Pat Ritter. Books

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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 1:

"Click Go the Shears" is a traditional Australian folk song. The song details a day's work for a sheep shearer in the days before machine shears. The enduring popularity of this song reflects the traditional role that the wool industry has played in Australian life. The song describes the various roles in the shearing shed, including the "ringer", the "boss of the board", the "colonial experience man" and the "tar boy". After the day's shearing, the "old shearer" takes his cheque and heads to the local pub for a drinking session.
The tune is an adaptation of the American Civil War song "Ring The Bell, Watchman" by Henry Clay Work and the first verse follows closely, in parody, Work's lyrics as well.
The second verse in the original 19th century song is as follows:
Click goes his shears; click, click, click.
Wide are the blows, and his hand is moving quick,
The ringer looks round, for he lost it by a blow,
And he curses that old shearer with the bare belled ewe.
The usual chorus of the song is as follows:
Click go the shears boys, click, click, click,
Wide is his blow and his hands move quick,
The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow,
And curses the old snagger with the bare-bellied yoe
In June 2013 it was discovered that a version of the song was first published in 1891 in the regional Victorian newspaper the Bacchus Marsh Express under the title "The Bare Belled Ewe" and the tune given as "Ring the Bell Watchman." It was next published in 1946 as a traditional song "collected and arranged" by Reverend Dr. Percy Jones, a professor of music. The lyrics vary widely; "bare-bellied yoe" (yoe is a dialect word for ewe) is often "bare-bellied joe" or even "blue-bellied ewe". The last line in the verse about the "colonial experience" man "smelling like a whore" is often bowdlerised to "smelling like a sewer" or completely rewritten. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia).
This book is a continuation from ‘The Shearer’ published by this author 2014.
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'Click Go The Shears'
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Chapter 1

‘What have you done?’ Hannah shouted when Joe told his story. He’d changed identity to now become Joe Gibson instead of Joe Ryan as she’d known him. The real Joe Gibson changed clothes with him to take his place when police came to arrest him for inciting the shearers to go on strike. The real Joe Gibson arrested as Joe Ryan and the real Joe Ryan changed his identity to now become Joe Gibson. Hannah couldn't believe his words.
‘This may sound confusing to both of you but I’m now Joe Gibson. Not Joe Ryan. We changed clothes and he took my place. They were going to arrest me. I’d never see you again if I went to prison.’ Joe pleaded.
‘What happened to Joe. The other Joe – I mean.’ Hannah asked, confused, her temper slowly subsided, breathing slower to try and understand his story.
‘Constable Fitzgerald arrested him.’ Joe explained.
‘You can’t change your name. Just like that!’ Ma shocked to hear what Joe had done.
‘Do you want me to go to prison? He gave me his papers and everything I need to change to his name.’ His voice raised. He reached inside his coat, extracted papers and placed them on the kitchen table.
‘He’s a brave man to go in your place. A brave man indeed.’ Ma quoted. ‘This is not right. You can’t be someone you’re not. What happens if something goes wrong? You can’t stay here. I don’t want police coming around here. I can’t lie to them or anyone else.’ She answered sternly. Her face set in stone.
‘I’ll go then. What about you Hannah. Do you want me to go?’
‘I still love you. It’s not your ring any longer. Is it? You’ve changed Joe! I tried to see you at the camp when you were on strike and each time turned away not knowing how you were or if still alive. Honestly Joe, I don’t know!’ She sobbed.
Joe moved to her and placed his arm around her shoulders. ‘Don’t worry. I will not bother either of you again. You keep the ring as a token of our love. I’ll move on.’...

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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 3:

‘What about the other Joe. He’s in jail and no doubt will go to prison because of you and what you’ve done.’ Ma expressed in a stern angry voice. Disappointment covered her face. ‘I think it’s a good thing you leave Joe,’ her voice quivered. She stood and left the kitchen.
‘Here is your ring Joe,’ Hannah unclipped the necklace and handed both the necklace and ring to him. ‘I hope you find what you’re looking for.’ She sobbed, turned and walked away.
Joe scooped the papers from the kitchen table, gathered his things and left. He decided to cool down and think about the consequences of what his friend did. Relief washed over him knowing he wasn’t going to prison for he believed in his heart he did the right thing by his fellow shearers. Something needed to be done to make work conditions better and improve wages. Although ‘The Great Shearers Strike of 1891’ failed, it would go down in Australian history as an event to change conditions for his fellow shearers, he thought walking from Ma’s home.
His mind recalled the previous five months. Each moment thinking of different ways to convince his fellow shearers to keep going with their fight for justice. Alas, in the end even Joe gave up. Then his best mate Joe Gibson visited him in his tent to say the police were on their way to arrest him.
Joe Gibson decided to change identity and go in his place. They switched clothes and Joe Gibson handed Joe Ryan his identity papers and told him from that moment on he would be Joe Gibson and not Joe Ryan. Shortly afterwards he left the tent and arrested by Constable Fitzgerald, the police officer assigned to arrest Joe Ryan.
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 4:

