William Alexander Tainsh (1880âÂÂ1967) was a Scots-born Australian storyteller and writer of popular verse.
Tainsh was born in Perthshire, Scotland and emigrated to Melbourne sometime around 1905 as Melbourne agent of the firm of John Dewar & Sons; His first mention in the Melbourne newspapers was in 1913 as singing at the Warrawee Club, hosted by Scots contralto Jessie Cromb. He sang to good effect at other concerts, but seemingly only in Scottish contexts. He later gained a reputation as congenial raconteur and repository of Scottish and Irish folklore.
He was a member of the Melbourne Savage Club and its secretary in 1916.
He was a popular lecturer and frequent broadcaster: his New Year's Eve programme on 3LO, redolent of Scottish customs and traditions, became a longstanding appointment. He became known Australia-wide: his talk on Glasgow humor, the Clyde Band and Broomielaw, was the subject of a national relay broadcast. Eventually he published some of his own songs and poems, which were praised for their clarity of thought and expression.
He wrote a piece that the Prime Minister of Australia, J. A. Lyons read to George V on the occasion of his (silver) Jubilee as monarch.
Tainsh married photographer Mina Moore on 20 December 1916. Their family includes:
They had a home at 12 Northcote Ave, Caulfield in 1942.