RUNNING TO AMERICA
© ATOM 2011 A STUDY GUIDE by Katy Marriner
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-127-0 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 2
Running to America 2009, filmmaker In March Matt approached Long Robert de Castella with of an idea to take a group Indigenous runners, from outback of the remote Australia and transport them to one of the biggest cities along in the world where, with over 40,000 other competitors, they would run Marathon. City the New York Charlie Maher SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 3 One of the seven general capabilities capabilities general the seven One of Curriculum is of the Australian social competence. personal and Running frame of reference, Within this opportunities provides to America to learnfor students about the of personal and social importance and for competence for individuals they live. the communities in which may be of interest Running to America Certificate TAFE to students completing of Community courses in the areas Sport Recreation, Outdoor Recreation, and Health. Leisure and and Recreation The Australian Curriculum Curriculum The Australian Torres Aboriginal and acknowledges as histories and cultures Strait Islander learning priority in all a cross-curriculum Strait Aboriginal and Torres The areas. opportunities provides Islander priority for all learners to deepen their by engaging knowledge of Australia oldest continuous with the world’s and This knowledge living cultures. students’ understanding will enrich positively in the ability to participate of Australia. ongoing development also broadens the also broadens
This study guide to accompany This study guide to , a documentary Running to America Jigsaw, Cordell by Goodoil Films and secondary has been written for information and students. It provides suggestions for learning activities in English, Health, Health and Human Development, SOSE, Media, Physical Education and Sport and Recreation. audience’s perspective of the issues audience’s facing Indigenous Australians. is an inspiring is an to America Running four young men who account of Marathon City New York took on the of won. The subjects in 2010 and Juan Darwin, the documentary, Caleb Hart and Joseph Davies, that it is worth affirm Charlie Maher, Running chasing your dream. to America Charlie Maher SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 4
ob de Castella Rob Darwin, Juan Hart, Caleb Maher, Charlie
Four young men from outback Australia are chosen outback Australia are Four young men from to compete by marathon legend Robert de Castella convinced that City Marathon. He’s in the New York for distance Indigenous Australians have a natural talent chance to excel. running, but have never been given the men from Now that opportunity has come. The four isolated communities in Arnhem Land, the Kimberley eight- into a rigorous thrown and Alice Springs are they hope to be the Ultimately, month training regime. first Indigenous Australians to run the iconic footrace. City As de Castella knows, competing in the New York Juan Darwin, Joseph Davies, Caleb Marathon can offer trip than just a free Hart and Charlie Maher a lot more up without the The young men have grown to a big city. everyday opportunities that many Australians take for granted. Participating in the Indigenous Marathon Project the young men the chance to change their lives and offers others in their communities to do the same. to inspire Under the watchful eye of de Castella, the team elite athlete training at the Australian undergoes Institute of Sport. For eight months they pound in isolated, but magnificent landscapes desert roads an exhausting It’s harsh interior. Australia’s across the and a world away from and often lonely regime, beset are The runners of New York. streets crowded by fatigue, injuries and the challenges that come problems the host of social and environmental from Indigenous communities. remote that trouble Running to America is a story of sweat, ambition the from and personal transformation, stretching of dust of the Australian Outback to the streets most cosmopolitan cities. one of the world’s Synopsis SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 5
The race is organised by the New York Road Runners by the New York The race is organised and has been held on the first Sunday of November every year since 1970. The 127 competitors in the inaugural the Park Drive of Central race ran several loops around to include course was redrawn Park. In 1976 the race’s than 100,000 people apply more Now, the five boroughs. decided to take part in the marathon. The competitors are the sidelines million spectators cheer from by ballot. Two worldwide on television. and the event is broadcast of Ethiopia won the Gebremariam In 2010, Gebregziabher race in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 14 seconds. City Marathon Learn about the New York more at
In 1983, de Castella was voted and honoured Australian of the Year with an MBE. In 1986 he was inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame and in 1990 he was named Marathon Runner of the World and Field News. Decade by Track competition from De Castella retired 1990 to 1995, de in 1993. From of the Castella was the director Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). During this period, he repositioned of excellence the AIS as a centre and helped establish the elite sports system being used today by our Olympic athletes and teams. In 1995, de Castella established company, his own not-for-profit SmartStart for Kids. SmartStart schools to encourage works through to be healthy and active. It children escalating obesity, especially targets poor nutrition and inactivity and has in significant improvements resulted in child fitness and health.
