Dr Lachlan Barnes of Palm Beach, NSW, winner of the second prize in the International Competition “In the Spirit of Strzelecki”. It’s the first song in English about Paul Edmund Strzelecki, explorer, scientist and a humanitarian figure, written in Australia. Truly, a historic moment. It was performed during a Competition Gala in Sydney organized by Kosciuszko Heritage Inc. to celebrate the Strzelecki Year announced by the Polish Parliament on the 150th anniversary of Sir Strzelecki’s death.
Ode To Strzelecki
By LACHLAN BARNES
He came from Poland
Across the sea
To see Down Under
What he could be
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
He was a stranger
In a foreign land
But he was welcomed
With open hands
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
Kosciuszko couldn’t keep a good man down tonight
He roamed the country
To see the sites
The Snowy Mountains
Those soaring heights
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
The people helped him
Charlie and Jack
They showed the way through
They knew it front and back
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
Kosciuszko couldn’t keep a good man down tonight
Raisin’ up a dollar
Helpin’ out a brother
And they called him Strzelecki
If you need a hand
He will understand
He’s a legend in his time
Helpin’ us today
Showin’ us the way
(He’s a good man)
And they called him Strzelecki
He died in London
Oh what a shame
But rest assured
We will not forget his name
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
We say it wrong
But it just sounds so right
(Yet) he’s such a gentleman
He wouldn’t get up tight
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
Kosciuszko couldn’t keep a good man down tonight
Raisin’ up a dollar
Helpin’ out a brother
Lookin’ for a mountain to climb
Kosciuszko couldn’t keep a good man down tonight
Raisin’ up a dollar
Helpin’ out a brother
(He’s a good man)
And we call him Strzelecki
Źródło: https://www.zrobtosam.com/PulsPol/Puls3/index.php?sekcja=1&arty_id=22968
Zdjęcie tytułowe: From right: Richard Broinowski AU/Patron of KHI, Eryk Lenartowicz Master of Ceremony and the awarded artists: Jerzy Scisłowski, Melanie Horsnell, Zosia Kaszubska, Sławek Kazan, Lachlan Barnes and dr Marek Baterowicz. Fot. Henry Inginski
