I used three main ways of collecting war cries and school songs. Although I was primarily collecting Sydney items it became obvious that I should take a national sample. Commenced April 2005
I used the following email request sending it to as many lists as possible.
As part of my two-year project to survey the folklore associated with Sydney I am currently collecting Australian school ‘cries’ and songs. This program is sponsored by the Music Board and the Australian Council for the Arts and the City of Sydney.
I would really appreciate it if YOU could email me YOUR school song and School ‘war cry’ – wherever you lived.
Mine was a crazily mixed up:
Kiora, Kiora, Kiyanni Kiyanni,
Kianni Kiora, Kiarni, Katoo,
Hoopintire Hoopintire
Kotora, Kotora, Kianni Kattii
K O G A R A H – Kogarah!
And another request for those of you who are really keen – I’d like you to list the names of the games you played in the schoolyard all those years ago. Like Cocky Lora etc
Email allowed me to open a dialogue with contributors and explore certain areas of their songs. It was interesting to see how many people passed the request on to their friends.
To date I have had interviews on ABC Canberra, Perth and Tasmania with Sydney to come. The Tasmanian interview was also a talkback (which they kindly recorded on disc for me). Talkback certainly encourages more contributions and is an effective way of communicating with a community at large.
Metropolitan newspapers often carry free public service columns. I had requests published in the Sydney Morning herald and Sydney Daily Telegraph.