Australia Day Flag Drill
Australia Day Flag Drill celebration, inspired by Susan Poulos from the USA. Music is Road to Gundagai and Waltzing Matilda played by Chet Atkins with Tommy Emmanuel. Flag Drills were often performed in groups, by both Military and Civilians from the 1880s up until the 1930s. Then the modern-day gym and influenced the demise of Indian Clubs as a form of exercise worldwide.
Indian Club Exercise
Indian Club Exercise was at the height of popularity at the time Waltzing Matilda was written by Banjo Patterson in 1895. One of the leading Australian Club Swingers was called Tom Burrows who was a physical education trainer to the British Army.
Endurance Club Swinging
Burrows took part in Endurance Club Swinging, and also was a huge advocate and activist in organising fresh air to be pumped into mine shafts located in Goldfields around Australia. He encouraged mining companies and the miners to take fresh air breaks during the working day, well before workplace health and safety was invented.
Waltzing Matilda Lyrics
By Andrew ‘Banjo’ Paterson (1864 – 1941) Written at old Dagworth Homestead, Queensland in January 1895
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil,
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
………………..
Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
…………………
Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred
Down came the troopers One Two Three
Whose that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
Whose that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker-bag
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
………………….
Up jumped the swagman sprang in to the billabong
You’ll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Cool! Great tune for club swinging and even better since I love playing this song on the banjo!!!!!
Thanx for sharing!
Thanks Steve, Waltzing Matilda is a true classic. I tried to capture a bit of the past with the combination of the melody and flag drill.
Yes. it certainly is! It was my 4th grade music teachers favorite song and we sung every time we had music class. Thanx for sharing your thoughts & rythems.
It’s a pleasure.
My wife & I enjoyed your patriotic display while listening to Chet Atkins. Thanks Paul!
Thanks Dale, I was inspired by Susan Poulos who does a flag routine with the US flags. I did a write up on Susan. You can see the article via this link. https://www.indianclubs.com.au/1696/susan-poulos-indian-club-memories/