We love it when visitors walk through the doors of Tambo Teddies carrying a story from Tambo’s past — and Wayne and Jane certainly had a wonderful one to share.

Wayne’s uncle, Ralph Buchanan, was once the publican of the Royal Carrangarra Hotel in Tambo, spending time behind the bar during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

While living in Tambo, Ralph decided to try his hand at poetry. His motivation was a practical one: he wanted to gain a better understanding of English and improve his writing skills. Armed with a trusty old typewriter, he began putting his thoughts onto paper.

It wasn’t long before Ralph became quite prolific. His poems captured the places, people and experiences that made Queensland’s rural regions so distinctive. He wrote about the sights to see, the things to do and, of course, life in and around Tambo. For us, however, there is one poem that stands out from all the others.

Ralph wrote a poem about Tambo Teddies.

It is a wonderful little connection to our early history. Tambo Teddies began in 1993, born from an idea to create employment, encourage visitors to stop in town and make something special from the wool produced in our region. To know that our fledgling little teddy bear business captured Ralph’s imagination enough to inspire a poem is rather special.

More than three decades later, Wayne and Jane’s visit brought Ralph’s story, and his poetry, back to Tambo.

                                                                                 Tambo Teddie Bear Picnic
                                                                                      Down in a secret quiet garden
                                                                                        Beside the Tambo Shire Hall
                                                                                       Tambo Teddies they all meet
                                                                                       With new friends one and all
                                                                                      Many others come to see them
                                                                                         As they picnic on the grass
                                                                                       To learn about those Teddies
                                                                                       Their magic will come to pass
                                                                                            For if you stay in Tambo
                                                                                      To see the smile on Teddies face
                                                                                     They will weave you some magic
                                                                                        So you love them in this place
                                                                                          With many Elves and Pixies
                                                                                             Teddies frolic all the day
                                                                                     Enjoying all their magic games
                                                                                      With their own Teddy Bear play
                                                                                         So if you are in this country
                                                                                         Stop in at Tambo some day
                                                                                     And cuddle the Tambo Teddies
                                                                                         To love you in a special way

Stories like these are an important part of our town’s history. They remind us that history isn’t only recorded in official documents and photographs. Sometimes it is tapped out, one letter at a time, on an old typewriter by a country publican with a story to tel        l