TALES of the Australian Outback, in story and song, had a packed Manor Pavilion laughing and applauding in equal measures on Monday afternoon.

Down The Lawson Track, with music from Martyn Wyndham-Read and No Man’s Band, and readings from narrators Shirley Collins and Pip Barnes, was both amusing and poignant as it focussed on the writings of Aussie ballad poet Henry Lawson (1867 to 1922).

Martyn says he has become ‘enthralled’ with Lawson’s poems and stories.

“To me he epitomises everything that is Australian and he was indeed one of the first Australian poets to give a true Australian identity to these writings,” he said.

The near two-hour event saw Shirley and Pip read stories as musicians chipped in with a poem/ song relevant to the tales.

The mixture of story and song provided the audience with an absorbing and seamless experience.

Talented musicians brought evocative tunes to life.

Down The Lawson Track caught hold of the audience’s attention as it unwound with Lawson’s affectionate observations of Outback life that painted an often harsh picture, but packed with humour.