Till "Aussie Rules" Is Dainty
-- a Mother's Day song in memory of Nellie Ada Ingram
-- who passed away on the last day of the century.

Robin Ryan Copyright 1998.
Revised since.

"Nellie Bligh"-- as she used to laughingly refer to herself-- lived most of her life
in Collie, a coal mining town in south west Western Australia.
Times were hard-- her life, the same. She pitched into domestic and maid work with
the energy of two, extracting joy from it, and spreading it to others around her.
She whistled, sang, made up little poems, and loved to "act the goat" ( be fanciful
and full of pranks. Meeting a friend in the street was just as likely to commence
with a cartwheel! ) She was fun!-- A real charmer.
Her son, Robin (she nicknamed "Sparrow") has lived many years in Vancouver, Canada.
He loved, admired and misses her....as you will discover.

(To explain the title: Till "Aussie Rules" Is Dainty Every Australian is well aware
that Aussie Rules Football will always be robust. The author's love for his
mother, "Nellie Bligh," is just as enduring.)
___________________________

Oh there's a place in my mind
where my heart loves to go.
And I'd like you to share
as sweet memories flow.,
Let me sing you this song... about my mother.

Oh far off, down in Australia
oh so terribly far away....
there lives a special mother
who is fillin' my mind today.

Since I was a tad-- her baby--
gave a love that's here to stay....
Her hand is on my shoulder
though she's half of the world away.

The thought behind my song is clear.
She's a "special" gal... so very dear!
The sweetest, kindest lady of all.
She's my darlin' Mum five feet tall.

With curl on forehead and fun in eye,
she made my daddy just stand and sigh.
She's in my heart, and that is where she'll stay.
She lights my life. She lights my every day!

When I fly upon a Qantas...
land upon that sunny shore...
I wrap my arms around her...
lift her gently from the floor.

The years have passed so quickly,
like swallows flitting by.
I'm sure she'll be an angel,
with her cobbers ...in the sky.

Till "Aussie Rules" is dainty--
they play in big bow ties---
I love that gentle mother
like blue Australian skies.
She's in my heart forever
---until the day I dies

With curl on forehead and fun in eye,
she made my daddy just stand and sigh.
She's in my heart, and that is where she'll stay.
She lights my life. She lights my every day!

______________________________________________

"There are tons o' bonza reasons
why I love that lady so!!!!"

"Dija get th' messij, Mum?"