Samuel McCall-McCowan

Bef 1897 - 1940  (43 years)

• Name	Samuel McCall-McCowan
  Birth	Bef 1897
  Gender	Male
  Death	16th May 1940	Edinburgh, Scotland
  	Well known in Australia's pastoral industry, Mr. S. McCall-McCowan died in Edinburgh on Thursday. He was for a number of years head of the New Zealand and Australian Loan Co. Ltd., Sydney, and on returning to Scotland some years ago he was, until he resigned recently, a director of the company in Edinburgh. He is survived by a son, Mr. David McCall-McCowan, who is manager of Burns, Philp, and Co. Ltd., Melbourne, and a daughter, Lady Bowyer-Smyth, of London. The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria) Saturday 18 May 1940
  Person ID	I60991	First tree
  Last Modified	19 Nov 2013

  
  

• Notes

  of "Vuni Langi," Bellevue Hill (?New South Wales) The existence of an original musical manuscript by Christina Macpherson came to public notice in 1971, together with an undated letter by Christina to Thomas Wood recalling the events surrounding the creation of the song Waltzing Matilda. This led to Christina being accredited as the first 'creator' of the music."Waltzing Matilda"is Australia's best known and much loved national song, recognised by every Australian, and has attained international status as the nation's unofficial national anthem.The origins of the melody have been subject of much debate. Christina openly acknowledged she adapted the tune from an existing folk song which she had heard played as a march by a brass band.In 1894 Macpherson travelled from Victoria to Dagworth Station near Winton (Queensland) to spend Christmas with her brother Bob Macpherson, manager of Dagworth, her sister Jean and other members of her family. She and her father, Ewan, remained there until Jean's marriage to Samuel McColl McCowan, the manager of nearby Kynuna Station.In 1895, whilst in Queensland, Macpherson played a tune she had heard the previous year at the Warrnambool races. Banjo Paterson, a fellow house guest, who was listening, decided to make up some words to the music. In its various forms, "Waltzing Matilda" has become Australia's best known folksong.Macpherson returned south to live in relative obscurity in Malvern. A report in the Melbourne Sun on 14 April 1941, said 'When she died in 1936, her papers were taken charge of by her younger sister, Lady McArthur, and among them were found some letters that had passed between herself and Banjo Paterson relative to the musical setting of the poem 'Waltzing Matilda'. One of two original manuscripts of 'Waltzing Matilda' was presented to the National Library of Australia by Christina's grandniece, Joanna Macrae. The Library also holds an undated letter from Christina to Thomas Wood, explaining how the song came into being. She had a neice, Joan McCall-McCowan