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 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]
^"HOSPITAL GALA". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 16, 929. Victoria, Australia. 29 October 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MOSTLY ABOUT PEOPLE". Kyneton Guardian. No. 7, 731. Victoria, Australia. 8 February 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"ENTERTAINMENTS". Mount Alexander Mail. No. 16801. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^""SONGSMITHS"". The Sun. No. 1028. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"THE RADIO PAVILION". Cairns Post. No. 11, 063. Queensland, Australia. 28 July 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"A Musical Treat". The Independent. No. 1800. Victoria, Australia. 5 November 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Independent". The Independent. No. 1799. Victoria, Australia. 29 October 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". The Independent. No. 1798. Victoria, Australia. 22 October 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1920. p. 1 (EVENING). Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"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.
^"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.
^"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.
^"Australian Song". Daily Herald. Vol. XV, no. 4559. South Australia. 8 March 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"ESPERANCE". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 29, no. 7362. Western Australia. 15 January 1923. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"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.
^"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.
^"CHAMPION BAND". Geelong Advertiser. No. 24, 239. Victoria, Australia. 13 February 1925. p. 5. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"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.
^"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.
