EPISODE 8 New Frontiers

Home , Alan Bond, Fiona Wood, Paul Hogan

http://www.metromagazine.com.au

ISBN: 978-1-74295-559-9 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au OVERVIEW

Australia: The Story Of Us (2015, 8 x 45 minute episodes) is an extraordinary narrative about the people, places and events that have shaped the continent from the first inhabitants to the present day. This groundbreaking drama-documentary series weaves together stories of the nation’s origins and offers fresh insights into how Australians came to create the homeland we inhabit today. Alongside astounding CGI and cinematic sequences, the series features interviews with important thinkers, notable celebrities and national figures who take us inside the stories Episode 8: CONTENT OF that have influenced Australian history. New frontiers THE SERIES The island continent is about to The series of eight episodes covers launch itself on the world stage these stories and curriculum em- CURRICULUM as never before. Elaine Moir’s phases (see pages 3-4). RELEVANCE courage saves hundreds of Vietnamese babies. Australia’s Australia: The Story Of Us is a suitable bionic ear gives hope to millions. resource for use with Ben Lexcen’s genius is essential to the defeat of a superpower • Australian History at Years and the winning of the America’s 5 and 9 Cup. Paul Hogan takes a quin- • English at Years 5 and 9 tessentially Australian story and • Film Studies Year 9 enthralls the world. And for a minute unlike any before in its The series can be viewed as a whole, history, Australians stand as one or as individual episodes, or even indi- to barrack for Cathy Freeman. We SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 vidual segments within episodes. consider how far we have come - and how much further there is In the classroom it can be used as a to go. series of creative starting points for students to begin their exploration of aspects of Australian history and the people who made it. 2 EP/ YEAR, CURRICULUM THEME SEGMENT EVENT STARTING POINT

EP 1 Worlds Collide

1.1 The Death Fleet Foundation of Australia Convict Australia

1.2 Megafauna: Prehistoric Australia Ancient Australia. Aboriginal Australia

1.3 Sealing Early economic development of the colonies

1.4 Pemulwuy and the Frontier Wars Aboriginal resistance. Frontier wars

1.5 Rum Rebellion Early economic and social development of the colonies

EP 2 Break Out

2.1 The Great Escape Convict Australia

2.2 John Foley — The Convict who Saves the City of Convict Australia Churches

2.3 Caroline Chisholm — Mother of the Nation Nineteenth century immigration

2.4 Gold Fever Gold

2.5 Eureka Stockade Gold

EP 3 Fair Go

3.1 Gold Robbery Bushrangers

3.2 Inventing AFL Sport. Aboriginal culture

3.2 The Overland Telegraph Explorers. Communication. Technology

3.4 Nellie Melba Famous Australians. Heroes

3.5 Fight for a Fair Go Wool. Unionism

EP 4 New Nation at War

4.1 Gallipoli Submarine The AE2 at Gallipoli

4.2 Billy Sing’s Deadly Gift Gallipoli SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 4.3 The Gallipoli Letter Gallipoli

