To his correspondents: during the years I have been
conducting this column I have come to have
a very great respect for the knowledge of the bushman.
He teaches me sometimes almost
every week.

JAMES POLLARD, MAN OF LETTERS ^{1, 2}

¹ Hughes-d’Aeth, T. 2011. ‘Denizens of the Bush’ (1923-1937): James Pollard and Popular Nature Study. Studies in Western Australian History 27: 45-61.

² L.A and F. Smith. 2015. James Pollard – Western Australia’s first Freelance Nature Writer, with particular reference to his Nom De Plume ‘Mopoke’ Western Australian Naturalist 30: 1-11.

For proof of anything that is said in my column
I have only the words of those
who are sufficiently interested
in all things natural to write to me,
and perhaps I do not always believe,
nor do my good friends
expect all readers always to believe.
But when a question arises
the widespread interest that this has aroused
and we get views from many parts of the State
most of them confirming one another
from bushmen and stray visitors to the bush,
and from our own leading naturalists and scientists.

Visit Tom Collins House
scan the portraits on the columns of the mantelpiece
there is James Pollard, silver-haired and venerable
he succeeded John Ewers as president
of the Fellowship of Australian Writers,
Western Australia.

Visit Battye Library in Perth
request information on this prolific Yorkshireman,
out comes a trolley
groaning with manuscripts, photos and cuttings.
Pollard’s bequest delivered by his daughter.

John Ewers’ daughter Patricia loved
weekend excursions,
visiting James Pollard in Kalamunda
whom she always knew as ‘Uncle Jim’.
Uncle Jim wrote a column in every Saturday paper.
It was serious but sometimes very funny.

He had knowledge, communication skills and contacts
and for fifteen years from nineteen twenty-three
accepted specimens, answered questions on nature
Under the pseudonym ‘Mopoke.’
Every letter answered with avuncular kindness.

Back then the rail network was extensive
People could listen to the radio and learn
from that powerful transmitter 6 West Farmers
read The West Australian,
post their letters and specimens
usually from a farm or perhaps a one room school.

Tact and diplomacy were essential:
to ‘F.W.’, Bunbury. The grub, or whatever it was you forwarded,
arrived smeared over the card in which you folded it.
I am, therefore, unable to give it a name.
Specimens should be forwarded under separate cover.

A worried reader purchased a wedding present
decorated with peacocks
only to discover peacocks were a bad omen.
Should he exchange the gift?
‘Mopoke’ reassured him and told him not to worry.

Looking through an accumulation of newspaper cuttings.
I find that snakes are credited with making several sounds
besides the cooing and booming we have been discussing.
They can hiss and whistle up their mate.

‘Mopoke’ would never admonish and say it’s farcical.

Laurie Smith