I'm Going Back To Yarrawonga

I'm going back to Yarrawonga originally titled Yarrawonga is a jaunty topical song that describes an Australians elation at returning home, written by Corporal Neil MacBeath AIF during a tour of France in World War One. The song was recorded by several artists including Leonard Hubbard, George Trevare Dance Orchestra and Slim Dusty more recently in 2006.

Origin

Neil McBeath (1893-1980) was Born in Campbell's Creek, Victoria [1] to mother Jane (née McInnis/McInnes born abt 1852, died 9 May 1938, married 1873 registration number 4420), and father Robert McBeath.[2] Neil started by performing the songs of Scottish comedian Harry Lauder [3] He was known as the Harry Lauder of Castlemaine [4] [5] [6] Neil McBeath received pronounced encores for comical songs in Mount Alexander, Victoria [7] and bought down the house [8] [9] In 1914 McBeath was fined for a cycling traffic conviction.[10]

Neil McBeath enlisted (Service number 74 with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade February 1916 [11] or possibly a private with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion listed as Presbyterian Draughtsman [12]). He wrote 'Yarrawonga' while serving in France [13] First publication estimated circa 1919 following demobilization. By 1922 the song had big sales [14] Indeed, 'Yarrawonga' bought him instant fame in his homeland [15] [16] and this notoriety remained until the forties.

He resisted selling the copyright [17] to the song that launched his career. McBeath continued performing comic songs between the wars.[18] [19][20] He appeared as the comic entertainer the 'Digger Scot' at the London Oswald Theatre.[21] and at a theatre in Footscray,[22] and he managed a show at Sydney Majestic Theatre.[23]

In 1941 McBeath wrote recruiting song "One for all, All for one".[24] By 1942 the earlier song 'Yarrawonga' was universally known [25][26] The song became regarded by Australians as a matter of civic pride.[27]

In 1930 McBeath had a daughter with Singer Emmeline Mitchell also named Emmeline McBeath, a psychology student, she was also musically inclined.[28] Emmeline Junior had no known children and there were still no claimants to the copyright in 2001 [29] and 2003 [30] In 2021 The only acknowledgement by the Australian War Memorial is a copy of another of other sheet music, without acknowledging the honorific 'private' or 'coroporal'.[31] not referenced to his identity. The Returned Services League have forgotten his accomplishments altogether.

Other works
  • 1917 'My Bushland home in Australia'. Based on a traditional Scottish tune [32]
  • 1920'Jean from Coterstein'
  • 1920 'When You're back in your Civvies again'
  • 1921 'When you're back in your home once more' [33]
  • 1922 Bella Vista [34]
  • 1924 'Waratah' orchestarted for bands at the British Empire Exhibition[35]

Performances
  • 1922 Adelaide, South Australia [36]
  • 1923 Dungog, NSW [37]
  • 1923 Esperance Western Australia [38]
  • 1925 Newcastle Brass Band [39][40]
  • 1925 Mount Magnet, Western Australia [41]
  • 1925 Geelong Jazz style [42]
  • 1922 Hurstbridge Victoria [43]
  • 1929 Albany Western Australia [44]
  • 1942 radio 2db [45]
  • 1954 radio 3XY Melbourne [46]

