'Swaggie' is famous
NEVER has The Morning Bulletin received so many calls and messages for a Blast from the Past photo than about the one published in yesterday's edition.
We were swamped with calls yesterday, as the photo generated a lot of excitement from readers who informed us that this man is certainly not unknown and was even called "famous" by one of our readers.
Known by many as "Campbell the Swaggie", Campbell Irvine is known for his bush poetry, busking and performing at festivals like Woodford and Mackay's Wintermoon Festival.
Callers said he wandered from the Northern Territory and down the east coast to Melbourne, meeting many characters along the way.
Many readers said the bush poet raised money for charity and continued to make his way up and down the Australian east coast. One of his next performances will be at Mackay's Wintermoon Festival.
Mount Morgan man Jim Lynch said Campbell was "quite the character" and was a great bush poet.
"He really puts on an act. He gets down on the ground and all when he performs," Jim said.
"He goes out west quite a bit. He loves it out there."
