Episode One, Meet My Friends

Episode one
Meet my friends
By Kerri Renton
Illustrated by Jason Howe
In the great Australian outback
Where the cowboys and cowgirls live
The night sky shimmers with twinkling stars
And the moon shines bright and lights the way
The warm sunny days wake up the sleepy ones
And the welcoming shade of the tall gum trees is a mighty fine place to be
The land we call Australia is very big and wide
They say the heart is in the outback
And it is said with good old aussie pride
When you are exploring
A special thing to know
Is how to say a loud
COO-EE
Shout it as you go
COO-EE
Is fun to say
I would like to try it now
Get your loud voice ready
ONE TWO THREE
COO-EEEE
You got it
WOW
Whenever you feel you're too far away
And aren't quite sure where you are
Remember to shout COO-EE
and stay
Soon help will come along the way
The great Australian outback has many things to see
and many different sounds to hear
One creature that comes to mind has an extraordinary laugh
That echoes well beyond its path
The peculiar sounds of laughter sing morning, noon, and night
If you listen very closely
You can hear
KOOK, KOOK, KAH, KAH
Before he takes flight
Can you guess what it might be
KAH KAH
Yes, It's a kookaburra
It's perched way up high in a tall gum tree
Look
The morning sun is beginning to rise above this big wide land
It's time to explore
Are you ready to go
I hope so
Today, you are going to meet my special friends
They sing and dance in an outback country band
They live on a homestead at the end of a dusty track
This track is an outback secret, and it's not on any map
Maybe you think you can see it from the sky
But you won't see it
Not even when you're way up high
The only way to find this dusty track
Is to let me be your guide
When the dusty track ends the homestead begins
With two enormous gum trees standing side by side
Inviting you in
The bright morning sunbeams dance all around the house bringing in the new day
And on the widest porch you have ever seen is where your outback friends will play
Three wide steps take you to the top, where you are greeted by a bright yellow door
Bursting with character and magnificent grandeur
You are excited now and cannot wait to see
So while we walk down the dusty track
I will tell you about me
My name is Ranger Rupert
And the great Australian outback is my home
I will teach you all about the animals that like to wander and roam
Some live on the land, and some of them can fly
There are even some that love the water
And some live in the mountains, way up high
I will talk about the rivers that wind through this land
And the surrounding blue sea that makes Australia grand
Hey! Do you know why Australians call their country the big wide land
It's because it's so BIG
So WIDE
And so GRAND
Shhhh! Listen
We must be close to the homestead
I can hear so many different sounds
Australian outback animals always visit
And they come from all around
Just a few steps further and around this little bend
You can see the two enormous gum trees at the very end
Bootscoot'n Betty is standing on the wide porch soaking up the morning sun
Let's go and say g'day and have some Aussie outback fun
'G'day, Betty! What a beautiful day
I have my new friends with me
We've come along to hear you all play
And I know the wide porch is the place to be
'Hi there! I'm so glad you dropped by
Betty replies
We'd love to play for you
I'll ask the boys to come outside, and Ranger Rupert can introduce them too
Okay', I say
Let's begin with Lasso'n Leroy, who is always so much fun
When we need some good advice, he is the clever one
Leroy loves to sing and dance, and he does these things so well
He has another special skill, he likes to show and tell
G'day, friends
It's great to meet yah
Would you like to see what I can do
Leroy asks confidently
We sure would, Leroy!' I reply
Okay! Just watch my rope
Leroy says with a smile
He plants his feet firmly on the ground
Lifts the rope above his head, and swings it round and round
It makes a perfect circle shape and a spectacular whirling sound
Wow! I love it when he does that
I say as I watch the rope swirl around
From inside the house, there comes another loud familiar sound
COO-EEEE
G'day, Australian outback friends
Wade announces with an outback country roar
A flash of fiery red jumps right through the open yellow door
Whip-crack'n Wade loves a sound that will take you by surprise
With a crack of his whip he will show you a trick that will flash before your eyes
Wade lifts his chin, and with a cheeky grin, he says
Are you ready to be amazed
I have the perfect trick to show you all today
He notices a tin can sitting on the porch rail right beside me
Ranger Rupert, please stand still
Says Wade eagerly
Then up goes his whip
It makes a loop with a flick and comes down with a WUH-WOOSHING sound
A loud CRACK
CRACK
And a TING
TING
Ride out from the tip
The can jumps up and lands on the ground
My legs go like jelly, and Wade looks pleased
