EPISODE 4
A STUDY GUIDE by Libby Tudball
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
http://www.theeducationshop.com.au OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES First Australians chronicles the birth of contemporary Australia as never told before, from the perspective of its first people. First Australians explores what unfolds when the oldest living culture in the world is overrun by the world’s greatest empire. Over seven episodes, First Australians depicts the true stories of individuals – both black and white – caught in an epic drama of friendship, revenge, loss and victory in Australia’s most transformative period of history. The story begins in 1788 in Sydney, with the friendship between an Englishman (Governor Phillip) and a warrior (Bennelong) and ends in 1993 with Koiki Mabo’s legal challenge to the foundation of Australia. First Australians chronicles the collision of two worlds and the genesis of a new nation.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the programs may contain images and voices of deceased persons.
SCREEN EDUCATION 2 The seven episodes in the series cover key events, people and places throughout all Australia:
Episode 1: ‘They Have Come To Stay’ Sydney and New South Wales (1788– 1824)
The first Australians and the British, the most powerful Empire in history, come face to face in Sydney on 26 January 1788. Their differences are immense but Episode 4: ‘There is No Other Law’ Across the continent, the first apprehension quickly turns to curiosity. Central Australia (1878–1897) Australians are governed by ‘protective Friendships form, some between legislation’ which binds them to powerful men such as Governor Arthur Throughout the history of white reserves, controls their wages, Phillip and the Aboriginal Bennelong. settlement, individual white men, good residency, ability to marry and travel. But by the time this pair leave for and bad, have significantly affected Yorta Yorta man William Cooper forms London three years later, relations the first Australians. Supported by the Australian Aborigines League in between the two races have soured. pastoralists keen to make their fortune, 1933 to continue his life-long campaign The bloodshed worsens as settlers the homicidal police officer Constable for equality. His nephew also becomes spread out across the land. Willshire, brings mayhem to the a political animal; Doug Nichols, a Arrernte nation in Central Australia. Episode 2: ‘Her Will to Survive’ Church of Christ pastor who becomes With the authorities turning a blind eye, Tasmania (1803–1880) a champion for those affected by the the telegraph operator Frank Gillen Maralinga nuclear bomb tests in the The land grab moves south to stops him. Gillen’s other legacy is 1950s. Tasmania. In an effort to protect the real comprehensive records of the Arrernte estate prices, it is decided to remove people’s way of life. Episode 7: ‘We are No Longer the Tasmanian Aboriginal people from Shadows’ Queensland and the Torres Episode 5: ‘Unhealthy Government the island. The Government enlists Strait Islands (1967–1993) Experiment’ Western Australia (1897– an Englishman for the job, who is 1937) Eddie Koiki Mabo fights for Australian helped by a young Aboriginal woman, law to recognize that his people own Truganini. Jandamurra is born on a cattle station Murray Island, where they have lived in the Kimberley in the 1870s. His Episode 3: ‘Freedom For Our Lifetime’ for generations. In 1992, six months hybrid life takes a bloody turn when he Victoria (1860–1890) after his death and a decade after the trades in his status as a police tracker statement of claim was first lodged in The threat of extinction hovers over the for his own people. Gladys Gilligan is Queensland, the highest court in the first Australians of Victoria at the time one of more than 50,000 half-caste land decides in Mabo’s favour. The Wurundjeri clan leader Simon Wonga children plucked from her family and outcome overturns the notion of terra seeks land from the authorities. He sent to a mission. The Chief Protector of nullius, that is, the notion that the land soon gives up and leads his people to Aborigines, A.O. Neville, institutionalizes belonged to no-one at the time of white the banks of the Yarra River, claiming her first son, orders her to be arrested, settlement. a parcel of land, Coranderrk. With and denies her the right to marry three the help of a Scottish preacher, and times, but she remains resolutely The series provides rich information, inspired by the farming practices of the independent. and raises controversial and settlers, the community prospers – until challenging issues and ideas about Episode 6: ‘A Fair Go for a Dark Race’ the authorities step in and resist self- Australia’s past, present and possible South-Eastern Australia (1937–1967) determination. futures.
