2nd September 1918
On a sultry West African night, a ship’s bell sounded and an old West Aussie legend slipped his moorings. Back in Perth, if you believed the pub, John Forrest was personally responsible for Fremantle Harbour, the weir, the railway, and at least one successful batch of scones at The Bungalow. The man could survey a horizon like he was trimming a beard.
A century on, the bush still whispers about John Forrest — or so reckons Jonno, who swears he met the old bloke’s ghost near a jarrah stump up near Dwellingup. Jonno was out for a hike with a flagon of sweet tea and a packet of bully beef when the air went cool and a gentleman with a magnificent moustache appeared, looking like he’d just stepped out of a sepia photograph and into a pair of polished boots.
“G’day,” says the moustache. “Tracks a bit vague, are they?”
“Mate,” says Jonno, “the map’s upside‑down and my compass is shot.”
The apparition grinned. “Rule one: if you don’t know where you are, at least know where you’re not.” Then he sniffs the breeze, points between two grasstrees and adds, “Head that way. Also, never refuse a biscuit.”
So they shared tea, traded yarns about long walks, and Jonno learned that responsible government, like bushwalking, is mostly about choosing a line and not faffing about. When the flagon ran dry, the ghost of Sir John tipped his hat, muttered something about cabinet solidarity and set off at a tidy pace, leaving footprints that looked suspiciously like emu tracks.
Jonno followed and popped out exactly at his ute, parked beside a sign he hadn’t seen before: “Forrest View.” Typical.
Now every time Jonno’s mates argue over who gets aux‑cord privileges on the drive south, he quotes his moustachioed mentor: “Chart your course, stick to it, and share the biscuits.” They roll their eyes — but when the trail vanishes, someone always checks for a jarrah stump and a hint of Brylcreem on the wind. If you catch that scent, give a nod. You’re probably walking with WA’s original path‑finder, still helping lost souls find the track and a decent cuppa.
* as depicted by AI - may not factually be correct