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An Australia guided by the spirit of the Eureka Tradition as symbolised by the diggers' flag and oath:
"We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties"

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Bentley's Pub a song from The Eureka Suite by John Munro
James Scobie died on the Melbourne road in '54
At Bentley's pub and at Bentley's hands or so the story goes
Scobie was a digger, a drinker and a Scot
And Bentley was corrupt and rich
What he wanted, Bentley got
But Bentley faced the magistrate at Ballarat
"Not guilty" was the verdict though no-one could fathom that
until the whisper spread and all Victoria heard the news
the magistrate was Bentley's business partner John D'Ewes
It was the spark that lit the fire that was Eureka
The uneasy fragile peace between the diggers and the crown
Was lost when men of property could persecute the weaker
And for asking for a drink strike Scobie down
The diggers gathered on the spot where Scobie fell
Ten thousand bent on justice met at Bentley's fine hotel
They called him out to face them but he took to horse and fled
With this, a line was crossed that would leave more than Scobie dead
No-one saw the flame ignite or knew the cause
Except that Bentley's symbolised corrupt and wicked laws
And as the peaceful Southern Cross shone on those raging flames
The diggers raised for once and all the flag that bears its name
It was the spark that lit the fire that was Eureka
The uneasy fragile peace between the diggers and the crown
Was lost when men of property could persecute the weaker
And for asking for a drink strike Scobie down
Notes
Many thanks to John Munro for permission to add this song to the eureka150 website. John wrote this song as part of his Eureka Suite and is a member of Colcannon
Visit Colcannon's website at http://colcannon.net/