Would you like to see some more
He asks with a cheeky grin
Thank you, Wade
But not right now I say
I would rather see that tin can go straight in the bin
Now we have seen the clever cowboys crack a whip and swirl a lasso
It's time to hear from the star of the show
Betty, can you tell us what you do
Thanks, Ranger Rupert. I'd love to
Betty gives a smile
I'm Bootscoot'n Betty, and this is my band
I help these cowboys show their stuff all over this big wide land
My special skill is to turn a frown into a cheery smile
I do this with the songs I sing and by dancing boot-scooting style
Betty has a contagious smile that you just can't ignore
Her songs will fill your heart with joy and leave you wanting more
I have a song I would love to sing
I can sing it for you now
But the boys and I need some time to set things up
Why don't you have a look around
Let's go explore like Betty suggested
After all, the homestead is a special place, and I'd like to show you so much more
Can you see what I can see behind that big gum tree
It's an emu! Is he playing tag
Watch him as he pokes his friends, then runs away with a zig and a zag
If you get a little closer
You MIGHT hear an unusual sound
Listen for the BOOM and THUMP, and BOOM and THUMP
As the emu's head bobs up and down
How strange and funny the emus are today
Aren't you glad you came along and watched the emus play
Ranger Rupert we're ready
Betty calls out from the porch
The band is all set up, and they look like superstars
The boys are in matching outfits, and they have shiny green and red guitars
Betty looks so pretty in pink, standing in the morning sun
She turns towards the two cowboys and shouts
'It's time to have some Aussie outback fun
Here is our song. It's called It's a Brand-New Day
Okay, boys. Let's take it away
A one, a two. A one, two, three
It's a brand-new day, get out of bed
We've got a great adventure up ahead
There's lots to do, no time to rest
Let's have some fun with our friends
It's a brand-new day, the sun is up
Sleep is done, It's time to JUMP
Out of bed now, wipe your eyes
Come and see the bright blue sky
It's a brand new day
It's a brand new day ay ay
Oooo oooo la la la la
Oooo oooo la la la la
It's a brand-new day, time to get dressed
We always want to look our BEST
So we can venture out the door
And enjoy this day more and more
It's a brand new day
It's a brand new day ay ay
It's a brand new day
Wow! That was amazing!' I shout as I clap
Your music is entertaining, and your songs bring so much joy
You always bring smiles to every girl and boy
Thank you, Ranger Rupert. We're always happy to play
But we can help you so much more if you tell us what else we can say', says Betty
There is something that you can share to help our outback home', I reply
We need more rangers like me. You could let your audience know
How do we become rangers like you?' Betty asked, looking a little confused
Well, it is a very special skill that takes many years to learn
But all our friends can be ranger rookies now
They'll find out more as they grow
Hey, friends! What do you think of that
Would you like to be ranger rookies now
If you do, shout 'yes' and give a little clap
WOW
That was nice and loud
I'm so glad you all agree
Australia needs all our help, and now the outback has you and me
It was so much fun to see and hear the outback band
But the day goes so fast, and the outback is vast
So we must leave and attend to this land
It was great to see you and your friends, Ranger Rupert
We'll say goodbye for now and see you all again soon
Betty says before she makes her way towards the big yellow door
Bye for now', Leroy sings out as he follows close behind
Then Whip-crack'n Wade takes one big step, and in a flash
He's gone! But not without a loud
COO-EEEEE
Sang out like a song
The big yellow door starts to close with a familiar
CREEEAAK
Then comes a
THUD
As it slams shut
And the wide porch makes a
SQUEAK
Before we leave the homestead and step onto the dusty track
Let's take a moment and have a look back

Can you see that the morning sun is higher up in the bright blue sky
Do you notice that more Australian outback animals are wandering by
As we leave the homestead, you can say that you have been
To a special house with a big yellow door
And the widest porch you've ever seen
Ranger Rupert's Fact Page
Did you know
The kookaburra is called the bushman's alarm clock
Yes, it's true
Kookaburras laugh and laugh when the sun comes up in the morning
And just before it goes back down in the evening
Did you know
In the old Tarzan movies, the African jungle sounds had some recordings of laughing kookaburras
Yes, it's true. But there are no kookaburras in Africa
Did you know
Kookaburra chicks (baby kookaburras) can't see anything when they are born
And they have no feathers
Yes, it's true
It takes a month before kookaburra chicks grow feathers and can see properly
Luckily, they have big families and lots of older brothers and sisters to help them