I'm Going Back To Yarrawonga

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I'm going back to Yarrawonga originally titled Yarrawonga is a jaunty topical song that describes an Australians elation at returning home, written by Corporal Neil MacBeath AIF during a tour of France in World War One. The song was recorded by several artists including Leonard Hubbard, George Trevare Dance Orchestra and Slim Dusty more recently in 2006.

Origin[edit]

Neil McBeath (1893-1980) was Born in Campbell's Creek, Victoria [1] to mother Jane (née McInnis/McInnes born abt 1852, died 9 May 1938, married 1873 registration number 4420), and father Robert McBeath.[2] Neil started by performing the songs of Scottish comedian Harry Lauder [3] He was known as the Harry Lauder of Castlemaine [4] [5] [6] Neil McBeath received pronounced encores for comical songs in Mount Alexander, Victoria [7] and bought down the house [8] [9] In 1914 McBeath was fined for a cycling traffic conviction.[10]

Neil McBeath enlisted (Service number 74 with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade February 1916 [11] or possibly a private with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion listed as Presbyterian Draughtsman [12]). He wrote 'Yarrawonga' while serving in France [13] First publication estimated circa 1919 following demobilization. By 1922 the song had big sales [14] Indeed, 'Yarrawonga' bought him instant fame in his homeland [15] [16] and this notoriety remained until the forties.

He resisted selling the copyright [17] to the song that launched his career. McBeath continued performing comic songs between the wars.[18] [19][20] He appeared as the comic entertainer the 'Digger Scot' at the London Oswald Theatre.[21] and at a theatre in Footscray,[22] and he managed a show at Sydney Majestic Theatre.[23]

In 1941 McBeath wrote recruiting song "One for all, All for one".[24] By 1942 the earlier song 'Yarrawonga' was universally known [25][26] The song became regarded by Australians as a matter of civic pride.[27]

In 1930 McBeath had a daughter with Singer Emmeline Mitchell also named Emmeline McBeath, a psychology student, she was also musically inclined.[28] Emmeline Junior had no known children and there were still no claimants to the copyright in 2001 [29] and 2003 [30] In 2021 The only acknowledgement by the Australian War Memorial is a copy of another of other sheet music, without acknowledging the honorific 'private' or 'coroporal'.[31] not referenced to his identity. The Returned Services League have forgotten his accomplishments altogether.

Other works[edit]

  • 1917 'My Bushland home in Australia'. Based on a traditional Scottish tune [32]
  • 1920'Jean from Coterstein'
  • 1920 'When You're back in your Civvies again'
  • 1921 'When you're back in your home once more' [33]
  • 1922 Bella Vista [34]
  • 1924 'Waratah' orchestarted for bands at the British Empire Exhibition[35]

Performances[edit]