4.4 WW1 Nurses Western Front

4.5 Villers-Bretonneux Western Front. Heroes

3 EP/ YEAR, CURRICULUM THEME SEGMENT EVENT STARTING POINT

EP 5 Hard Roads to Glory

5.1 Charles Kingsford Smith 1920s and 1930s. Technology and communications

5.2 Sydney Harbour Bridge 1920s and 1930s. Technology and communication

5.3 Phar Lap 1930s Depression. Heroes

5.4 Ruby Radar World War 2

5.5 Kokoda World War 2

EP 6 Nation Building

6.1 Holden Post-war industrial development

6.2 Lang Hancock Post-war economic development

6.3 Sydney Opera House Technology. National identity

6.4 Snowy Mountains Scheme Post-war migration. Post-war economic development

6.5 Melbourne Olympics and Television Technology and communications. National identity

EP 7 Revolution

7.1 Rock ‘n’ Roll Riot Popular culture

7.2 Beach Wars Surf culture

7.3 The Rise of the Larrikin Popular culture

7.4 Evonne Goolagong Aboriginal achievements. Heroes

7.5 Cyclone Tracy Environment

EP 8 New Frontiers

8.1 Operation Babylift Vietnam War

8.2 America’s Cup Sport

8.3 Exporting Australia Popular culture SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

8.4 Bionic Ear Technology and innovation

8.5 Sydney Olympics National identity

4 Understanding the story

2 Who is Elaine Moir?

3 What situation was she in during early April 1975?

4 What was Operation Babylift?

5 Why did mothers consider handing over their babies? Before you EXPLORING 6 Why Elaine want to take the babies IDEAS AND watch the story away? ISSUES IN 1 Imagine that you are in great danger. 7 Why was this dangerous? You have your baby brother or sister THE EPISODE with you. You are responsible for that 8 How many babies reached Australia person. If you keep the baby, you both as a result of Operation Babylift? SEGMENT 1 may suffer. If you let the baby be taken by a rescuer, the baby will survive, but 9 What happened to them in be separated from your family forever. Australia? »»OPERATION BABYLIFT List the advantages and disadvan- tages of both choices.

April 5, 1975. A Royal Australian Air Force plane is attempting to flee Saigon. Its crew and volunteers are part of the most ambitious rescue operation in modern history - to evacuate thousands of babies from the Vietnam War. Melbourne secretary Elaine Moir loads sick and dying babies into the Hercules. There’s little time to spare, or mourn for her friend, who has just died in a crash of an American evacuation SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 plane that took off before them. Elaine will help saving hundreds and children. Ironically, the Vietnam War marks the start of new, close relationships between Australia and its Asian neigh- bours, and one of the biggest turning points in Australia’s immigration story. 5 Putting the story in time and place

10 Mark on the map where this took place. See Timeline 1 and map this page.

11 If the first block of time below represents 60,000 years, and then each other block of time represents 25 years starting at 1700 and continuing until today, in which block of time did this story take place? Write the main date or dates for this event in that block.

Reflecting on the story

12 List at least three things that you have learned from this story about Australian history.

13 What do you might have happened in the babies had not been taken from Vietnam?

Analysing the story

14 There are several people who make comments about this event. Summarise what these people say are the significant aspects of the story and what these can tell us about the event. See Table on page 7.

15 What is the main message or meaning in this segment about what happened in Australian History?

16 The series is called Australia. The Story of Us. Does this story have any relevance to who we are today? Explain your views.

Applying or Testing the story

17 Operation Babylift has been criti- cised by some people. Look at the ac- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 count of the controversy (page 8) and TIMELINE 1 list the main arguments raised against the Operation.

18 Do you think Operation Babylift was justified? Explain your reasons.

6 Roger Climpson

Denise Scott

Ben Roberts- Smith

Penny Wong

Chris Bath SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

7 HEADINGA U.S government plan to transport Vietnamese orphans Vietnamese children and 14 caretakers. The plane stopped out of their war-torn country began in disaster. The very in the Philippines to get the sickest children to a hospital, first flight to leave Saigon, on April 4, 1975, crashed several and after more than a week in a refugee camp, the rest minutes after takeoff, killing 138 people, most of whom of the children continued their journey in a seated cargo were Vietnamese children. Some criticized the govern- plane. The babies were placed in small cardboard boxes ment for assuming that the children would be better off in lined with blankets. The two hundred children landed in America. But perhaps most disturbing was that many of the Seattle at the end of a long and strange journey. children were not orphans at all. Tran Tuong Nhu, one of a small number of Vietnamese During the final days of the Vietnam War, the U.S. gov- Americans living in the Bay Area at the time, volunteered to ernment began boarding Vietnamese children onto mili- assist with Babylift arrivals in San Francisco’s Presidio. She tary transport planes bound for adoption by American, and the other volunteers were surprised to hear children Canadian, European and Australian families. Over the next talking about their living family members. Many of the chil- several weeks, Operation Babylift brought more than 3300 dren did not appear to be orphans at all. children out of Vietnam. Nhu, Miller, and others approached the federal government As the Communists advanced into South Vietnam, rumors and adoption agencies with their concerns about the situa- about what they would do were rampant. Many South tion. They received no response and commenced a lawsuit. Vietnamese were desperate to escape. Children fathered by American soldiers were rumored to be in particular dan- In Vietnam, poor families would sometimes place children in ger. Heidi Bub’s birth mother, Mai Thi Kim, feared that her orphanages if they could not feed them. But in such cases, daughter would “be soaked with gasoline and be burnt.” parents did not intend to give them up, and would often For a mother desperate to protect her mixed race child in visit their children. Many parents, especially of Amerasians, the face of an advancing enemy, a chance to send the child were concerned about their children’s safety. In some to America was a ray of hope. cases, parents put their children on a Babylift plane, and later left Vietnam themselves as refugees, with the inten- From the start, Americans debated the Babylift’s purpose, tion of finding their children later. “Many of [the adoption execution and justification. records] lacked the consents from the parents,” said Miller. When Mai Thi Kim brought her daughter Hiep (Heidi Bub) Bay Area attorney Tom Miller, who would become in- to the Holt Adoption Agency in Danang, she was given no volved in litigation over the Babylift, called it “one of the papers whatsoever. last desperate attempts to get sympathy for the war.” A Congressional investigation suggested that there was “a A worker with the U.S. Agency for International Development total lack of planning by federal and private agencies.” in Saigon, Bobby Nofflet, recalled the tumultuous days of Newspaper headlines asked, “Babylift or babysnatch?” and Babylift: “There were large sheaves of papers and batches of “The Orphans: Saved or Lost?” babies. Who knew which belonged to which?”

