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One of the many editions, left, plus program for the musical .
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The post below about poet and prodigious writer C.J.Dennis resulted in an instant response from that man of letters, books and large political files , Pete Steedman , journalist, onetime Honourable ALP Member for Casey in the House of Representatives. It seems he is a great Dennis fan, has most of his books, first editions and his complete bibliography .
By Peter Simon
He took me to task for not mentioning that Dennis , who did much to burnish the image of Australian larrikins , and promote their slang , had lived and died in Toolangi, Victoria -"a small town in the fabled Camelot that was the old Casey".
In 1908 , Dennis had camped in a tent with artist Hal Waugh at Toolangi , 72km north east of Melbourne , later in a woodcutter's hut, mixing with literary people, including the author and bushwalker , R.H. Croll, who in turn introduced him to J. G." Garry" Roberts and wife, at Kallista, in the Dandenong Ranges . In 1913 , Dennis moved into a tramway bus at Kallista , where he wrote most of The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke , dedicating the book to the Roberts.
Sentimental Bloke Musical Ephemera
Pete invited me to come down to Melbourne and admire , not his etchings, but his rare collection of seven years' bound in copies of the very lively Labor Star, which he had edited .
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Yet another edition of the book .
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