What should he do? Go to the police station and tell them they have the wrong person? Or do as Joe, his mate, wanted and get on with his life. His possessions consisted of swag, billy, two shillings, identification papers, and a membership card for the Non-Shearers Union in the name of Joe Gibson.
Instead of walking west to Eulo Joe headed north, I want to reach Barcaldine and carry on the work to give shearers improved working conditions and wages. His mind focused on these ideals. Camping on the bank of the Warrego River at the six mile, he undressed, jumped into the muddy brown coloured water to wash. After shaving his beard, he dressed in clean clothes.
Food was next. He’d survived in the bush more times than he cared to remember, snaring a rabbit, skinning and baking it over an open fire, fishing to catch a feed from the river. He’d do it again. He needed work, shearing. After unrolling his swag near a huge box tree he lay down and soon his mind drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day.

Hannah and Ma sat across from each other at the kitchen table having breakfast, ‘Ma, this is terrible what happened yesterday. I never want Joe under this same roof again because he can’t be trusted.’
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 5:

‘I agree,’ Ma spoke between eating. ‘I should go and speak to Sergeant Gray about what happened. They can’t lock up the wrong person.’
‘I’ll go Ma. I’d like to meet this person whose given his life for Joe. He must be truly brave.’
Hannah dressed after clearing the dishes and walked to the police station. Sergeant Gray stood behind the desk. ‘Good morning Hannah. You here to say goodbye to your boyfriend.’
‘If I may Sergeant. I’d like to speak with him.’ Hannah smiled.
‘Come this way. We’re taking him to Charleville where he’ll be escorted to Rockhampton to stand trial with the other leaders who caused the strike.’
Hannah followed the sergeant to a building at the rear of the police station. ‘I’ll allow you to speak with him on the veranda, not in the cell. Can’t allow him to be released. Don’t be too long. I’ll give you ten minutes to say your goodbyes.’ Sergeant Gray unlocked the veranda door to allow Hannah to walk along to the cell containing the prisoner.
‘Hello. Are you there Joe?’ Hannah whispered. She didn’t want to speak loud because she didn’t want any other person listening to their conversation.
‘Who’s there?’ A voice echoed from inside the cell.
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 6:

‘Hannah. Hannah Young. Joe told me what you did. I wanted to tell you how brave and courageous you are.’
‘Is Joe alright?’
‘He’s gone. I couldn’t live with a person who allowed his best friend to do what you’ve done.’
‘I did it for you and Joe.’
‘Why?’
‘Because the way he always spoke about you both, wanted to get married and settle down. I did it for each of you.’ He repeated, sadness in his voice.
‘You are a brave person. What’s going to happen to you?’
‘Go to gaol. I’m not afraid. Never done anything like this in my life before. I wanted to help you and Joe.’
‘It didn’t help. I can’t be with a person I don't trust.’
‘Too late for that now. I’ll be right. Don’t worry.
‘I feel guilty this has happened to you.’
‘No. I’m the guilty one taking Joe’s place. You leave now because they’re coming to get me soon to go to Charleville. Thank you for coming. You're like Joe described.’
‘Isn’t there anything I can do? This is not right.’ Hannah pleaded.
‘Forget about me and get on with your life.’
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'Click Go The Shears' - Page 7:

‘Sorry for everything to turn out this way. Bye.’
No reply came from inside the cell. Hannah called to Sergeant Gray who opened the veranda door for her to leave.
‘Sergeant?’ Joe called from inside his cell.
‘Yes Joe.’ Sergeant Gray answered.
‘Would you give Hannah my horse and saddle while I’m away?’ He asked.
‘I can do that.’ Sergeant Gray replied.
‘Thank you Joe, I’ll take good care of your horse and saddle. They will be waiting for you when you return.’ Hannah replied with a smile in her voice.
Hannah didn’t know when Joe would return, if ever. She'd certainly take good care of his horse and saddle. Her memory flashed back to bushranger Billy Wells who held up the stagecoach north of Cunnamulla. At the time she was a passenger on the Cobb & Co stagecoach. Mr John Shirley another passenger whose occupation District Inspector for schools sat across from her. Mr Shirley not only saved her life also through his generosity offered her a position as assistant teacher at Cunnamulla State School.
She remembered Billy Wells, riding the same horse now belonging to Joe. Those blue eyes continued to pierce her soul. He wanted her necklace and ring from around her neck which Joe gave to her to show his love. Joe identified the necklace and ring the moment Billy Wells introduced himself at the Eulo Queen Hotel. Joe fought Billy Wells to retrieve Hannah's property.
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