Some Americans asked whether fear made it right to take The Babylift lawsuit argued that many of the children in the children from their homeland. A Vietnamese American airlift were not orphans, had been given up under duress journalist, Tran Tuong Nhu, wondered, “What is this terror during wartime, and that the U.S. government had an Americans feel that my people will devour children?” Some obligation to return them to their families. Attorney Tom felt that guilt may have been a motivation. Relief agencies Miller said that he brought Vietnamese birth parents into the in Vietnam were accused of being “Saigon’s baby busi- courtroom to plead for their children, but to no avail. Judge ness.” The New York Times quoted a Yale psychologist, Dr. Spencer Williams eventually threw out the Babylift case, Edward Zigler, who said: “We’ve been ripping [the children declaring it to be 2,000 separate cases, and not a class ac- of the airlift] right out of their culture, their community... it’s tion suit. “He sealed the records, and told us we could not some kind of emotional jag we are on.” contact any of the Vietnamese families and let them know where their children were,” said Miller. There were some Americans who welcomed the Babylift, including American aid workers in South Vietnam. Sister Only in cases where parents had found their children inde- Susan McDonald cared for 100 infants at a Saigon or- pendently could Miller’s group represent them. Eventually phanage. As the North Vietnamese moved closer to the only twelve children were reunited with their Vietnamese city, living conditions worsened. Food was in very short parents, but only after many years and lawsuits. Many supply, and gasoline was so expensive that McDonald children were caught in court battles between their birth would buy it by the quart. The orphanage depended on parents and their adoptive parents. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 supplies from overseas, and when these -- including food -- were no longer forthcoming, the children’s lives were For a number of Babylift adoptees, finding their birth par- at risk. McDonald had been looking for a flight to move ents is essentially impossible, because no records exist. In the children in her care to safety, but commercial flights recent years, many have established connections with each had ceased. When the military invited her to participate in other based on their shared experiences. Operation Babylift, she gratefully accepted. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/daughter/peopleevents/e_ On April 26, 1975, McDonald boarded a plane with 200 babylift.html 8 Creating the story Extending the story 19 Look at the way the filmmakers have created the story to appeal 20 Look at this story to the audience. Comment on how of one of the babies they have used these aspects of brought to Australia, filmmaking: correspondent for the international news chan- detached • Computer effects nel, Aljazeera. Does she think it was from that part of my life. I have always • Music to create mood justified? Explain your answer. talked about it like it was my cousin’s • Narration to tell the story experience or someone I vaguely know. • Reconstructions or re-enact- ••••• ments to give a feeling for the When I pitched my story for the Al times Cath Turner Jazeera Correspondent series, it • Editing to influence the rhythm was from a reporter’s point of view. I and movement of the story I have always known I had an unusual wanted to draw attention to the short • Use of experts to help provide start to life. But like everyone else, I and long-term effects of adoption; of facts and to apply the story to have no memory of my first few years. what happens when a child is moved today to a foreign country and placed with a • Any other aspects you can I do not remember anything about family that looks completely different. identify Vietnam. So I have always felt a bit I wanted to talk about identity, belong- ing, racism and multiculturalism.

It seemed like a story that people around the world would relate to, and Al Jazeera the perfect place to tell it. My editors agreed.

But as we got closer to the first day of filming, I started to realise how personal it was going to be.

Al Jazeera’s viewers know me as New York correspondent. I am comfortable SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 looking into the lens of a camera and talking about the United Nations, the New York Stock Exchange, the latest technology news or the economy.

But that does not mean you know anything about my family, my childhood 9 or where I grew up.

