Diary of a Welsh Swagman Castlemaine

Joseph Jenkins left his farm near Tregaron in Wales in 1869 and arrived in the goldfields area of Victoria where he spent the next 25 years working at a huge variety of farms before landing nine years’ continuous work looking after the roads and gullies in Maldon. Throughout all this time he kept a diary in Welsh and English and his grandson Dr William Evans made selections and published them in 1975 in a book entitled Joseph Jenkins Diary of a Welsh Swagman.

For the 2005 Castlemaine Festival, with its theme of storytelling, tenor Drew Hopkins and bass Tony Davies together wrote a script based on the book which was presented that year and on three subsequent occasions, the last time in November 2019 at Maldon. This latest presentation featured Tony Davies as the narrator and Welsh native speaker tenor Stephen Pepper playing the part of Joseph Jenkins.

By the interpolation of words and songs, the script teased out the main themes of the swagman’s life here in Victoria, with Jenkins’ comments on local as well as international events. Firmly based around the dignity of hard work and Christianity in action, he had firm views on how farmers should use natural resources to become more productive.

As Aberystwyth was the nearest big town to where Jenkins lived, the performance started with the famous Joseph Parry tune with a suitably attired Stephen Pepper entering the church from the back and singing the first verse Aberystwyth before the choir joined in. Picking up themes from the text, Wandering the King’s Highway preceded Anfonaf Angel (I’ll Send an Angel) before Working Man made its appearance with a fine solo from bass Barry McMahon with the audience eagerly joining in with the final chorus to great effect. This was followed by Calon Lân (A Pure Heart) before Paul Jarman’s specially commissioned piece for the choir, Land of My Song with a sensitive solo by baritone John Adams. Next was the temperance song Rachie and then Bendigedig from the Latin mass before Rushan’s mellifluous second tenor voice filled the church with the verses of Unwaith Eto’n Nghymru Annwyl (Once Again in Dear Wales). Jenkins’ love of his homeland was further accentuated with the choir singing Gwinllan a Roddwyd I’m Gofal (Vineyard Given to my Care) before I am Australian with the audience once again pleased to contribute on the chorus which was reprised several times.

The Welsh classics Gwahoddiad (Invitation) and Cwm Rhondda came next with the audience singing the final chorus before the appropriate finale to the performance in Take Me Home.

Take me home

To my family

Take me home

To my friends

Take me home

Where my heart lies

And let, let me, let me sing again.

Tony then directed the audience’s appreciation and applause towards soloists Barry, John and Rushan and our splendid accompanist Mary O’Driscoll and to the musical mastermind and guiding hand of Rushan.

Extra acclamation was eagerly forthcoming for the authentic swagman Stephen Pepper and then the choir moved down to surround the audience to sing their final farewells with the always emotional Sunset Poem from Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood.

Many people already knew the story of Jenkins, of course, but it was quite new to some patrons as well as to newer choristers so there was genuine interest in the presentation and a good deal of discussion and interaction ensued once the concert had finished.

Joseph Jenkins would have been pleased.

Tony Davies

20 May 2025

Castlemaine comments

We loved it and we will come again. Thank you for a beautiful afternoon’s entertainment.

That was the most beautiful and moving experience particularly in the world that is now unkind and unstable. I love this and found it very emotional stop – please do it again.

Brilliant! The combination of diary reading and singing worked well. A great celebration and reminder of the Welsh presence on the goldfields.

Thought today’s performance was particularly good – thank you.

Excellent!

It’s so nice to remember the time I had and to see Stephen P.

Have a Welsh heritage. Read the book having moved to area 10 years ago – love bushwalking in goldfield areas and am amazed with sights after having read the swagman’s book stop. Thank you for the great interpretation of story. Enjoyed the whole afternoon.

Really enjoyable.

Rushan has a glorious voice and is a wonderful conductor and Mary is a sensitive accompanist.

Hugely enjoyed Joe Jenkins.

Beautifully constructed – very interesting and great singing. Thank you.

A delightful afternoon – thank you.

Fabulous performance – thank you. Diolch yn fawr.

Having been at the gold seminar yesterday it was great to hear the Welsh Swagman’s take on our district.

Fabulous concert – wonderful way to spend cold afternoon.

Congratulations – well done!!

Fantastic as always.

Absolutely the best choir I’ve ever heard.

Very moving, beautiful voices.

The last circle of song was a truly magical experience. The voices on their own add a spiritual quality. A whole performance with that arrangement of the choir would be transcendental. Thank you – the storytelling was wonderful too.

Wonderful concert. I would like to add that this concert should be performed again with the same storyline at another local venue given that Joseph Jenkins spent many years in the area. I think there would be quite a few people able to relate to this story.

The performance was very well paced and music beautiful.  Thank you.