Robert de Castella is an Australian former world champion marathon international He first came to runner. attention when he won the Fukuoka Marathon in 1981 in a time of 2:08:18, for which was the fastest time recorded an out-and-back course. De Castella was the favourite to win the marathon at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. He ran the race in a time of 2:09:18, finishing twelve seconds ahead De Castella competitor. of his nearest defended his Commonwealth Games in 1986, winning in title in Edinburgh 2:10:15. He put marathon running on the map during his athletics career. In addition to marathon running, de Castella was also an accomplished won the He runner. cross-country Australian national title once as a along junior and four times as a senior, with five other podium finishes. He Country Cross competed at the World 1977 to 1986. De Championships from Australia at four Castella represented Olympic Games. Castella Robert de art Charlie Maher & Caleb Hart SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 7 Juan Darwin Rob de Castella & Joseph Davies
lead an active healthy life. Participants complete a Certificate III in the project (Indigenous in Community Recreation Healthy Lifestyles). The certificate is at the training camps by delivered Squad members industry professionals. can use this qualification to gain employment or participate in other community based health initiatives. continues to grow The project and adapts to the needs of the athletes and the resources available. Robert de Castella hopes will discover an that the project indigenous running champion. Learn about the Indigenous more at http:// Marathon Project www.imp.org.au>.
ject hon Pro Marat is a The Indigenous Marathon Project established organisation not for profit the incidence of chronic to address disease and inactivity within Indigenous Australia. Established in 2009, to give an opportunity to Indigenous communities remote Australians from City Marathon, to run the New York has the Indigenous Marathon Project into a National Running Program grown that supports both Indigenous men and women to follow their dreams. Participants attend training camps the year and participate in throughout scale fun runs in their quest to large City Marathon. run in the New York The Indigenous Marathon Project an opportunity for young provides indigenous men and women from and urban locations nation wide remote to become healthy lifestyle leaders within their communities and inspire friends and community to their family, The Indigenous Charlie Maher with kids SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 8 juan Joseph CHARLIE Caleb Hart The youngest member of the squad is Caleb Hart from seventeen-year-old Alice Springs. Caleb has encountered as a teenager, of trouble his fair share side of the ending up on the wrong when around His dad wasn’t law. Caleb was a kid, but now that he has returned to Alice Springs, he wants to help Caleb with his training. Charlie Maher The oldest runner in the squad is Alice Charlie Maher from 27-year-old Springs. Charlie works as a mentor for young Aboriginal boys at the local high good mates, school. He and Caleb are his after Charlie helped him through Charlie is also a gun brush with the law. hoping that his two but he’s footballer, get in the way knee operations won’t of his chance to run the marathon.
Juan Darwin When we meet Juan Darwin, he is an father of one, unemployed 22-year-old Indigenous community the remote from of Maningrida, in Arnhem Land. Juan in the has carried a lot of responsibility He family since his father passed away. his dad telling him, ‘If you remembers smoke, don’t want to play sport don’t Don’t drink grog. touch ganga, don’t touch anything’. Steering clear of these things in a community like Maningrida can be a challenge, but Juan has advice and now has followed his dad’s an opportunity to be a sportsman.
Joseph Davies Larrikin and ladies’ man, eighteen-year- the remote old Joseph Davies is from Australian town of Kununurra. Western Joseph spends a lot of time on personal the ‘pretty and has to suffer grooming boy’ wisecracks of the others. Joseph at had to take on a lot of responsibility took its a young age and the pressure school just toll. He was expelled from 12 for arguing completing Year before going too Things weren’t with a teacher. well in his world, until a call came out of the blue asking if he wanted a chance City Marathon. to run in the New York hletes The at Caleb SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 9 Closing the Gap is a commitment by all Australian governments to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, a better future and in particular provide Closing the for Indigenous children. effort. Gap is a cross-community goals is to close One of the campaign’s the health and life expectancy divide between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. Indigenous Australians need access to health services that to those enjoyed equal in standard are by other Australians, and enjoy living conditions that support their social, emotional and cultural well-being. It is crucial that Indigenous Australians actively involved in the design, are of these services. and control delivery, National Close the Gap Day launched the campaign on 2 April 2007. The year to date of the day varies from In 2012, National Close the year. Gap Day will be held on 22 March.
