[Gay State Conservative]

Until a few years ago I,just another ignorant Yank,was familiar enough with the song “Waltzing Matilda” to recognize it as a pleasant...even “catchy”..song but unfamiliar enough to think that it was just a love song to some guy's “Matilda”.After much research and study...including closely listening to the lyrics (and learning what a "jumbuck" was)...I realized how wrong I was.Shortly after reaching that realization I discovered this tribute to Aussie soldiers serving bravely in Iraq.I have no doubt that an equally moving tribute to Aussies who served in Afghanistan is well in order,particularly for those who earned...rather than "won"...the VC..

Bravery in combat is something I've never been called on to muster but,nonetheless,is something I've always had the deepest respect for.Respect and envy,actually.

Aussies In Iraq

[naturalman1975]

This has become my favourite musical tribute to Australian troops.

The singer in this case, Beccy Cole, went to Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain our troops. When she came back one of her anti-war fans wrote her a letter condemning her for doing so, and saying he'd ripped her poster off his wall. She wrote this in response.

The Digger fights for freedom
In a job that must be done
And I've never been so proud to say
That I'm Australian
And if unlike me, you feel no pride at all
Then go ahead and take me off your wall
Because I'd prefer to be a poster girl
On the wrong side of the world

Poster Girl at YouTube

[JoeFromSidney]

Sorry, that's not the way Waltzing Matilda should be sung. I worked with some Aussies in Thailand during the Vietnam War and respect them highly. But that song should be sung in an up-beat tempo, while swinging a beer mug in time.