The 'The New Zealand Tablet' was the Catholic newspaper for all New Zealand published in Dunedin. "Matt from Geraldine" was Father Matthew Joseph Fogarty, Parish Priest at Geraldine, who was ordained at Geraldine on 28th Dec 1916, and celebrated his first Mass at Geraldine. He spent many years in Geraldine and he was still there in the late 1940s. He was a keen fisherman and always taking fish to his older parishioners.

"GERALDINE"

(With apologies to John O'Brien.)
The "Tablet" Notes have gone to pot
-Ah, wisha, 'its a shame.
They're brief and to the point, maybe,
But the "touch" is not the same.
Since paper shortage spoiled those gems
O purest ray serene.
That week by week came from the pen
Of Matt of Geraldine.

Dear Geraldine! we knew you well;
Yes, all New Zealand knew
As long as we'd those "Tablet" Notes
We knew you through and through.
We rushed the post on "Tablet" day
To read with interest keen
Each week's report of work and sport
That came from Geraldine.

We learned who'd brought a new prize bull
And who had sold a sow,
And who'd began to shear his sheep,
And why they'd dosed the cow.
The floods that swept the countryside,
The shortage of benzine-
The very latest always came
From far-off Geraldine.

We saw who'd come on holiday
To fish in trouty streams,
And who's called in to see the church
(They've got one there it seems)
We drank it all in, word by word,
How much such items mean
There's food for thought in every line.
That's sent from Geraldine.

But now the Notes they print, alas,
Are few and far between,
There's space for London, Paris, Rome,
But none for Geraldine.
And deep the "Tablet" readers' grief,
And loud their mournful keen
Since war's blue pencil cramped the style
Of Matt of Geraldine.

Ah, Geraldine, come back again,
Yes, come back "on the air,"
We want your news, we need your views,
To save us from despair.
Let Hitler know you're watching him
(Like ancient Skibbereen)
He'll quail before the eagle eye
Of mighty Geraldine.

Great Geraldine! we owe you much;
To you we're all in debt,
Your "tablet" Notes the whole land quotes
- New Zealand won't forget!
One parting favour may we beg
Before you quit the scene
May search in vain - do please explain
JUST WHERE IS GERALDINE?

Boolam Skee, Auckland