She Asked Me Why Wonthaggi Poem by Francis Duggan

She asked me why Wonthaggi why did you settle here?
You'll never be a local that to you should seem clear,
You'll always be a migrant from a small Country far away
And that accent you brought with you is with you for to stay.

She asked me why Wonthaggi why this coastal former coal mining town?
As a place of high employment 'twill never know renown
You'll never be a local here even though here you well may die,
I do like old Wonthaggi I only could reply.

She asked me why Wonthaggi it is not a cultural place?
Most people here the finer arts are not known to embrace
A bastion of cricket and Aussie rules football
In the pubs around the town great sporting names you hear them recall.

She asked me why Wonthaggi the Melbourne outer suburbs from here seem far?
At least an hour and a half drive in a good motor car
A long way from the suburbs here for to drive for higher pay
But I like living in Wonthaggi is all that I could say.

She asked me why Wonthaggi for to me it would appear
That you will never be seen as a local around here
But I could only tell her though I came from far away
I like it in Wonthaggi and in Wonthaggi I will stay.