SCREEN EDUCATION 3 CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY
First Australians is suitable for middle and senior secondary students studying:
• Australian History • Studies of Society and Environment / Human Society and its Environment / Social Education stops him. Gillen’s other legacy is • The arrival of Europeans had a more • Indigenous Studies. comprehensive records of the Arrernte devastating effect on First Australians people’s way of life. than anything that had previously This study guide provides discussion happened in their history. points, additional material and THINKING ABOUT classroom activities to help teachers • Europeans did not see that First and students develop an understanding THE PERIOD Australians had any rights to the land, of Australia’s past and the experiences Key facts about the period and simply took over waterholes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous and the land with little regard for • At this time in Southern and Central Australians through these rich traditions and sacred sites. Australia, contact with white resources. • Every aspect of the land; the Europeans was advancing quickly for landscape, trees, rocks, birds and Introduction to the guide the First Australians in these areas. animals, were central to the First The ‘Thinking about the period’ • Aboriginal Australians lived in Australians’ traditional life and section provides information about hundreds of clan groupings with their culture, so their whole existence the focus of the episode, and suggests own distinct languages and cultures was threatened by the arrival of some key questions students should that varied depending on the region Europeans. be able to answer. where they lived, and their local The ‘Exploring the story’ section environment. is designed to help middle secondary • Clusters of families with special students follow and understand the kinship traditions lived with close narrative and provides some links to the land. learning activities to involve • Archaeologists now believe that the students in the stories. First Australians may have inhabited The ‘Exploring the series as a this continent for at least 60,000 and representation of history’ section up to 100,000 years. is to enable senior students to apply critical analysis to the series as an historical source.
The ‘Exploring issues and ideas’ and the ‘Telling the story’ sections can be used at the teacher’s discretion with both middle and senior secondary students. Episode 4: ‘There is No Other Law’
Throughout the history of white settlement, individual white men, good and bad, have significantly affected the first Australians. Supported by pastoralists keen to make their fortune, the homicidal police officer Constable Willshire, brings mayhem to the Arrernte nation in Central Australia. Blind Moses With the authorities turning a blind eye, the telegraph operator Frank Gillen
SCREEN EDUCATION 4 • The spread of the pastoral industries profoundly changed Aboriginal Australians’ lives because of their impact on the land.
• Open conflict between First Australians and Europeans broke out across Australia: in NSW from 1788 to the 1840s; in Tasmania from 1804 to the 1820s; in South Eastern Australia in the 1830s and 1840s; in South Western Australia from their heritage and the manner in • Why did some educated Europeans 1829 to 1845; in central Queensland which the clans continued to value take an increasing interest in the in the 1850s and 1860s; in North their Law, their Dreaming, rituals and traditions and culture of the First Queensland from the 1870s to the way of life. Australians? 1890s; and in the Kimberleys and other outback areas from the 1880s Some focus questions that There is a list of references in this to the 1930s. While First Australians any study of this period guide for further reading and research. frequently fought back, they lacked should try to answer However, you will find the answers to many of these questions in the film. You gun power and resources. Recorded • Why did white pastoralists move will be asked after watching the episode history does not document all the through Central and South Australia? conflict, but in many areas across to decide how this film contributes to Australia, ruthless killings wiped out • What varied attitudes did Europeans your knowledge and understanding of, whole clans. have towards Aboriginal people at and your empathy with, the people who this time? were part of this historical period. • In the period 1878–1897, the building of the telegraph line from the north to • Why did conflict increase between EXPLORING THE the south of Australia signaled a new Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal era where traditional life of the First people? STORIES IN THIS Australians would never be the same • Why were Aboriginal people EPISODE again. like Jalkabota attracted to the The stories progress through several missionaries? • Missionaries followed pastoralists stages, so students should be able to into the Centre and tried to convert • Why were the missionaries often pause during the film to reflect on the the First Australians to Christianity. unsuccessful in fully converting the stages of the story being told about • Other Europeans, including people to their religion? what happened to the First Australians in Arrernte country, to Jalkabota, the Baldwin Spencer, recognized the • Why were the First Australians unable missionaries who arrived, and what their sophistication of the cultures and to fight against people like William stories reveal about the struggles and traditions of the First Australians, and Willshire? began to document and celebrate events that other Aboriginal Australians also faced.