This documentary was going to change all that. I was going to lay myself bare in front of the camera, relive some of the most difficult moments of my life and open myself up to judgement.

But I also came to realise that it would be a journey of self-discovery and reflection; of resilience and success. And so I forged ahead, knowing that I am - and have always been - surrounded by an abundance of love and support.

It has been a very cathartic experience.

Ever since I found my birth mother in 2003, I have been constantly juggling two families.

Most people assume my Vietnamese family was the perfect end to a fair- ytale - and in many ways it has been. I have been able to answer many questions that have plagued me my whole life - about my birth father, my DNA, my heritage.

But it has also come with some more we realised how multi-layered, The story of ‘Operation Babylift’ has difficulties. how widespread and how devastat- been told many times over the last 37 ing the effects of ‘Operation Babylift’ years. And I believe it will continue to I grew up with my Australian family really are. be told, as the repercussions of such and identify most strongly with them. a dramatic event continue to ripple But I now have a Vietnamese family And for the vast majority of them, through generations to come. who wants to connect with me and there is no resolution or closure in would love nothing more than for me sight. Scarce records and paperwork http://www.aljazeera.com/pro- to move back to Ho Chi Minh City and combined with the fog of war make it grammes/aljazeeracorrespond- start a family. next to impossible to find the answers ent/2012/10/201210101123347249. so many are looking for. html I always try to make sure no one in ei- ther family feels neglected, abandoned Thousands of Vietnamese children ••••• or unloved. And I know I am very lucky were removed from their homeland to have two families who accept, re- and have no way of tracing their Note: You can see a gallery of photo- spect and genuinely like each other. bloodline or finding out their true iden- graphs of Cath Turner in Australia and tity. Some do not want to know; others Vietnam at this URL But this documentary is about much are desperate to fill in the blanks. more than just me. I am only one Finding out more SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 tiny piece of ‘Operation Babylift’. My Thousands of Vietnamese parents producer, cameraman and I met many have no idea what happened to their people who have been directly and sons and daughters, given up to the 21 Research more about Operation indirectly affected by it. And we barely ‘Babylift’. They may never know. They Babylift and prepare a PowerPoint or scratched the surface. can only hope their child is still alive similar presentation about the event and happy. And dream of a reunion. and the issues involved. The more people we spoke to, the 10 10 What has been the impact of this discovery and invention?

Putting the story in time and place

11 Mark on the map where this took place. See Timeline 2 and map this page.

12 If the first block of time below represents 60,000 years, and then SEGMENT 2 7 What was the main challenge facing each other block of time represents 25 Clark? years starting at 1700 and continuing until today, in which block of time did »»BIONIC EAR 8 How did he discover the solution? this story take place? Write the main date or dates for this event in that In 1978, Dr Graeme Clark is about to 9 How did Clark feel when he realised block. attempt the unthinkable. He’s de- Rod Saunders could hear? veloped a bionic ear that he thinks will make it possible for the deaf to hear. Now he just has to get it inside a human head. The challenge is how to insert electrodes into the cochlea, TIMELINE 2 so delicate it’s considered a surgical no-go zone. He finds a solution in the most classically Australian place of all – the beach. His invention will restore the hearing to 300,000 people in 100 countries.

Before you watch the story

1 Imagine that you could not hear. How would your life be different? List the ways in which you would have to change your usual way of living.

Understanding the story

2 Who is Graeme Clark?

3 What is his job?

4 Why was his treatment of Rod SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Saunders so important to them both?

5 How did Clark’s solution to deafness work?

6 Why was it so difficult and delicate to apply to a person? 11 audience. Comment on how they have Extending the story used these aspects of filmmaking:

• Computer effects 20 Below are some other post-World • Music to create mood War 2 Australian inventions. Discuss • Narration to tell the story each, work out a set of criteria for • Reconstructions or re-enactments evaluating them, and see if you can to give a feeling for the times rank them. • Editing to influence the rhythm and movement of the story Finding out more • Use of experts to help provide facts and to apply the story to today 21 Research the invention you made • Any other aspects you can identify number 1 further.

