Person - John Dengate
JOHN ROBERT DENGATE (1938 - 2013)
John Dengate wrote a song re the My Lai massacre for On Stage Vietnam 1967, and in Exposure 70 sang “F111” and his own “HMAS Melbourne” to the tune of “Wild Rover No More”. In 1993 he participated in a NT fundraising concert, in 2002 performed in a concert version of Reedy River for a National Folk Festival, and in 2007 played Swaggie in Reedy River in NT’s season of Censored plays (occasionally banned because of its assocation with Sydney's "Red" theatre).
John grew up in Carlingford, as a teenager went to Sydney Stadium to watch the boxer Jimmy Carruthers, and became a teacher, his first posting Menindee where he met folk singer Brian Mooney. In 1964 he married Roseann Dale who introduced him to the Bush Music Club. John busked in the city with a guitar and tin whistle and wrote witty songs on social and political issues. Lean like a Wentworth Park greyhound, he lived in Glebe.
John Dengate standing near left in dark blue waistcoat