Mission Men 1905
SCREEN EDUCATION 5 Stage Key focus Aspects of the story to consider
1 The Dreaming and In the first part of this episode, we see images and listen to the story of how the First Australians traditional law of believe the Australian continent was formed from a flat featureless place to when the land was the First Australians made. The Arrernte nation peoples in the centre of Australia know the dreaming as the ‘altyere’.
• Write or tell your own version of how you understand this story. • What is ‘The Law’?
2 36,000 telegraph The First Australians watched as strange poles were erected across their land. The telegraph poles crossed the was eventually strung through a sacred site, the passage through the Caterpillar mountains: an land. entry point into central Arrernte land. To enter here without permission, is against Arrernte law. The punishment is death.
• What did the First Australians think the poles were? • What did this development symbolize for white people, the colonial governments and the First Australians?
3 Missionaries arrived German Missionaries, Pastors Schwartz and Heindrich came from the other side of the world in Central Australia. seeking to convert the Arrernte people to Christianity. They set off on foot from Adelaide to the centre of the continent where they established the Hermannsburg mission.
• What motivated them to make this journey? • What happened on their two-year journey? • How did they try to make connections with the Arrernte people? • How successful were they?
4 Jalkabota’s story Jalkabota, an Arrernte man whose story is featured in this episode, lived right through this contact period after the missionaries arrived.
• What special skills and talents did Jalkabota have? • What was his life like as a child? • How did his life change at Hermannsburg? • Why do you think that Jalkabota decided to become baptized, accept the teachings of the missionaries, and take the name Moses? • How did Jalkabota’s parents react? • When you have seen the end of the film, write a character profile of Jalkabota. • Decide what Jalkabota’s connection is with the title of this episode.
SCREEN EDUCATION 6 5 Strong culture, One of the key elements of this episode is the focus on the strong culture and ancient sacred sacred traditions traditions of the First Australians.
• Make a list of the following key words, and jot down what you think they mean as you watch the film: tywerrenge, totemic devices, sacred objects, altyere/dreaming
(Further activities and references to these are in the ‘Exploring issues and ideas’ section of the guide).
6 Water, land The film shows how the arrival of pastoralists and their cattle had other drastic effects. and cattle: the • What were these effects? destruction of the Arrernte’s resources • Why did the Arrernte kill cattle and sheep? • What impact did their arrival have on the Arrernte’s spiritual life?
7 Constable William Constable William Willshire was sent to hunt down the people who were taking the cattle. He Willshire arrives and the local station workers asked for a Native Police force to track them down.
• Why did the Hermannsburg missionaries complain about the methods of the police? • Why would local people have been willing to become Native Police? • Marcia Langton describes Willshire’s actions as a ‘murderous campaign’. Do Willshire’s words that you hear in this section lead you to agree or disagree with her view?
8 Women’s rights The story of Willshire’s passage through the mountains at Emily Gap is a powerful example of his attitude to women and his lack of respect and understanding of the First Australians’ Law and traditions.
• Why did Willshire force the women to walk through this men only sacred site? • Why did the women cover their faces with rags, bushes and grass and walk blindfolded? • Why were the missionaries concerned about women’s rights? • Suggest reasons why Willshire got away with shooting Aboriginal people and living with Aboriginal women? • Why do you think he was found not guilty in the trial?
