Text: The Cunnamulla Kid

from George Koulakis, 21.08.09

The homeless boy who had no name,
said he lived alone in an abandon train
at the end of line where rail yard is.

Here is the story of the Cunnamulla kid.

Just on sunset when most people go home
A young boy sits, in a train car alone

He whistles to me from where he hid
So I walked over to meet, the Cunnamulla kid.

“Your not from around here?” he asked,
as he got to his feet.
He was too young to be a kid living in the street.

No I’m just passing through, taking pictures of the land,
When I saw this old station, then offered him my hand.

The little guy smiled and held my hand like a vice,
Your welcome to take pictures, take as many as you like.

This place I call home, was once a thriving town.
While the nation starved, we had work all around.

They arrived on trains, on horses and carts.
They built their homes and lives, in a town full of heart.

From the backs of the sheep, Cunnamulla did well
We picked up the nation, from its economic hell

When the mother land called, this little town gave
In the war to end wars, our sons went to the grave.

They were battlers that gave, proud people, duty bound
But now their all gone and there’s no hero’s now.

But the fortune soon ended, and confidence fell
When the markets went bad, and wool didn’t sell.

The streets became empty, the stores closed down
The work dried up, and few Jobs were around.

A town feels the loss, when the young people go
No one can blame them, wanting to make it on their own.

Cunnamulla needs help, God knows we have cried.
Poverty knocks on our door, and we have nowhere to hide.

But if we did it once, we can do it again
We’ll be happy and strong, like we were back then.

When did we as a nation, forget kids like him
What does it say about us, to let him live like this.

When did we as a people, forget this small town
that answered the call when our nation fell down.

This young boy before me, was a one of a kind
A homeless boy living at the end of the line.

Derived from

This story and the images behind it are very special to me and I ask you respect my ownership of this material. You are welcome to write to me, or to make comment on the poem. Cunnamulla is a beautiful town, full of laughter and happy people that proudly call it home. If you have never visited Cunnamulla, I would encourage you to do so, as it’s well worth it. The locals are the most polite in the country and all visitors are treated like friends, and not like a cash cow. Thank you to the people of Cunnamulla and Mr Dennis O'Rourke for giving me a chance to visit and stay in the most beautiful country town in Queensland.

Alert Moderator

[Alert Moderator]

Comments

2 comments

Add Comment

20.12.09 — susan.dirgham

Hi George, I just read your
Hi George,
I just read your piece. I've passed through Cunnamulla several times as we used to live in Charleville and come down to Melbourne for holidays.(and my honeymoon was a trip back to Charleville via Bourke and Cunnamulla!) I love that part of the world and cherish my memories of the landscape and the people. Thank you for capturing it so sympathetically in your photographs and poetry.
- reply
- Flag as offensive

05.02.10 — Anonymous

Hey great to hear from you.

Hey great to hear from you. Thank you for the kind comment about the poem and pictures. I love that part of QLD and given any chance, i'll drive out that way. Are you back in Australia? last time we spoke you were about to head to Syria again. I'll send you a detailed E-mail later today.