Books2Movies Club discussion

The Man From Snowy River is a poem written in 1890 by Australian poet A.B. Paterson. So representative of then developing Australian nation and life, now both the song and its author are commemorated on Australian 10-dollar note. You can read the poem in full on its wikipedia page.
Afterwards try to find The Man from Snowy River (1982), an enchanting family movie inspired by it, directed by George Miller (not to confuse with the one of Mad Max fame) and starring Kirk Douglas and Tom Burlinson.
Share with us your impressions and thoughts about the poem or the movie, and of course, if there are parts of the poem you especially like, please quote them here to us :)

I never knew this was a poem, I guess I thought it was a short story. It's one of my cousin's favorites, but I've never seen the movie and didn't know what it was based on.

It's interesting that it's in Australia, because I'm currently reading The Luminaries which is set in New Zealand (I know! Very different places!) so I imagine the geographical area and the seasons are very similar.

The one man who seems puny besting the rest of the more swashbuckling types is always nice, but I have to admit, I found it a bit disturbing that his pony is described as "blood from hip to shoulder from the spur." Doesn't sound like a very gentle horseman.

Perhaps the movie will show it differently. I'll have to finally get around to watching it :)