9 Europeans who Frank Gillen was the local telegraph operator who had many friends among the Arrernte. documented the • What evidence is there to suggest that Gillen was liked and respected by the Arrernte people? Arrernte traditions • Who was Baldwin Spencer and why was his arrival so significant? • Why did Gillen plan, with the senior Arrernte leaders, to stage a powerful ceremony at the telegraph station? • Gillen and Spencer filmed the Tjitjingalla ceremonies which had passed along the trade routes all the way from Queensland and had been given to the Arrernte as a gift from a neighboring tribe, but they were for the eyes of men only and too sacred for the film ever to be seen by the public. • In the photos and clips that are shown, what do you learn about Arrernte tradition?
SCREEN EDUCATION 7 10 Sacred objects and The sacred Arrernte objects ignited the interests of collectors around the world. traditions • While it can be seen as positive for Arrernte objects to be of interest, what is the negative aspect of people paying for these stones and taking them away?
• What is Marcia Langton’s opinion?
• How did Gillen become aware of the significance of the tywerrenger?
• What are Langton’s, Mulvaney’s and Kimber’s views of the publication of The Native Tribes of Central Australia by Baldwin and Gillen?
11 The end of the In the final frames, the film celebrates the survival of Arrernte traditions and culture, in spite of episode how much was lost and stolen by the invasion.
• What do you think are the factors that made this survival possible?
After watching EXPLORING • In this episode, what did you learn about the impact the arrival the episode ISSUES AND of European pastoralists and missionaries had on Arrernte culture? Complete the following tasks either as IDEAS FROM individuals, pairs or as group work. Your THIS EPISODE • What evidence is there to suggest responses could be presented either as that Arrernte people had a strong written or oral reports. Understanding desire to stay strong and hold on to Arrernte culture their culture? • Decide how the episode has helped you gain knowledge and (Note: Arrernte has been spelled in In Arrernte culture, through time, family understanding of, and empathy with, many different ways, including: Aranda, and social relationships have been the First Australians who lived in Arranda, Arunta and Arrente) extremely important. In traditional Central Australia during this period. Arrernte ways, everyone you know The Eastern and Central Arrernte people must be related in some way, even if • Imagine that a television guide has live in Central Australia, their traditional they are not actually biologically related asked you to summarize the episode land including the area of Alice Springs to you. If you are not given a special in a few sentences. How will you and East MacDonnell Ranges. Their traditional skin name, then even today, describe it? neighbours are the Southern Arrernte, Arrernte people will not know how to Luritja, Anmatyerr, Alyawarr and Western • What do you think is the message relate to you in terms of their community Arrernte peoples. There are five dialects in this film about the impact of the structure. The closest thing to this idea of the Arrernte language: South-eastern, movement of pastoralists, missionaries in Anglo-Australian culture (though not Central, Northern, Eastern and North- and police into Central Australia on the exactly the same) is the practice of eastern. Arrernte country is rich with First Australians’ lives? young children calling close friends of mountain ranges, waterholes, and their parents ‘uncle’ and ‘aunt’ even • The television guide also wants gorges that have always had great though they are not actually related to you to write a short comment or significance in their culture. them. evaluation of the episode. Write your Today, there are roughly 1800 speakers own assessment piece. of Eastern and Central Arrernte, making Traditionally the Arrernte Nation lived in it the largest spoken language in the localized family groups in given areas • Go back to the focus questions listed Arandic family, and one of the largest of the country. Each group is identified in the ‘Thinking about the period’ speaking populations of any Australian by their country and language, and is section. In a class discussion, talk language. It is taught in schools, heard traditionally responsible for its social and about which of these questions in local media and in local government. cultural management and maintenance. this episode of First Australians has helped you answer.
SCREEN EDUCATION 8 Most Arrernte people lived in closely- knit, smaller groups, which enabled them to follow their family and cultural practices in a manner consistent with their social and traditional structures.
• In what ways did the actions of Willshire threaten and ignore these special traditions?
