Dedication
This shawl design is dedicated to the memory of Coralie Welch (nee Baker) — bohemian, a lady of the bush, and a poet — and beloved mother of Rosa Therese Holzberger (nee Welch).

Description
This is a rectangular shawl. The rectangular repeating pattern can be used for anything from a rectangle shawl, pillow/cushion cover, table runner, table cloth, placemat, dresser cover, or as a larger item for across the end of the bed.
This pattern is for intermediate to advanced crocheters.

Yarn:
I recommend a 4 to 6 ply yarn. The amount required will depend on the width and length you decide to make your project.
I suggest WolleAmore cotton, 12 o’color or Ice Pleasures (50% cotton, 50% acrylic), Supernova (50% cotton, 50% acrylic plus lurex), bamboo (50% bamboo/50% acrylic), or merino (50% merino, 50% acrylic).
Available online at wolleamore.pl. #wolleamore #amorewolle #wolleamoreyarn

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No Roots by Coralie Welch from her book of verse “Down the Snowy”

She went to the bush as a young bride thing
As the wife of a station hand
Determined to learn how to cook with wood
And do all the things that a bush woman should
On Monaro’s tableland

‘Twas summertime then and the days were long
As she flaunted her golden band
She helped in the paddocks and made her own jam
And lived with the love of a young bush man
From Monaro’s Tableland

But seasons soon changed and the days were short
And winter held clutched in his hand
The cold winds and show and the trees stripped bare
No neighbours, no night lights, no comforts there
On Monaro’s Tableland

Her thoughts were of friends and telephone calls
The beaches, the dances, the band
The shorthand and typing had no place here
‘Mid the frosts and the snow and the wind so severe
On Monaro’s Tableland

But the years crowded past as the young ones came
Convenience was naught but a dream
There’s the firewood stove. Is the cream skimmed yet?
There’s water to fetch and the milk to set
By Monaro’s mountain stream.

She’d six sturdy sons and four daughters fair
The y grew up. They left home. They wed
She and the bush man now lonely there
The snow had tinted the once dark hair
On Monaro’s Watershed

So they left the dear hills and went back to town
To a neat little house in a row
Where she turns on a tap or a fridge or a light
She can keep the lamp burning all through the night
In Suburbia’s lasting glow

Now she has all she wants, a washer, an iron
A neighbour, a carpet so grand
But a night bird’s call or the smell of the rain
Can take her back all those miles again
To Monaro’s Tableland

Bibliography
Coralie Welch was city born and bred, and lived a full and active life for 90 years. A great part of her time was spent in primitive, pioneer conditions with many changes of abode, in lonely, isolated areas removed from medical or family assistance and comfort.

The author of several books including “Down the Snowy and other verses”, “The Time of my Life”, “Bohemian Girl” and “Leg Irons and Lace”, Coralie told the story of the day to day ups and downs of a courageous, fun-loving woman who was willing to learn a totally new life in support of her returned soldier and ex-prisoner of war husband – while together they worked and waited for a soldier’s settlement block. Coralie’s simple faith and great fortitude enabled her to take life head on.

Although too recent to be classed as pioneer literature, her life story illustrates many of the fine qualities our Australian pioneer women displayed in opening up our vast country and getting on with life in tough circumstances. Coralie enjoyed her life and was able to create simple fun and make life enjoyable for her ever increasing family and circle of true friends.