Brown Fuel - A poem by Barbara Ellen Cranwell (circa 1926) It lies at the foot of a haunted range Where a stream goes winding through It's a secret hoard that the old earth stored In the place where a forest grew. Centuries long it has lain 'neath the sod And no mortal its presence guessed But the river knew and the dark range too What lay hid in the earth's broad breast. But now all uncovered the treasure lies And the place shows a magic change For a modern town - a place of renown Now stands at the foot of the range. And when men from the earth wrest the rich brown fuel And that fuel to a force gives birth For with that dower they generate power The most wonderful force on earth. Now folks to this town in the bush have come From lands that are far away From the motherlands and those other lands They have come: they have come to stay. But there is a query which puzzles some It may even cause some concern The name of the town, this town of renown Should one call it Yallorn or Yallern? (Activities at the coal mine began in 1889 but closed soon after to be reopened in 1916, operated by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. This is worked as an open cut mine & power is transmitted to Melbourne by overhead wires.)