• In what ways did the actions of the missionaries threaten and ignore these special traditions? traditional links between Arrernte people • What factors are crucial to the and their land. Still today, country is a survival of culture and traditions? • What evidence is discussed in the part of cultural heritage, a part of social Sacred sites and objects: film to show that Gillen was seen as interaction and cohesion, and a part of having special connections with the the spirituality of being Arrernte. In the film, there is explanation of how Arrernte people? important Sacred sites and objects are • In what ways does this explanation of in Arrernte culture. • Visit the Northern Land Council site ‘country’ help to explain the impact
Mourning ceremony Women wailing Warramunga 1901
SCREEN EDUCATION 9 The Central Land Council of the Northern Territory (See
The Central Land Council of the Northern Territory represents Aboriginal Australians and explains that sacred sites may be parts of the natural landscape such as hills, rocks, trees, springs and offshore reefs – places that are not always spectacular or interesting even Gillen and Baldwin in what you in Southern and Central Australia were to the non-Aboriginal eye. They may see depicted in the film? ignored and violated between 1878 and be places that are significant because Human Rights 1897. they mark a particular act of a creation • What does this episode reveal about being. They also include burial grounds The treatment of the First Australians the particular difficulties that women and places where particular ceremonies across Australia frequently denied them faced during the period? have been held. Sacred sites are often the most basic human rights. linked by the stories of a travelling • Reconsider and discuss the views of • What are human rights? First ancestor being and as such they Marcia Langton in particular on this construct your own list of what you can link groups of Aboriginal people issue. see as key human rights with your across vast areas of the continent. classmates. Then look at
The Federal Court decision bears testament to the determination of Arrernte people to maintain their traditional connection to country against overwhelming odds, and it also demonstrates the resilience and strength of Arrernte culture that provides the foundation for so much of the community life of Alice Springs and Central Australia.
• Further your investigation by visiting the Central Land Council, NT at
SCREEN EDUCATION 10 EXPLORING THE SERIES AS A REPRESENTATION OF HISTORY
First Australians is a representation of history. This means that it is somebody’s version of what happened. Every secondary account of history is a representation. The creator of the version has chosen what to include and what to exclude from all the possible elements and sources, and has chosen the sequence in which they will be presented. In the case of film, the creator, the writers, director and editor have also chosen the sound, lighting, expert commentators, images and other filmic elements that constitute the final product. If senior students are to use this film as a source of information and ideas in their study they must be prepared to critically analyse and evaluate it as a historical source. The use of expert commentators
One of the features of First Australians is the use of commentators. We need to consider who they are, how they present information, and how the filmmaker uses them in the overall representation.
1 Think back to the commentators. What was their role? 2 How did you respond to them? 3 Why do you think the filmmaker chose them? 4 Why do you think they are used in the film? 5 What insights do each of them give into the lives of the First Australians in this episode?
Now look at this brief biographical information on each of them and answer the questions that follow.
Professor Marcia Langton is a leading Peter Vallee is a former South Mavis Malbunka is a traditional Arrernte woman Indigenous scholar, commentator and Australian who returned to the study who has worked with her community to activist, and Professor of Australian of the State’s history after working as provide a safe place for young people with Indigenous Studies at the University a lecturer and science administrator. inhalant abuse issues. Mavis draws strength of Melbourne. She has published from her traditional values and her love for • What insights and opinions does extensively on Aboriginal affairs the young people as well as her sense of Peter share? issues including land rights, resource responsibility to her community. management, social impacts of • What insights and opinions does Mavis share? development, indigenous disputes, policing and substance abuse, and gender and identity.
• What insights and opinions does Marcia share? Max Stuart is an Arrernte elder and Dr. Gordon Briscoe is from the from 1998–2001 was the chairman Marduntjara/Pitjantjatjara peoples of the Central Land Council. In the of Central Australia He is now an film he shares his knowledge of Indigenous activist and researcher. He Aboriginal law and tradition, which he helped form an Aboriginal Progress had gained from his grandfather as a Association in the late 1950s, worked youth. for the Aboriginal Legal Service in the late 1960s, and helped establish a • What insights does Max share? health service for the urban Aboriginal population in Sydney in the 1970s.
• What insights does Gordon share?
• Comment on why each historian and commentator might have been chosen to be part of this episode.
