Ruwi Ruwi

I recently interviewed Daniel Clarke, a Kangaroo Island-based journalist and filmmaker, and in our discussion about his enterprise, Kangaroo Island News & Satire, he explained the frustrating situation facing islanders in relation to a sea ferry.

Sealink, the company that provides the ferry service between mainland South Australia and Kangaroo Island, has long promised two new ferries to replace its current fleet of two 30-ish year old vessels. However, there have been delays.

One of the two new vessels arrived many months later than planned, earlier this year, and the second one, Ruwi, is still not in South Australian waters, despite a revised promised after further delays in Indonesia, of it arriving by the end of September 2026. The latest delays also impacted a scheduled 3-day shut down for port upgrades, providing a double whammy of local businesses needing to cancel bookings or freight to accommodate.

Needless to say, the situation has been frustrating and angst-ridden for people on the Island and the South Australian Transport Minister Joe Szakacs has said he was angry about the delay and “incredibly disappointed” with SeaLink’s communication.

As I reflected on the situation, my imagination wondered what Skippy, the famous, problem-solving kangaroo, would do. After all, this drama is unfolding on Kangaroo Island and the humans involved seem like they could do with a hand.

The image was taken by me on one of my many memorable trips to Kangaroo Island and I hope all order is restored sooner rather than later.

Ruwi Ruwi Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I went down for a dip
Into Investigator Straight
Our missing ferry made me think
That I should investigate

But how do you start your searching
When your island is so huge
Well, the clue is there in the name
Learn from, the famous Kangaroo

[Chorus]
Skippy, Skippy
I’ll grab some leaves and whistle out to you
Help me, help me
We need that boat to travel ‘cross the blue

Cooee Cooee
If everybody here would make that sound
Ruwi Ruwi
Our meandering ferry would finally be found

[Verse 2]
I went to Prospect Hill
And I looked out across the sea
Just in case the Backstairs Passage
Was the place where you might be

So I gathered some bluegum leaves
And I pressed them to my mouth
And I whistled like Skip would have
If he had ever come down south

[Chorus]
Skippy, Skippy
I’ll grab some leaves and whistle out to you
Help me, help me
We need that boat to travel ‘cross the blue

Cooee Cooee
If everybody here would make that sound
Ruwi Ruwi
Our meandering ferry would finally be found

[Bridge]
Then one night I had a nightmare
In which Ruwi never came here
So, I lamented loudly, what would Skippy do

Then a voice click-clicked from heaven
I’d not heard since I was seven
It said, save up, and take the flying kangaroo

[Chorus]
Skippy, Skippy
I’ll grab some leaves and whistle out to you
Help me, help me
We need that boat to travel ‘cross the blue

Cooee Cooee
If everybody here would make that sound
Ruwi Ruwi
Our meandering ferry would finally be found

[Final Chorus]
Skippy, Skippy
I’ll grab some leaves and whistle out to you
Help me, help me
We need that boat to travel ‘cross the blue

Cooee Cooee
If everybody here would make that sound
Ruwi Ruwi
Our meandering ferry would finally be found

Listen to Ruwi Ruwi

Ruwi Ruwi Scratchings

Here are the notes as the song unfolded from my mind to paper.