Nice Try, Gundagai!

A bloke who hails
from New South Wales
will know of Gundagai.
Some guy found gold,
or so we're told,
in days now long gone by.

I grew up there
without a care
when both of us were nippers:
she was my mate -- 
her name was Kate -- 
I used to call her "Kipper".

We loved to lark
around Yarn Park,
and sing Frank Ifield songs,
play hide-and-seek
on Morley's Creek
all golden summer long.

I'd glance at Kip
(she fielded slip)
and try to hoist one high:
but quick as thought
she'd yell out, "Caught!"
or "Nice try, Gundagai!"

Her brain was quick,
her wit was slick,
and ready with a joke.
She'd bat and bowl
and kick field goals
as good as any bloke.

Well, time moved on.
Those days are gone,
and never to return.
I've roamed this earth,
for what it's worth,
and one thing I have learned. 

In this wide world
there's heaps of girls,
and some of 'em are ripper,
and dark or fair,
I've had my share,
but none of 'em's like Kipper.

I'm not that grand
with pen in hand,
but I've written Kip a letter:
I may be wrong,
it's been so long.
She may not even get 'er.

So now you know
the way it goes.
You've heard my tale unfold.
I'm like those fools
with sieves and mules,
hell bent on striking gold.

I'm a chafing chook
on tenterhooks,
awaiting her reply.
I know my Kip -
she's sure to quip,
"Oh, nice try, Gundagai!"

Author's Note

bloke -- guy (Australian slang)
nippers -- young children
mate -- friend
Frank Ifield -- popular Australian crooner of the 1960s
she fielded slip -- in cricket, the very ablest players field in this position. In the photo accompanying this poem, the two men nearest the camera are "slips". They are near the bat, so the ball comes at them with great velocity and violence.
try to hoist one high -- the speaker is at bat, and he is attempting to beat the slips by steering the ball over their heads ... but Kipper is too good for him
ripper -- fantastic (Australian slang)
chook -- chicken (Australian slang)