• Do you think they are appropriate and believable experts? Justify your view.
SCREEN EDUCATION 11 Representation of history in Episode 4 Hermannsburg Mission
In this episode we learn about the founding and development of the Hermannsburg Mission.
• In the film, what impression is given of why Arrernte people were so photos of the mission and see the the arrival of the missionaries the surprised when they first saw the depiction reproduced above. Aranda had evolved a highly efficient buildings? lifestyle which was in harmony with • How does this description fit your view their environment. The area around • What did the early missionaries try to of the mission and the view from some Hermannsburg was relatively rich in achieve and why? of the experts who speak in the film? food and water. The nearby Finke River The Australian government Department • What do you think that Jalkabota’s was important both from a religious of the Environment, Water, Heritage parents would say about the impact viewpoint and as a trade route. and the Arts includes a webpage on of the mission on the Arrernte The first period of missionary Hermannsburg Mission. On this site, the people? involvement lasted from 1877–1891. following description appears: • What negative impacts of the Periods of apparent success were The Hermannsburg Historic Precinct missions’ roles and actions are not matched with ones of obvious failure. By is the last surviving mission developed included in this depiction? the early 1880s the missionaries were a by the Hermannsburg Missionary solitary bastion against the murderous In another online representation of the Society. It shows the influence of the excesses of the local pastoralists and Hermannsburg mission produced by German Lutherans on Aboriginal people police who, at the slightest hint of the Fairfax publishing group, and titled in central Australia. Hermannsburg disorder, were only too eager to carry Walkabout Australian Travel Guide, this was established in 1877 as a religious out regular massacres. The Aranda were description is included: mission for Aboriginal people. It became forced to retreat to the safety of the a refuge from the frontier conflict Education was a two way process. The mission and the pastoralists accused (violent conflict between pastoralists, Aranda taught the missionaries their the missionaries of harbouring cattle the police and Aborigines) for the language and, in turn, learnt German. The killers. In spite of this protection few Arrernte people. As well as reflecting the Germans studied the Aranda traditions Aranda were prepared to give up their changing policies towards Aboriginal in great detail so that today many of traditional ways for Christianity. In 1891 people, it was the home of acclaimed the traditions which would have been the missionaries gave up and left. For Aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira. The lost through the missionary’s active the next three years Hermannsburg was Hermannsburg Historic Precinct was discouragement of traditional practices abandoned. included in the National Heritage List on and the extinction of family groups have See
• After watching the film, first jot down your own opinions, and then talk with your class about what views you have formed of William Willshire.
• Then read following the extracts written by the historian D.J. Mulvaney in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (1990).
Hermannsburg June 1926
SCREEN EDUCATION 12 moment were talking English in the Springs sub-protector of Aborigines, WILLSHIRE, WILLIAM HENRY (1852– silent majesty of these eternal rocks’. investigated the reported episode and 1925), police officer, was born on 10 committed Willshire to Port Augusta Willshire portrayed himself as a heroic March 1852 in Adelaide, son of James for trial for murder. As he was the frontiersman, rendering the land safe Doughty Willshire, schoolmaster, and his first policeman to be so charged, and for civilization. Settlers praised his wife Emily Elizabeth, née Schlenkrich. colonists felt their rights challenged, ‘daring and efficient devotion to duty’, He joined the South Australian Police emotions ran high: public subscriptions but his terrorism survives in Aboriginal Force in 1878 and was posted to provided Willshire’s £2000 bail and oral tradition. He was contemptuous Alice Springs in 1882, gaining rapid retained Sir John Downer for his of Aboriginal lives and culture, and promotion to first-class mounted defence. Aboriginal witnesses attended, condoned female exploitation – constable in 1883. but problems over accepting their ‘perhaps the Almighty meant them for Following the wounding of two evidence resulted in Willshire’s popular use as He has placed them wherever Europeans by Aborigines in 1884, acquittal. Having prudently stationed the pioneers go’. J.J. Healy aptly Willshire used his bushcraft and him at southern centres, his superiors described Willshire’s A Thrilling Tale physical endurance to set a pattern transferred him in 1893 to the Victoria of Real Life in the Wilds of Australia of relentless ‘dispersal’. Late in 1884 River district where he was able ‘to (Adelaide, 1895) as ‘grotesque, almost he took command of a native-police commit mayhem at will’. Sensing further schizophrenic, fictions’; it was largely detachment of six armed men. notoriety, in 1895 the government autobiographical. Ostensibly appointed to protect posted him permanently in the south. Willshire died in Adelaide on 22 August settlers, they