A Dying Country Town Poem by Francis Duggan

Commerce has greatly suffered since the old factory was closed down
And many businesses for sale in the dying country down
But not one business has been sold none brave enough to buy
A business in a country town that is about to die.

All jobs have been taken where in good times jobs were rare
And most of the young people who live here are dependent on welfare
Since they left school in their mid teens they have never worked for pay
And they will remain unemployed whilst in this town they stay.

A town of a four thousand population gone into disrepair
And not enough of votes here for the Government to care
No the Government won't spend any money for to keep this town alive
And most of those who wish to live here on welfare must survive.

Business booming in the town on the highway to the sea
But in this remote Inland town so few tourists one does see
And many of the local farmers too on welfare since the drought has left them poor
Their livestock dying of hunger and their future insecure.

Since the factory bosses closed their door and took their business elsewhere
Eighty more local people have gone on to welfare
And the livestock getting thinner in the paddocks bare and brown
And fifty percent unemployment in a dying country town.