Table of Contents
It’s in the early morning mist rising off the river, the quiet resilience of farmland that has endured flood and fire, and the rhythm of daily life shaped by distance, community, and connection to place. This is a region that doesn’t just exist, it feels. And for generations, one of the most powerful ways we have captured that feeling is through poetry.
A tradition worth reclaiming
Long before fast news cycles and social media feeds, poetry had a place in the pages of the Hawkesbury’s local press. Early editions of the Hawkesbury Gazette in the 1800s regularly featured poetry - verses that reflected daily life, hardship, love, loss, and the beauty of the land.
It wasn’t seen as a luxury. It was part of how a community made sense of itself.
Those poems were more than words, they were a record of who we were, what we valued, and how we saw the world around us.
Today, as we navigate a more complex and fast-paced environment, there is a strong case for bringing that tradition back.
Why poetry matters in the Hawkesbury
The Hawkesbury is not a place of uniform experiences. It is layered with farmers, small business owners, families, creatives, and commuters all contributing to a shared but diverse story.
Poetry gives space to those voices.
It allows people to express what doesn’t always fit into headlines or policy debates, the emotional truth of living here. Whether it’s the anxiety of flood season, the pride in a successful harvest, the exhaustion of long commutes, or the quiet joy of raising children close to nature, poetry captures the human side of our region.
In doing so, it strengthens something essential: connection.
Because when people see their own experiences reflected back to them, they feel less alone and more part of a community.
Looking forward
Reintroducing poetry into the Hawkesbury Gazette is more than a nod to history—it’s an investment in our cultural future.
It’s about creating space for voices that might not otherwise be heard. It’s about strengthening our identity as a community. And it’s about recognising that alongside progress and advocacy, there is also a need for reflection, creativity, and connection.
The Hawkesbury has always had a story worth telling.
Through poetry, we can ensure it continues to be told with honesty, with heart, and with a deep sense of place.
The Hawkesbury by Dorrie McCannmon 1898
This poem was first published on the front page of the Hawkesbury Gazette on Saturday December 17, 1898.
THE HAWKESBURY
With thy ripples brightly gleaming
In the red sun’s passing ray -
Where the moon is softly beaming,
And deep shadows on thee lay
When the wind is gently sighing
Thro the weeping willow-tree
When the day is slowly dying.
And when over land and sea
Nights dark wings are closely lying-
Thou art flowing bright and free.
On thy banks is sweet seclusion,
In a cosy, shaded nook,
Free from any rough intrusion
With a fishing rod or book,
Many hours of quiet pleasure
Have I spent - a bird o’erhead
Pouring forth its thrilling pleasure
And my thoughts by it are led,
From my book and at their leisure.
Wander on by beauty fed.
And when evening’s dews are falling,
At the close of day
When the birds their mates are calling,
Then I slowly wend my way
Homeward dreaming of the morrow
When again my steps will stray
From all sight of care and sorrow,
And beside thy banks will stay
Trying from thy stores to borrow
Pleasure to drive care away.
Give me the longing to rise above rise above
To become one with Thee
Not only to follow in your footsteps
But surrendering myself to your perfect love
In completeness wholeness and acceptance
May I become a string in the violin of life
Thus the music created
Shall forever more be a sweet harmony of peace love and joy
If you have a poem you would like to share email Editor@Hawkesburygazette.com