made reprisals for cattle Willshire resigned in 1908, after 1925. He had married Ellen Sarah spearing their standard duty. Willshire audaciously applying for appointment Howell on 13 September 1896 at Port was transferred temporarily to the Daly as State protector of Aborigines. Lincoln. His wife, a son and a daughter River where his troop ‘pacified’ that Although that post was inappropriate, survived him. region. Returning to Alice Springs, in his credentials were unquestionable for 1886 he established the police station his subsequent twelve years as night D.J. Mulvaney, ‘Willshire, William Henry at Heavitree Gap, building an outpost watchman at the Gawler Road abattoir, (1852–1925)’, Australian Dictionary at Boggy Hole on the Finke River Adelaide. of Biography, Volume 12, Melbourne downstream from Hermannsburg. University Press, 1990, p.515. Contemporaries praised Willshire as an Complaints by missionaries led to authority on Aboriginal society because Online source:
Five men in police uniform
SCREEN EDUCATION 13 strove to ameliorate racial issues at a anthropology section president; he Historical representations time when ‘dispersal’ was a convenient also delivered several public lectures of the roles and actions of euphemism for murder: he travelled in South Australia and his important Francis Gillen unarmed, and charged the notorious ethnographic photographs are in the • After watching the film, first jot down mounted Constable W.H. Willshire with South Australian Museum. your own opinions, and then talk Aboriginal homicide. Although Willshire with your class about what views you was acquitted, he did not return to Family considerations forced his have formed of Francis Gillen. Alice Springs. reluctant transfer as postmaster to Moonta in 1899 and to Port Pirie in • Then read the following extracts Gillen met the anthropologist (Sir) 1908. His health failed and, from 1911, written by the historian D.J. Baldwin Spencer in 1894, when he was confined to an invalid chair. He Mulvaney in the Australian Dictionary Spencer was his guest after the died at Woodville on 5 June 1912, from of Biography (1983). Horn expedition departed. In Gillen’s a neurological disorder, aggravated convivial, smoke-filled den, Spencer GILLEN, FRANCIS JAMES (1855– by depression following the fatal absorbed the protector’s ethnographic 1912), ethnologist, was born on 28 accidental shooting of his eldest son. A lore. As editor of the Horn expedition October 1855 at Little Para, South Catholic, Gillen was buried in Sevenhill volumes, Spencer prompted Gillen Australia, eldest son of Thomas Gillen, College cemetery near Clare. to contribute, and later urged fuller agricultural labourer, and his wife publication. Online source:
SCREEN EDUCATION 14 Historical representations Victorian Football League in 1908. After he donated them and his entire of the roles and actions of its poor performance and its withdrawal ethnographic collection in 1917 to the Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer from the league in 1914, he transferred National Museum of Victoria. Included his loyalties to the Carlton club. were his movies, wax cylinders and • After watching the film, first jot down Respected as a statesman of sport, he some 1700 photographic negatives of your own opinions, and then talk with was president of the V.F.L. in 1919–26. superb quality. your class about what views you have formed of Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer. … His own seminal contribution [to the … His voluminous written and Horn expedition’s reports] included his photographic records endure as a • Then read the extracts below written classic bio-geographic interpretation priceless Aboriginal archive, despite his by the historian D.J. Mulvaney in the of Australian faunal distribution. This unacceptable value judgements on their Australian Dictionary of Biography expedition rekindled his anthropological fossilized society. Sir James Frazer’s (1990). These extracts are from a interest when he met F.J. Gillen, the pompous 1899 pronouncement was more lengthy bigoraphy available at Alice Springs postmaster. What began prophetic: ‘in immortalizing the native
SCREEN EDUCATION 15 Conclusions • Narrator • Experts • First ask each member of the class to • Archival images note down one fact or incident they • Voices reading documents learn about in the film that is new to • Impressionistic modern film elements them or they had not heard about • Sound effects before. • Music • Next, in a class discussion, talk • Editing about what you think are the main • Camera movement over static images strengths and the main weaknesses of • Narrative structure – focus on this episode of First Australians as a individuals representation of history. 3 Prepare a new scene for the film in How important do you think it is for wider which you would incorporate this audiences of Australians to see this series, information. Try to follow the style and in particular this episode of First of the episode. Use the columns on Australians? page 16 to help you summarize your presentation of the scene. For example, Further research you might decide to use some of the information from the Australian • For senior students interested in looking Dictionary of Biography extracts in more deeply into academic debates the historical representations section. and representations of the work of You could also use the photographs Gillen and Spencer, visit
First Australians uses a variety of elements to tell the story.