ustralia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Apology to Australia’s 13, 2008 Indigenous Peoples, February
Our challenge for the future is to embrace a new partnership Australians. The corebetween Indigenous and non-Indigenous of this partnership for the future is closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians on life expectancy, educational achievement and employment opportunities. This new partnership on closing the gap will set concrete targets for the future: to halve the widening gap in within a decade numeracy and employment outcomes and opportunities literacy, for Indigenous children, a decade to halve the appalling within gap in infant mortality rates between Indigenous and non- Indigenous children a generation, to close the and, within equally appalling seventeen-year life gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous when it comes to overall life expectancy. e Gap Closing th Juan Darwin with community kids Juan Darwin SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 10 indigenous-australia/close-the-gap social_justice/health/index.html edu.au/closing-the-gap sa/indigenous/progserv/ ctg/Pages/default.aspx campaigns/health/close_the_gap au/closingthegap/ http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_ - http://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/ - http://www.hreoc.gov.au/ - http://www.healthinfonet.ecu. - http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/ - National Close the Gap Day is a way for all Australians to join our political together and remind leaders of their commitments to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. Learn about Closing the Gap at: more - http://www.aihw.gov. art Charlie Maher & Caleb Hart SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 11
recruiting began right away. Screen Screen began right away. recruiting Australia and the ABC then committed, and … running. off and then we were Rob began looking for a group Initially, of twelve to train. But only twenty potential runners turned up for the first camp in Alice Springs, and recruitment that we’d be lucky Rob quickly realised Most to ultimately find half that number. actually know what a of the kids didn’t the initial group marathon was. So from young men four were there of twenty, to give it a try. prepared who were Of the four we did decide on – Juan, Joseph, Caleb and Charlie – all had played AFL and a couple had done a country running at school. bit of cross None had a passport, and other than Charlie, none of them knew how far actually was. forty-two kilometres of the film was The first requirement to quickly get out and start filming the boys in their communities and to meet their families. But that too proved a struggle. Indigenous communities follow ‘Outback time’, which is
the wellbeing and fitness of young they are. or wherever people whoever, I worked with Rob for about eighteen we established The months before or even met a Marathon Project, Much of the time potential runner. was spent lobbying and pitching. The very Australia were ABC and Screen but of supportive of a documentary, that course they needed to be assured recruitment a and Project, Marathon The drive was actually going to happen they could come onboard. before The Marathon got to a point where We have funding, but still didn’t Project Rob knew that training had to begin City Marathon to make the New York deadline. Athletes train for years to run marathons. Seasoned marathoners will train for over twelve months to compete had eight months in a single event. We left on the clock – for newcomers who’d never run long distance. the Federal Government Thankfully, with funding to then came onboard and establish The Marathon Project statement Director’s City ran the New York My brother Marathon in 2008 and I saw what a massive challenge it was for him, the and how much he gained from the experience. That was where idea for a film was first seeded, of to see if we could take a group who Indigenous runners to New York, had never competed in a marathon let alone been on a plane. before, a documentary But I quickly realised without a go anywhere wouldn’t When champion to turn it into a reality. come it comes to champions they don’t much bigger than Rob de Castella. Straight away he loved the concept. It of his to do had always been a dream something with Indigenous youth that involved his passion for running. Other world marathon than having broken been Australian of the Year, records, of the Australian Institute Director of Sports – basically a long list of overachieving – Rob has also spent a lot of time involved with kids’ health. when got knowledge and energy He’s it comes to finding ways to improve Matt Long Matt SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 12 Matt Long Matt shoot schedules and training goals. to rise of character the strength But it’s above these struggles that gives the about learning to deal film its soul. It’s at you – which with what life throws important than is ultimately far more making it to the start line of a race. The to do both is fact the boys tried so hard testament to their courage and spirit. up for it by each having an incredible up for it by each having an incredible of the lens – and in in front presence easy. the end, they made our job pretty Even