last vengeance he now did begin,
To slaughter the troopers straight ‘way he did go,
He tore up the railway the train to o’erthrow.

But the great God of nature, to block his intent,
And stop his destruction a messenger sent,
A person named Curnow who seemed in great dread,
He signalled the driver there’s danger ahead.

But like three sons of Ishmore, brought up in the wild,
Amidst mountains and forests and rocky defiles,
Those four lawless fellows would ne’er be controlled,
They fought ten to one until death I am told.

But seems the time it changes, how dreadful their fate,
They found out their error when it was too late,
The house being surrounded by troopers two score,
And they also expected a great many more.

When this daring Ted Kelly, revolvers in hand,
Came onto the verandah, the troopers he scanned,
Saying, “You curs and you villains we do you defy,
We ne’er will surrender we’ll conquer or die.”

But next day at Glenrowan, how dreadful their doom,
Steve Hart and Dan Kelly were burnt in a room.
A trooper named Johnson set the house under flame
To burn those four outlaws, it was a great shame.

When this daring Kate Kelly came forth from the crowd,
And to her bold brothers she called out aloud,
Saying, “Ned my dear brother come fight while you can,
The flames have just taken the life of poor Dan”.

It was then this bold bully came forth from the bush,
And clad in strong armour his way he did push.
To avenge his dear comrades it was his desire,
‘Til the troopers they saw him and soon opened fire.

Then the bullets bounced off him like off a stone wall.
His strong coat of armour it did him appal,
But his legs unprotected a trooper soon found,
And a ball well directed brought Ned to the ground.

Now this outlaw was captured and stripped of his mail,
Well guarded by troopers and landed in gaol,
Convicted for murder, which grieved him full sore,
And his friends and relations for him did implore.

So ye sons of Australia take warning by me,
Beware of bushranging and bad company,
Or like many others you’ll feel that same dart
That pierced the two Kellys, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart.