Political STUDY MARGUERITE O’HARA MARGUERITE GUIDE

STUDYGUIDE

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SCREEN EDUCATION SCREEN NAMARGUERITE O’HARA Political Football (James Middleton, 2005) follows the story of six footballers who represented Australia in the 1969 Wallaby tour of South Africa. While on tour, the footballers experienced the reality of apartheid and the integral connection in South Africa between sport and politics.

N THE EVE OF THE 1971 became battlefi elds between anti-apartheid TOUR of Australia by the protesters, police, rugby vigilantes, Neo- Springboks (the South Af- Using Political Nazis, the church and families. The issue rican Rugby Union team), Football in the became a watershed in Australian sporting the six footballers took a classroom and political life, the ramifi cations of which stand and opposed the are still felt today. Otour. They refused to represent their country This documentary is of against a side that was selected according to specifi c interest and The Victorian Premier declared the protests race. Their decision was unprecedented: no relevance to teachers a ‘rebellion against constituted authority’. Australian players had ever refused to repre- a n d s t u d e n t s o f : The Queensland Premier declared a State sent their country on political grounds. Studies of Society and of Emergency. It was the fi rst time in West- Environment (SOSE/ ern history that a State of Emergency was They were declared ‘a disgrace to their HSIE), Australian declared over a series of football matches. country’, by the Prime Minster (Billy McMa- History and Society, hon), who declared his Government would C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s , The protest movement failed to stop any never concede to the demands of a radical Political Studies, games being played. However, the follow- minority. He was backed up by the people of Media, English. ing year (1972) the newly elected Labor Australia, eighty-fi ve per cent of whom sup- Government, led by Gough Whitlam, ported the tour, and strangely enough, the suspended any further sporting contact same proportion of citizens of South Africa with South Africa. Within the space of a who were not entitled to vote. few years, a policy advocated by a bunch of ‘social misfi ts’ became offi cial Government policy. Senator Vincent Gair Most Australians, in particular rugby lovers, did not want (then leader of the DLP) noted: ‘The cold sober fact must their precious sport soiled by politics and most dismissed be faced…the will of a small, vocal, irresponsible but deter- the protest movement as ‘a bunch social misfi ts who have mined minority has prevailed.’ got no sense and no manners.’ (Sir James Killen) How- ever, when a few young international footballers who had The policy was also maintained by successive governments recently toured South Africa joined the protest movement, until the collapse of apartheid – some 20 years later. many people were forced to sit up and take notice. The documentary pays homage to a group of footballers While the tour proceeded, it did so with a level of civil who swam against the current, and sacrifi ced their personal uprising and violence rarely seen in Australia: the games ambitions for the sake of a principle.

Learning Outcomes

The themes and activities • Critically compare of these responses. developed in this study guide will representations of people, events • Consider how public protest have interest and relevance for and issues. can effect long-term social and students from the middle to senior • Analyze the core values of groups political change.

years of secondary school and and societies. • Describe and explain the ISSUE 36 relate to the following learning • Explain how people respond responsibilities of various groups

outcomes: to a diversity of cultures and to issues of human rights. SCREEN EDUCATION heritages, and the consequences

2 Before Watching Political Football

If students are to fully appreciate this documentary they will need to have some basic understanding about the political situation in both South Africa and Australia in the 1960s and 1970s. They will also need to be aware of some key terms and acronyms used in the program.

Pre-viewing research Before watching the program

• Locate South Africa on a map. Read the following questions and record your responses. • When did Europeans first settle in South Africa and Class discussion of the questions will help prepare students Australia? to understand and respond to some of the issues explored • What were the consequences of white settlement on in this documentary. the indigenous people of each country? • Find out the year when all Australians were counted in 1 Should sport and politics ever mix? the national census and entitled to vote in elections. 2 Was the South African rugby team selected on political • Describe how the apartheid system worked in practice grounds? in South Africa. 3 What relevance could the term ‘apartheid’ have to sport? • How did the South African government differentiate 4 Which are the most successful Rugby Union countries between blacks, whites and coloured peoples? in world sport? • When were all South Africans, regardless of colour, 5 Why are people so passionate about the national sporting entitled to vote in elections? teams they support, both in Australia and elsewhere? • Who was the first nationally elected President of South Africa and when was he elected? You will be looking again at these same questions after you have watched the program, so keep them in mind as you watch the documentary. Glossary of key terms

Springboks – name of South Africa’s Roman Catholic and anti-communist many, led by Hitler, in the 1930s–40s. National Rugby Union team. party is no longer active in its original State of Emergency – extension of Wallabies – name of Australia’s Na- form. police powers to ensure civil order in tional Rugby Union team. Apartheid – political system where extreme situations, such as wartime or Rugby Union – football code played racial groups are treated separately national disasters. in South Africa, United Kingdom, New and have different rights, dependent Afrikaners – white South Africans of

Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Italy, on their racial origin. It ensured white Dutch descent who controlled most ISSUE 36 France and other countries. supremacy in South Africa. aspects of the country until 1994.

DLP – Democratic Labor Party, a Neo-Nazis – people holding extreme SARFU – South African Rugby Foot- SCREEN EDUCATION political party created when the Labor nationalist and racist views reminiscent ball Union. Party split in 1955. This strongly pro- of the National Socialist Party in Ger-

3 L-R: PAUL DARVENISA; TERRY FOREMAN; BARRY MCDONALD

Style and content The main players

The way in which a film is put together is often important Who were the six young Australian Wallabies who helped in shaping the viewer’s response to the themes and issues change the nature of International Sporting competitions? raised. In Political Football the structure is worth studying Five were students from Sydney University: carefully. Look at the visual and sound editing and the way the filmmaker cuts between archival footage from the ‘60s 1 Barry McDonald, a music student and ‘70s and interviews filmed in 2004–5. 2 Jim Roxburgh, a law student 3 Antony Abrahams, a law student Media Studies students may find this exercise especially use- 4 Terry Foreman ful, but all students will develop their appreciation of what can 5 Paul Darvenisa, a medical student. be achieved with a seamless melding of style and content. They were joined by: 6 Bruce Taafe (born in New Zealand), a data processing Deconstructing the film text manager.

Watch the opening sequence of Political Football (the Student Activity section showing life in South Africa at the time), and fill in a chart to see how the film is constructed to convey a com- Each student should select one of the six players to focus plex sense of the past and present. Sometimes sounds and on while watching the program and create a profile of their images are overlaid and intercut in the editing process. player. This profile should include: o Background - Visuals from the 1960s–70s archival footage o Education - Visuals from 2004 o Position played in the Wallabies - Dialogue, including voiceover/narration and commentary o Particular sporting skills and successes - Music o Factors and experiences that developed their political views While there are many segments of music used in this docu- o Attitudes today to their experiences as a player more mentary, much of the music is by South African musicians than thirty years ago. and singers, including Miriam Makeba and Solomon Linda. Later in the program, a popular song from the early ‘70s (A South African voices: players World of Our Own) sung by an Australian group, The Seek- (the Springboks), officials and ers, is used as background music. Listen carefully to music commentators used as background and think about how it enhances and reinforces both images and narration. Hannes Marais – Springboks captain

Morne Du Plessis – star of the Springboks, later captain ISSUE 36 The voices of the journalists and sports commentators from Voyisa Quanta – South African Rugby historian the 1960s and 1970s are very different in style to those of SCREEN EDUCATION 2005. Listen for these differences and vocal emphases. Explain the point of view of one of these people in relation to the Rugby matches against other countries.

4 Student Activity

RUNNING SHEET FOR VIEWING THE PROGRAM > If you break down the program into four sections, it may be easier to follow the narrative as it develops.

Section 1 7 Who was this player? 8 What country was he from? The Australian Wallabies tour to South Africa in 9 Who supported the stand he took and why? June 1969

1 Describe three important occasions when the reality of Section 2 the Apartheid system in South Africa was made clear to the touring Australians. The Springboks tour of Australia in 1971 2 Colin Tatz, an Australian academic, describing the importance of rugby in South Africa says: ‘The moment 1 What percentage of Australians supported the South Af- you step into the rugby field, you’re not stepping onto rican Rugby tour of 1971? How can this level of support a rugby field, you’re stepping into the heart of South be understood? African society. You’re staring into the inner core, into 2 Colin Tatz says ‘…it was about lifestyle…it was about the soul, of South Africa.’ conserving those aspects of life which we hold dear…’ Who was allowed to play rugby in South Africa in 1969, How is this observation made clear in the visuals and and who was excluded? music at this point in the film? 3 How did Antony Abrahams contribute to the growing 3 Describe the process that led the group of players to awareness of the Australians that ‘South Africa was decide to boycott the Test series with the Springboks. virtually a police state’? (Barry McDonald) Did anything act as a catalyst? 4 Who won the Test match series, and how convincingly? 4 Who was the ex-player who joined the protest movement 5 Who did most black South Africans support during the from the 1963–5 side that had defeated South Africa? tour and why? 5 When McDonald and Roxburgh (two of the dissenting 6 Describe what the players witnessed during their visit to players) had lunch with the President of the Australian the black town of Sharpeville. Rugby Union, what were they told? 6 Why were student protesters such as John Myrtle and After the Australian tour of South Africa, the Springboks Sekai Holland so pleased to have the support of the six travelled to the United Kingdom in 1969–70 to play a Test rugby players in opposing the tour? ISSUE 36 Series. There were demonstrations and protests against the 7 In an interview explaining the position he had taken, racially selected team, but the games went on. One player what did Barry McDonald say about why he had chosen SCREEN EDUCATION from the British Isles decided not to play against the South to boycott the matches? African team as a protest. 8 When Antony Abrahams said ‘…we see, on this tour

5 issue, the chance to raise the whole question of racism 5 What was the significance of the anecdote Jim Boyce in Australia,’ what do you think he was referring to? told about the South African Police Minister’s remark 9 What decision did the Australian Council of Trade Un- about who could wear the Springbok jersey? ions make in relation to the Springbok tour? 6 How did Indigenous Australians respond to the tour and 10 What did Billy McMahon, Australia’s Prime Minister at the protesters? the time, decide to do about the tour and the boycotts? Explain two different Indigenous perspectives. Can you 11 What is the significance of Hannes Marais’ (Springbok account for these different responses? captain) story about the lack of television in South Africa? 7 Describe Meredith Burgmann’s (now President of the New South Wales Legislative Council) role as a protester. Would Student Activity > Role Play you be prepared to take the kind of action she did to make a point about something you believed in strongly? Imagine you are having a discussion with family and friends 8 How difficult do you think it was for the young men on about the Springboks’ Rugby Tour of Australia and the both teams who only ‘wanted to play footy’? proposed boycotts and protests. Take the part of one of the 9 What did the then Premier of Queensland, Joh Bjelke-Pe- following individuals and argue your point of view. terson, declare in Queensland? Why was this so unusual? 10 What part did the current Premier of Queensland, Peter 1 The girlfriend of a player selected to play for the Wal- Beattie, take in the demonstrations in 1971? labies. You support his decision. 2 One of the players from the 1969 tour of South Africa who has decided not to make himself available for selection. Section 4 3 An indigenous Australian Rules player. 4 The mother of one of the Wallabies who is concerned Afterwards that protests may become violent. 5 A secondary school student who has just completed a 1 Who won the tour of Australia? How important was the study of the South African political system for a school result to each side? project. 2 What did Morne du Plessis, the great Springbok player, 6 A visiting New Zealand All Blacks player hoping to play say about the Australian protesters when he returned to against the Springboks when they tour New Zealand. South Africa? 7 A Springbok player who is uneasy about his country’s 3 What significant political change occurred in Australia in apartheid policy, but believes that sport and politics 1972? should not mix. 4 What important announcement did Gough Whitlam, the 8 An official of the Australian Rugby Union. new Prime Minister, make about sporting contact with South Africa? 5 When were the first multi-racial elections held in South Section 3 Africa and who was elected President? 6 In 1995 who won the World Cup in South Africa? The Protests during the tour 7 Who are Meredith Burgmann’s heroes and why? 8 What does the final image of children running on to a 1 Approximately how many protesters were there at sports arena suggest about the importance of sport in Melbourne’s Olympic Park when South Africa played society? Victoria? 9 In what ways does this program demonstrate that for 2 Peter McGregor, one of the leaders of the protest move- many people football is ‘more than a game’? ment, said, ‘We were willing to jump over the fence, run 10 While the subject matter of this documentary is serious, on the field, get arrested, and throw smoke bombs…to some of those interviewed can see the funny side of worry the government.’ some of the things that happened. Do you think this was a reasonable and appropriate way Which of the incidents described did you find funny and to disrupt the tour? Do you think such actions can be why? described as non-violent? Revisit your responses to the questions you considered 3 McGregor also said: The ethical problem for them [the before watching the program. government] was the seven Wallabies [the seven Walla- 1) Should sport and politics ever mix? bies referred to by McGregor include the six players plus 2) Was the South African rugby team selected on po- Jim Boyce, the ex-Wallaby who supported the opposition litical grounds? to the tour]. The fact that sports people were willing to put 3) What relevance could the term ‘apartheid’ have to

their careers on the line and willing to force the public, sport? ISSUE 36 politicians, sporting officials, people who love sport … to 4) Which are the most successful Rugby Union coun-

think twice because of the seven Wallabies. tries in world sport? SCREEN EDUCATION Do you think he was correct in this observation? 5) Why are people so passionate about the national 4 How was film and news of the Australian protests sporting teams they support, both in Australia and shown in South Africa? elsewhere?

6 4 You are the parent of a child in South Africa who has Extension activities a dream to play for the Springboks. However, in your township, the opportunities for developing these skills 1 Investigate the role Indigenous Australians have played are limited. What would you try to do to ensure he had in sporting competitions in Australia. This is an enor- the chance to achieve this dream? mous subject. You could choose from the following list. 5 Women in this film are generally protesters. How far a) Indigenous Australian Rules or Foot- does this reflect the society at the time? Should women ball players from a particular era or club or state. have the same opportunities as men to play internation- b) The first Australian team to play in England in al sports at the highest levels, not just in tennis, netball, 1867–8. cricket, golf and hockey, but in all sports, including c) Indigenous players in any of the four football codes, Rugby Union, Australian Rules, Soccer and Rugby Rugby Union, Rugby League, Soccer and Australian League Football? Conduct a class debate on the follow- Rules. Try to account for the differences in propor- ing topic: ‘Women should have the same opportunities tional representation of Indigenous Australians in as men to play all sports at an international level.’ each code. d) How would you account for the fact that Indigenous Marguerite O’Hara is a freelance writer from Melbourne. Australian representation in major sporting teams is disproportionately high, relative to their percentage This study guide was produced by ATOM. For more infor- of the Australian population? mation about ATOM study guides, The Education Shop, 2 Investigate what has happened in South African Rugby The Speakers’ Bureau or Screen Hub (the daily online film since 1994. Are their teams multi-racial? and television newsletter) visit our web site: www.metro- The material on an ABC Sports Factor radio program magazine.com.au or email: [email protected] broadcast in 1998 (referenced at the end of this guide) provides some startling information on this subject. The Notice: An educational institution may make copies of all full transcript can be accessed at http://www.ausport. or part of this Study Guide, provided that it only makes and gov.au/fulltext/1998/sportsf/sf980403.htm uses copies as reasonably required for its own educational, 3 Imagine you have the opportunity to interview one of non-commercial, classroom purposes and does not sell or the participants in this program. They could be an Aus- lend such copies. • tralian or South African sportsman, politician, sporting official, journalist or protester. Devise six questions you Distributed exclusively by ABC Content Sales Tel 1300 650 would ask them as the basis for a broadcast interview 587 Fax 02 8333 3975 as part of a series called: Where Are They Now? www.abc.net.au/programsales

Useful websites

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/ teams became multi-racial. articles relating to the Springboks tour. sportsf/stories/s320787.htm Australian Broadcasting Commission http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/ http://media.uow.edu.au/releas- website. Transcript of a Sports Factor dimensions_in_time/Transcripts/ es/2001/springboks.html program broadcast in 2001 on Radio s608221.htm University of Wollongong website. National. Includes interviews with Australian Broadcasting Commission Brief reflective piece by Dr Wendy leading figures, including Meredith website. Transcript of a New Dimen- Varney, who researches non-violent Burgmann and Tony Abrahams. sions television program broadcast protests and their aftermath. Accessed 27th May 2005 on ABC television in 2002. Includes interviews with Peter Beattie, Premier http://thecouriermail.com.au/extras/ http://www.ausport.gov.au/full- of Queensland, and Sam Watson, an oq/book3main6.html text/1998/sportsf/sf980403.htm Aboriginal filmmaker, both of whom Article from The Courier Mail, com- Australian Broadcasting Commission were involved in the 1971 protests. menting on then Premier Joh Bjelke website. Transcript of a Sports Factor Peterson’s response to the tour and

program broadcast in 1998 on Radio http://infocus.sl.nsw.gov.au/res/ his declaration of a State of Emer- ISSUE 36 National entitled ‘Rugby and Race sublist.cfm?subName=SPRINGBOK gency in Queensland to contain the

Relations in South Africa’, the program S%20(RUGBY%20UNION%20TEAM) protests. SCREEN EDUCATION looks at what has happened in South The State Library of New South Wales Africa since selection for sporting website has a number of images and

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