Forgotten Islands
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AUSTRALIA’S Forgotten Islands http://www.metromagazine.com.au http://theeducationshop.com.au A STUDY GUIDE BY © ATOM 2018. ISBN: 978-1-76061-159-0 ROBERT LEWIS OVERVIEW Australia’s Forgotten Islands (Chemical Media, 2018), is a 47-minute documentary exploring some significant issues facing the people of the Australian External Territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. The islands were originally settled in the 1820s by private merchants, who imported labourers from across South East Asia to work on coconut plantations. Although annexed by the British Empire and later trans- ferred to Australia, the islands were effectively ruled by a single Scottish family for over 150 years. In 1984, the islanders ended this colonial arrangement by voting to fully integrate with Australia, paving the way for the Cocos Islands to become an Australian External territory. Only two of the 27 islands that make up the Cocos Cover: Young women from the two very different Cocos Island communities celebrate Australia Day together. Above: John archipelago are inhabited - and they are home to two Clunies-Ross, a direct descendant of the Scottish sea captain starkly different communities. whose family effectively ruled the Cocos Islands for more than 150 years. West Island has a mostly transient population of con- tract workers, military personnel and voluntary casta- ways from the Australian mainland who enjoy all the benefits of sun, sea and duty-free living. While Home Island has a permanent Malay-speaking CONTENT HYPERLINKS Muslim population, many of whom are descended from the labourers imported to work on the islands’ coconut 3 FOR TEACHERS plantations nearly two hundred years ago 4 FOR STUDENTS The film explores two main issues: • how representatives from both communities are rec- 5 BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM onciling their differences and asserting their rights as the original inhabitants of the islands to ensure 5 Activity 1 Where are the Cocos (Keeling) Islands? they have a voice in discussions about the islands’ future; and 6 Activity 2 What are the main • the implications and consequences of an expanded features of the Cocos (Keeling) Australian military presence on the islands Islands? Both issues need to be resolved in Canberra. 8 Activity 3 Who are the people of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands? This film allows students to explore these issues by: 10 Activity 4 Governing the territory • becoming ‘witnesses’ who present the evidence in the film to an inquiry; and 11 Activity 5 Gathering evidence from • by being the ‘jury’ who has to make decisions the film based on this evidence. 16 Activity 6 Critically analysing the 2018 © ATOM In doing so they will explore the colonial history and film as a documentary contemporary character of this unique and little- known part of Australia. 17 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 2 CLASSROOM STRATEGIES The Task This Study Guide has been structured to encourage stu- dents to gather evidence from the film, which they then use (together with some supplementary material) to argue the case and make decisions about two major issues: Would they grant ‘indigenous’ status to the traditional residents of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands? Would they support an increased Australian military presence on the Islands? Activities All students start by doing the background activities, Activities 1-4, to make sure they have a knowledge and understanding of the basic features of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and their geography, population, history and present legal status. Students are then given a list of key aspects of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Activity 5) on which to gather informa- tion from the film. All students should gather this informa- tion as they watch the film, but the teacher might appoint Cameraman Peter Zakharov amid the coconut an individual student or a pair of students to have the palms which grow in abundance on the Cocos Islands. responsibility to summarise and present this information to the whole class, which is acting as a judging panel. There are also some supplementary documents that stu- FOR TEACHERS dents can use to add to the information provided on some of the aspects covered in the film. Using the film in the classroom When all evidence has been presented, teachers have the class discuss the issues, and make their decisions in CURRICULUM RELEVANCE answering the two key task issues above. Teachers might allocate students to be responsible for summarising and The film could be used at middle-senior years (9-12) presenting the arguments for and against on each issue, to explore aspects of the Australian Curriculum in: but should allow time for and encourage all other stu- dents to contribute to the discussion once the summary cases have been presented. GEOGRAPHY • Place and space HISTORY • Colonialism Teachers, or the class, should decide on their own version • Migration of what degree of agreement (such as total agreement, • Identity a simple majority, a two-thirds majority, or some other) is required for each motion to be ‘passed’ or ‘rejected’. POLITICS • Australian Security issues CIVICS AND • Nationalism After their discussion and vote, students will be able CITIZENSHIP • Electoral system to see the decision reached by the Commonwealth • External Territories Government inquiry that recently investigated the issue of increased Defence presence on the Islands. MEDIA • Documentary form STUDIES 2018 © ATOM Finally, in Activity 6, students are able to make an ENGLISH • Communication informed and balanced critical evaluation of the film as a • Argument documentary text — is it a fair and effective presentation of the issues? 3 which to gather information from the film. There are also some supplementary documents that you can use to add to the information provided on some of the aspects covered in the film. You might be given the task of presenting a summary of one or more of the aspects to the whole class, or of leading some discussion on those points. When all evidence has been presented and your class has discussed the issues, you can make your decision about the two key issues above. Once you have done this, and the class has voted on the two issues, you will be able to see the decision reached by the Commonwealth Government inquiry that recently investigated the issue of increased Defence pres- ence on the Islands. FOR STUDENTS Finally, you will be able to think back about the film, and critically evaluate it as a documentary text. Your task Start by looking at the Background Activities, You are about to watch a film that presents a Activities 1-4. range of evidence and opinions about a part of Australia that you probably have never heard of — the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. But these islands are facing two major issues, and you need to decide what your opinion is on these two issues: Would you grant ‘indigenous’ status to the traditional residents of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands? From top: Director Would you support an increased Australian Ben Pederick with local military presence on the Islands? leader Seriwati Iku; Yaserie Siti Rokayyah cooking To answer these questions you need to gather for her brother-in- information, consider a variety of perspectives, and law’s wedding feast after the supply then formulate a view. You will do this by watching ship finally arrives; the film, and considering the extra evidence which Bride and groom is provided in this Study Guide. coming together in a Muslim wedding You can start this process by doing the ceremony that blends Malay Background Activities to develop a basic knowl- and Indonesian edge and understanding of the Cocos (Keeling) marriage rituals © ATOM 2018 © ATOM Islands — their geography, people, history and with unique present legal status. cultural traditions that have evolved on the Cocos You will then be given a list of key aspects on Islands. 4 Above: The Cocos Island traditional wedding procession starts from the bride’s family home. BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM * Activity 1 Where are the Cocos (Keeling) Islands? Here is a map showing the location of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands 1.1 Use an atlas or Google to identify: a) The ocean in which they are located b) How far they are from Perth c) How far they are from Darwin d) Their closest international neighbour 1.2 The Islands are part of Australia. What disad- © ATOM 2018 © ATOM vantages might this create for the local people? 1.3 What problems might it create for the Australian Government? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Keeling_Islands 5 Here are some more detailed maps of the Islands. A A: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_ (Keeling)_Islands B: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_ (Keeling)_Islands B * Activity 2 What are the main features of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands? 2.1 There are 27 small coral islands in two separate atolls (a 2.3 How far is the northern atoll, North Keeling Island, from the ring-like coral island enclosing a lagoon). The highest point of other atoll? the atoll is on South Island, 6 metres above sea level. Circle the two atolls on map A. 2.4 The main atoll is the southern one, several islands sur- rounding a central, oval-shaped lagoon. Approximately how long 2.2 The total land area of the two atolls is about 36 square and how wide is the southern atoll? kilometres. Identify the largest island. 2.5 The main islands are West, South, Home, Direction and Horsburgh islands. Identify each of these on the map. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands have a tropical climate. Between March and November the south-east trade winds produce pleasant weather conditions; between December and February the doldrum season brings generally calm conditions, with occasional light winds. But this is also the period of cyclones, which approach from the west.