1 What are the main problems that you think face a filmmaker in creating a documentary about the events in Southern and Central Australia between 1878 and 1897?
2 Divide up your class and allocate individuals or pairs to comment on the role that each of these elements plays in this episode:
SCREEN EDUCATION 16 Aspect of Images Readings Experts Current film Other the story
4 Do you think the filmmakers have achieved a good result?
SCREEN EDUCATION 17 FURTHER Anna Haebich, For Their Own Good: Andrew Markus, Australian Race Relations, Aborigines and Government in the South 1788–1993, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, INFORMATION and West of Western Australia, 1900–1940, NSW, 1994. 2nd edition, University of Western Australia REFERENCES D.J. Mulvaney, ‘The Australian Aborigines Press, Nedlands, Western Australia, 1992. 1606–1929: Opinion and Fieldwork’ in Bain Attwood, The Making of the Rosalind Kidd, The Way We Civilise: Susan Janson and Stuart Macintyre (eds), Aborigines, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1989. Aboriginal Affairs – the Untold Story, Through White Eyes, Allen & Unwin/ Tony Birch, ‘Half caste’, Australian University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, Australian Historical Studies, Melbourne, Historical Studies, 1992, pp.99, 458. Queensland, 1997. 1990, pp.1–45.
Gordon Briscoe, and Len Smith (eds), The Steve Kinnane, Shadow Lines, Fremantle D.J. Mulvaney, ‘Gillen, Francis James Aboriginal Population Revisited: 70,000 Arts Press, Fremantle, 2003. (1855–1912)’, Australian Dictionary of years to the present, Aboriginal History Biography, Volume 9, Melbourne University Steve Kinnane, Black Lives, Government Monograph, 2002, p.10. Press, 1983, pp.6–7. Lies, University of New South Wales Press, Richard Broome, Aboriginal Australians, Sydney, 2000. Henry Reynolds, Frontier, Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1982. Sydney, 1987. Marcia Langton, ‘Culture wars’ in Michele Anna Haebich, Broken Circles: Fragmenting Grossman (coord. ed.), Blacklines: Peter Vallee, God, Guns and Government Indigenous Families 1800–2000, Fremantle Contemporary Critical Writing by on the Central Australian Frontier, Arts Centre Press, Fremantle, Western Indigenous Australians, Melbourne Restoration, 2007. Australia, 2000. University Press, Carlton, Victoria, 2003, pp.81–91.
This study guide was produced by ATOM.
© ATOM 2008 [email protected]
For more information on Screen Education magazine, or to download other free study guides, visit
For hundreds of articles on Film as Text, Screen Literacy, Multiliteracy and Media Studies, visit
Notice: An educational institution may make copies of all or part of this study guide, provided that it only makes and uses copies as reasonably required for its own educational, non-commercial, classroom purposes and does not sell or lend such copies.
SCREEN EDUCATION 18