basic things, like communication, Few of the boys had a difficult. proved mobile phone or email when they began In some communities the program. or we started with calls to a relative to track asking them police officer, down our runner and then call us back when they had found them. we had never Another hurdle it can anticipated was just how difficult be to get the necessary paperwork case, to obtain a passport. In Juan’s generating a Birth Certificate and other suitable identification took over six months. This meant that he had to miss out on the opportunity to travel to East Timor for a 10 km race during the training, and did not his passport until days before receive he was scheduled to fly to New York. the biggest challenges were However, the unexpected events that we had death, a long A tragic over. no control period of mourning, family struggles and crippling injuries all meant that we had to keep an open mind to totally out of sync with a Sydney film schedule. busy production crew’s we also had David Tranter Thankfully, an Indigenous man from on the crew, Alice Springs and an AFI Award- It was David winning sound recordist. who taught us about patience, the as subtleties of Indigenous culture, well as how things generally work in the Outback. Things like how to accept in the heat of sitting around the reality and dust, or monsoon rain, for days at a time waiting for people to turn up. After a while you work out there’s nothing you can do that will make it into that and you relax go any faster, then when it starts pace of life. And it’s happening for you, and it all works fun, a lot of fun. well. And it’s really The other challenge was working the boys’ shyness. It took around a lot to get all four of them to open up. Even Joseph, underneath his speak for cheeky bravado, didn’t something like two years at school. his first And for Juan, English isn’t his third. or second language, it’s So it took a little while to get them to with the camera, but they all made relax Matt Long Matt SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 13 Running to America? watching Running to Did you enjoy with the class. of your favourite moments one Share America of Running to What moments inspiring? did you find to establish the Share’ Use ‘Think, Pair, central concernsRunning to America. of documentary is trying Who do you think the messages to? to communicate its tell the stories of Why is it important to Joseph Davies, people like Juan Darwin, Maher? Caleb Hart and Charlie of the issues How has your understanding facing Indigenous people changed since watching Running to America? » » » » » First impressions First » » » » »
Teachers may select from the following from may select Teachers students’ viewing and activities to support . close analysis of Running to America e in th classroom rica to Ame Running Using art training Charlie Maher & Caleb Hart SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 14 art art H Caleb How do you stay fit? physical activity? the benefits of regular What are to maintain a fitness routine? When do you find it difficult Did Running to America make you your physical fitness? reconsider Name one change that you could make to your lifestyle to your prepared your health. Are today that would improve make this change? Some behavioural experts claim that it your prepared takes twenty-one days to form a habit. Are to make this change to your lifestyle for that long? Make a twenty-one day health resolution. on Day your resolution and review your progress Track you 22. How did you go? Do you feel healthier? Are Is it time to think of going to maintain your resolution? another change that could make your lifestyle healthier? » » » » » Physical fitness » » » » » SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2011 15 Charlie Maher de Castella Robert Charlie Maher & John Bell Do you think the Indigenous Marathon will achieve this goal? Project It’s always been my dream to have this as at It’s is to now, least a ten-year project. Our goal, in thehave an Australian indigenous runner 2016 Australian Olympic team.’ The Indigenous Marathon Project’s Marathon Project’s The Indigenous Sweat. Inspire.’ motto is ‘Run. on specific an apt motto? Draw Why is this Running to and statements from moments America to endorse your response. the of Running to America, what are Based on your viewing the Indigenous Marathon Project? positive outcomes of squad have Marathon Project The 2011 Indigenous Marathon. City New York just completed this year’s Learn and their experiences at about the squad
er k filmma company of Goodoil Films, a production Matt Long is the founder charity range of work including advertising, a diverse that produces short films and documentary projects. campaigns, music videos, Long agriculture, on New Zealand farms and studying After a false start working 1991 at the age of in the film industry in career glamorous began his much more on documentaries, a lighting assistant. Long has worked nineteen, working as and as in production films and commercials feature short films, music videos, in 1996 at Silverscreen career Long began his producing an assistant director. television commercials house that produced a production Productions, film. He established Goodoil Films in 2002. and the occasional feature Learn about Goodoil at