Sally Sloane

Born at Parkes in 1894, Sally (Sarah) Sloane's maternal grandmother was from Country Kerry, Ireland and reputed to be a trained singer. Songs and tunes were an integral part of her life and were learned from her mother, Sarah Frost.

Sally pictured here was recorded by John Meredith who gathered over 150 items. Many were fragments but nevertheless had complete tunes.

From Folk Songs of Australia by John Meredith and Hugh Anderson:

Sally and her husband, Fred Sloane, were living at Lithgow when John Meredith first met them, but later moved to Teralba, on the shore of Lake Macquarie. Unfortunately none of Sally Sloane's children have inherited her love of folk song and it was a stroke of luck that Meredith was able to record her extensive repertoire.

Her repertoire included:

• The Red Rose Top
• The Banks of Claudy
• The Maid of Fainey
• The Wee One
• The Cherry Tree
• If I was a Blackbird
• The Girls of the Shamrock Shore
• Lovely Molly
• The Green Bushes
• The Rambling Sailor
• The Girl With the Flowing Hair
• I've Been a Wild Boy
• My Bonny Love is Young
• The Lowlands of Holland
• The Coolgardie Miner
• Varsovienna
• Coming Down the Mountain(Tune)
• Jack's Waltz (Tune)
• Annie Shaw's Tune
• Mum's Mazurka
• John Doolan
• The Wallaby Track
• The Springtime it Brings on the Shearing
• I think By This Time He's Forgot Her
• The Journeyman Tailor
• Christ Was Born in Bethlehem
• The Warrego Lament
• Ballad of the Drover
• The Black Velvet Band
• The Shoemaker's Son
• Click Go the Shears
• Gargal Machree
• The Knickerbocker Line
• Molly Baun Lavery
• My Son Ted
• Australia's On the Wallaby
• Sally Sloane's Jig