The Australian Dunny. A poem written by poet, Jim Sharp.
This very original hand crafted wooden item was spotted at the Coffs Harbour Show, Australia in 2018. It was one of several interesting pieces on show and I was going to include it in my Market Friday post,
here:
but then I remembered a poem which seemed to be very appropriate for this image.
So I decided it would be best posted separately to provide those with a weird certain sense of humour a chance to have a laugh.
The name “Dunny” is the Australian slang for a toilet and for the purposes of clearing up any further confusion, I have included a description of a typical Australian dunny because I fear only Aussies (especially the older generation) will appreciate the poem below.
An outhouse, also known by many other names, is a small structure, separate from a main building, which covers a toilet. This is typically either a pit latrine or a bucket toilet, but other forms of dry (non-flushing) toilets may be encountered. The term may also be used to denote the toilet itself, not just the structure itself.
Outhouses were in use in cities of developed countries (e.g. Australia) well into the second half of the twentieth century. They are still common in rural areas and also in cities of developing countries. Outhouses that are covering pit latrines in densely populated areas can cause groundwater pollution.
In some localities and varieties of English, particularly outside North America, the term "outhouse" refers not to a toilet, but to outbuildings in a general sense: sheds, barns, workshops, etc.
Interesting 'Dunny' snippets:
Paul Hogan, the Australian Comedian (and actor from the Crocodile Dundee movies) has been referred to, “As Australian as a slab off a dunny door”.
The word dunny does not crop up often these days but it will remain part of the Australian vocabulary especially when poems such as the one below continues to circulate.
It is used more often in sayings such as these:
A. "It stuck out like a dunny in the desert." (You couldn't miss it)
B. "All alone like a country dunny." (Nobody around.)
C. "Carry the can." (Do the dirty work.)
It's no wonder non Australians find our colloquialisms strange, to say the least!
Poor old granddad’s passed away, cut off in his prime
He never had a day off crook - gone before his time
We found him in the dunny, collapsed there on the seat
A startled look upon his face, his trousers round his feet.
The doctor said his heart was good-fit as any trout
The constable he had his say, ‘foul play’ was not ruled out
There were theories at the inquest of snakebite without trace
Of redbacks quietly creeping and death from outer space.
No-one had a clue at all-the judge was in some doubt
When dad was called to have his say as to how it came about
“I reckon I can clear it up,” said dad with trembling breath
“You see it’s quite a story-but it could explain his death
This here exploration mob had been looking at our soil
And they reckoned that our farm was just the place for oil
So they came and put a bore down and said they’d make some trials
They drilled a hole as deep as hell, they said about three miles
Well they never found a trace of oil and off they went post haste
And I couldn’t see a hole like that go to flamin’ waste
So I moved the dunny over it-real smart move I thought
I’d never have to dig again-I’d never be ‘caught short’
The day I moved the dunny, it looked a proper sight
But I didn’t dream poor granddad would pass away that night
Now I reckon what has happened-poor granddad didn’t know
The dunny was re-located when that night he had to go
And you’ll probably be wondering how
Poor granddad did his dash
Well, he always used to hold his breath
Until he heard the splash.
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.