  • 1922 Adelaide, South Australia [36]
  • 1923 Dungog, NSW [37]
  • 1923 Esperance Western Australia [38]
  • 1925 Newcastle Brass Band [39][40]
  • 1925 Mount Magnet, Western Australia [41]
  • 1925 Geelong Jazz style [42]
  • 1922 Hurstbridge Victoria [43]
  • 1929 Albany Western Australia [44]
  • 1942 radio 2db [45]
  • 1954 radio 3XY Melbourne [46]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "cAMPBELL GREEK RETURNED SOLDIERS". Castlemaine Mail. No. 18, 231. Victoria, Australia. 28 January 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Victoria Birth Certificate 2247
  3. ^ "HOSPITAL GALA". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 16, 929. Victoria, Australia. 29 October 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "MOSTLY ABOUT PEOPLE". Kyneton Guardian. No. 7, 731. Victoria, Australia. 8 February 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Advertising". Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle. No. 4837. Victoria, Australia. 29 January 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "ENTERTAINMENTS". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 16801. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "SOCIAL AND PRESENTATION". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 108. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "CONCERT IN AID OF MRS DEEGAN". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 093. Victoria, Australia. 15 May 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 202. Victoria, Australia. 19 September 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "THE Mount Alexander Mail". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 076. Victoria, Australia. 25 April 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Neil Mcbeath".
  12. ^ "Neil McBeath".
  13. ^ ""I'M GOING BACK TO YARRAWONGA"". Border Morning Mail. Vol. XLVI, no. 13768. New South Wales, Australia. 6 October 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ ""SONGSMITHS"". The Sun. No. 1028. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "What of Australian Composers?". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 718. New South Wales, Australia. 28 August 1939. p. 7 (Women's Supplement). Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "THE RADIO PAVILION". Cairns Post. No. 11, 063. Queensland, Australia. 28 July 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Lennonville". Mount Magnet Miner And Lennonville Leader. Vol. 30, no. 28. Western Australia. 14 February 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "A Musical Treat". The Independent. No. 1800. Victoria, Australia. 5 November 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "The Independent". The Independent. No. 1799. Victoria, Australia. 29 October 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ ""SUNSHINE REVUE."". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 697. New South Wales, Australia. 15 May 1920. p. 14. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Advertising". The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times. Vol. XVI, no. 4974. New South Wales, Australia. 21 June 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Advertising". The Independent. No. 1798. Victoria, Australia. 22 October 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Advertising". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1920. p. 1 (EVENING). Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "GIVING A NEW SONG SOME OF THE OLD VIGOUR". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. C, no. 101. Tasmania, Australia. 8 July 1941. p. 5 (LATE NEWS EDITION). Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Song Writer And Airman". Border Morning Mail. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 11418. New South Wales, Australia. 30 January 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "FIVE STARS CLUB". The Southern Cross. Vol. LIX, no. 2950. South Australia. 21 February 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "YARRAWONGA COMES BACK AGAIN-- BIG!". The Sun. No. 1979. New South Wales, Australia. 2 March 1941. p. 7. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "POP SONG JUST CAME TO GIRL". The Herald. No. 23, 076. Victoria, Australia. 10 May 1951. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Seeking Copyright Holders". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Government Notices. No. GN31. 8 August 2001. p. 2265. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Communications, Information Technology and The Arts Seeking Copyright Holders". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Government Notices. No. GN22. 4 June 2003. p. 1649. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "[Sheet music] My Old Bushland Home in Australia".
  32. ^ "[Sheet music] My Old Bushland Home in Australia".
  33. ^ "PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 36. 22 April 1920. p. 605. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 97. 9 November 1922. p. 1955. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Australian Song". Daily Herald. Vol. XV, no. 4559. South Australia. 8 March 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "NILE STREET SEAMEN'S MISSION CONCERT". Port Adelaide News. Vol. IX, no. 31. South Australia. 24 March 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Wilson Benefit Fund". Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 2 March 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "ESPERANCE". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 29, no. 7362. Western Australia. 15 January 1923. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ "NEWCASTLE BAND". The Daily News. Vol. XLIV, no. 15, 509. Western Australia. 6 January 1925. p. 5 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "STEELWORKS BAND". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 237. New South Wales, Australia. 22 April 1925. p. 16. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "Lennonville". Mount Magnet Miner And Lennonville Leader. Vol. 30, no. 28. Western Australia. 14 February 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "CHAMPION BAND". Geelong Advertiser. No. 24, 239. Victoria, Australia. 13 February 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ "Wallan East". Advertiser. Vol. 59, no. 2, 569. Victoria, Australia. 24 November 1922. p. 4 (AFTERNOON). Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ^ "BAND NOTES". The Albany Advertiser. Vol. 2, no. 255. Western Australia. 29 August 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ "DOWN ON THE FARM". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. No. 4600. New South Wales, Australia. 5 November 1941. p. 12. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. ^ "Worth hearing". The Herald. No. 23, 994. Victoria, Australia. 22 April 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.