As a young man, Henry Lawson was thoroughly committed to unionism. He wrote with enthusiasm of “the new religion” that he felt had the potential to unite people and to carry them forth in ways that would make Australia a unique shining light to the world. However, when Lawson worked in Outback New South Wales shearing sheds in 1892, he found union members off-putting. He was treated harshly and did not feel united with them. In response, Lawson wrote a series of scathing articles in which he called upon unionists to conduct themselves in a more dignified manner.

Lawson works discussed in the episode:

The New Religion. Originally published in the Albany Observer 5 July 1890.

Spread the Truth. Originally published in the [Brisbane] Worker 22 August 1891.

The Union Buries its Dead. Originally published in the Truth 16 April 1893. Collected in Short Stories in Prose and Verse (December 1894).

The Cant and Dirt of Labor Literature. Originally published in the [Wagga] Worker 6 October 1894.

A Word in Season. Originally published in the [Wagga] Worker 13 October 1894.

The City and the Bush. Originally published in the [Wagga] Worker 8 December 1894.

A Rouseabout of Rouseabouts. Originally published in the Bulletin 13 January 1900. Collected in On the Track (April 1900) as A Rough Shed.