References
  1. "cAMPBELL GREEK RETURNED SOLDIERS". Castlemaine Mail. No. 18, 231. Victoria, Australia. 28 January 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. Victoria Birth Certificate 2247
  3. "HOSPITAL GALA". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 16, 929. Victoria, Australia. 29 October 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "MOSTLY ABOUT PEOPLE". Kyneton Guardian. No. 7, 731. Victoria, Australia. 8 February 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Advertising". Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle. No. 4837. Victoria, Australia. 29 January 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "ENTERTAINMENTS". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 16801. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "SOCIAL AND PRESENTATION". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 108. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "CONCERT IN AID OF MRS DEEGAN". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 093. Victoria, Australia. 15 May 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "FRUITGROWERS' CONFERENCE". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 202. Victoria, Australia. 19 September 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "THE Mount Alexander Mail". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 17, 076. Victoria, Australia. 25 April 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Neil Mcbeath".
  12. "Neil McBeath".
  13. ""I'M GOING BACK TO YARRAWONGA"". Border Morning Mail. Vol. XLVI, no. 13768. New South Wales, Australia. 6 October 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ""SONGSMITHS"". The Sun. No. 1028. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "What of Australian Composers?". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 718. New South Wales, Australia. 28 August 1939. p. 7 (Women's Supplement). Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "THE RADIO PAVILION". Cairns Post. No. 11, 063. Queensland, Australia. 28 July 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. "Lennonville". Mount Magnet Miner And Lennonville Leader. Vol. 30, no. 28. Western Australia. 14 February 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. "A Musical Treat". The Independent. No. 1800. Victoria, Australia. 5 November 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "The Independent". The Independent. No. 1799. Victoria, Australia. 29 October 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ""SUNSHINE REVUE."". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 697. New South Wales, Australia. 15 May 1920. p. 14. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. "Advertising". The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times. Vol. XVI, no. 4974. New South Wales, Australia. 21 June 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. "Advertising". The Independent. No. 1798. Victoria, Australia. 22 October 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. "Advertising". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1920. p. 1 (EVENING). Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. "GIVING A NEW SONG SOME OF THE OLD VIGOUR". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. C, no. 101. Tasmania, Australia. 8 July 1941. p. 5 (LATE NEWS EDITION). Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. "Song Writer And Airman". Border Morning Mail. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 11418. New South Wales, Australia. 30 January 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. "FIVE STARS CLUB". The Southern Cross. Vol. LIX, no. 2950. South Australia. 21 February 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. "YARRAWONGA COMES BACK AGAIN-- BIG!". The Sun. No. 1979. New South Wales, Australia. 2 March 1941. p. 7. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. "POP SONG JUST CAME TO GIRL". The Herald. No. 23, 076. Victoria, Australia. 10 May 1951. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. "Seeking Copyright Holders". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Government Notices. No. GN31. 8 August 2001. p. 2265. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. "Communications, Information Technology and The Arts Seeking Copyright Holders". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Government Notices. No. GN22. 4 June 2003. p. 1649. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. "[Sheet music] My Old Bushland Home in Australia".
  32. "[Sheet music] My Old Bushland Home in Australia".
  33. "PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 36. 22 April 1920. p. 605. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. "PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 97. 9 November 1922. p. 1955. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. "Australian Song". Daily Herald. Vol. XV, no. 4559. South Australia. 8 March 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. "NILE STREET SEAMEN'S MISSION CONCERT". Port Adelaide News. Vol. IX, no. 31. South Australia. 24 March 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. "Wilson Benefit Fund". Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 2 March 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. "ESPERANCE". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 29, no. 7362. Western Australia. 15 January 1923. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. "NEWCASTLE BAND". The Daily News. Vol. XLIV, no. 15, 509. Western Australia. 6 January 1925. p. 5 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. "STEELWORKS BAND". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 237. New South Wales, Australia. 22 April 1925. p. 16. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. "Lennonville". Mount Magnet Miner And Lennonville Leader. Vol. 30, no. 28. Western Australia. 14 February 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. "CHAMPION BAND". Geelong Advertiser. No. 24, 239. Victoria, Australia. 13 February 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. "Wallan East". Advertiser. Vol. 59, no. 2, 569. Victoria, Australia. 24 November 1922. p. 4 (AFTERNOON). Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. "BAND NOTES". The Albany Advertiser. Vol. 2, no. 255. Western Australia. 29 August 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. "DOWN ON THE FARM". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. No. 4600. New South Wales, Australia. 5 November 1941. p. 12. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. "Worth hearing". The Herald. No. 23, 994. Victoria, Australia. 22 April 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
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