On Mt Rouse Poem by Francis Duggan

The drought has left the stony paddocks looking bare and brown
The Countryside around Mt Rouse and Penshurst rural Town
The thistles are growing plentiful where stones and rocks abound
And signs of Mt Rouse's volcanic eruptions are everywhere around.

This is a very old land 'twas old in the Dreamtime
A Land that has inspired stories and inspired the poets to rhyme
In the Countryside around Mt Rouse dinosaurs once ranged free
It is a very old land and it pre-dates history.

This land more suitable to roo and wallaby than to the dairy cow
And far too rough and stony for the harrow or the plough
The planted trees that survive on Mt Rouse never grow to a great height
And around the volcanic rocks and stones thistles are a common sight.

The drought has left the stony paddocks looking bare and brown and dry
And in the wood at Mt Rouse the yellow tailed black Cockatoos cry
And the magpie he is piping on a warm Autumn day
On Mt Rouse overlooking Penshurst on the Hamilton highway.