-- Black box flight recorder 1971 invented by Dave Warren. It records all flight data on a plane, allowing investigators to understand what Reflecting on the story went wrong in any accident. -- Ultrasound scanner, 1976, CSIRO. This involves bouncing ultrasound echoes off soft tissue in bodies and converting them to TV images, 13 List at least three things that you providing a view of medical abnormalities in various organs. It is most commonly known now for providing a picture of a foetus in uterus. have learned from this story about Australian history. -- Plastic spectacle lenses, 1960, Sola Optical. Plastic lenses are safer, lighter, more durable and more scratch-resistant than glass lenses. Analysing the story -- Inflatable escape slide and raft, 1965, Jack Grant. This has become a standard safety feature on all large passenger aircraft. -- Permanent-crease clothing, 1957, CSIRO. The technique called 15 There are several people who Si-Ro-Set uses chemicals to permanently alter the structure of wool make comments about this event. fibres so that they can be set with heat — such as in permanently pleated Summarise what these people say are woollen skirts. the significant aspects of the story and -- Hills Hoist, 1945, Lance Hill. The clothes line had been patented what these can tell us about the event. by Gilbert Toyne in Adelaide in 1926, but in 1945 Lane Hill patented See Table on page 13. the winding mechanism that allows the frame to be easily raised and lowered. 16 What is the main message or -- Solar hot water, 1953, CSIRO. This allowed water to be heated by the meaning in this segment about what sun. happened in Australian History? -- Spray-on skin, 1999, invented by Fiona Wood. This involves takig a small patch of a burns victim’s skin, using it to grow new healthy cells, 17 The series is called Australia. The and then spraying the new cells on to the damaged areas. This signifi- Story of Us. Does this story have cantly decreases recovery time and reduces scarring. any relevance to who we are today? -- Google maps 2003-2004, developed by Lars and Jens Explain your views. Rasmussen. This allowed desktop and mobile access to street maps, satellite imagery and street views. Applying or Testing -- Polymer bank notes 1988, Reserve Bank and CSIRO. These plastic bank notes are stronger, cleaner and safer from counterfeiting than other the story currency. -- Cochlear implant, 1978, invented by Graeme Clark. This ‘bionic 18 Cochlear implants are a great inno- ear’ involves implants in the head to stimulate the auditory nerve and vation, but not all deaf people believe have allowed thousands of people to recover their hearing. that they are desirable. Look at the ar- -- Winged keel, 1983, Ben Lexcen. This revolutionary addition to the ticle (page 14) and list the objections bottom of racing yacht Australia II allowed an Australian team to win the SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 that some people have to them. America’s Cup, the first time that a non-American yacht had won the event in its 132 years of competition. Creating the story -- Permaculture, 1972, Bill Morrison. This was a natural approach to agriculture that provided an alternative to chemical-based growing. -- Wi-Fi, 1992, John O’Sullivan. This allowed the reception and transmis- 19 Look at the way the filmmakers sion of digital information without wires and cords. have created the story to appeal to the 12 Charlie Teo

Karl Kruszelnicki

Noni Hazlehurst

Tim Costello SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

13 HEADING

Nineteen year-old twins Kimberly Klock and Ryan have never had the ability to hear properly, the sounds Klock went to my high school. Kimberly is Deaf and her can be extremely overwhelming (Cochlear). Unlike brother, Ryan, is hard of hearing, although they both natural hearing and speech development, which occurs got cochlear implants when they were younger. When I over a number of years as a baby, these patients are hit interviewed Kimberly about her cochlear implant, she ex- with all of the different sounds of the world at once. This pressed a sense of pride in being Deaf. “There’s nothing process is straining because they can hear everything wrong being Deaf. We embrace it, but Ryan likes having simultaneously, such as the lights buzzing, refrigerator the implant. It wasn’t for me,” Kimberly said (Kimberly). humming, pets moving, television, and the dishwasher There are several misconceptions about cochlear im- running all at once. They have to train themselves to “fo- plants, and to start, it is evident that the Deaf community cus on only a couple sounds, which non-hard of hearing is not all lining up to get one. people have learned to do naturally over time”.

Misconceptions exist about cochlear implants that In the documentary film Hear and Now, Paul and Sally should be clarified to help better understand the Deaf Taylor, a born-Deaf couple in their 60’s, decided to get community and options Deaf or severely hard of hearing cochlear implants together so that they might hear for people have. the first time in their lives. Their daughter filmed their -re actions as they dealt with this new, profound experience A commonly-held misconception about cochlear of sound in their Deaf worlds. Paul adapted well to the implants is that they are only successful on a narrow, implants, enjoying everything new he was learning about younger age group due to the fact that their bodies can the world and the sounds that filled it. While her husband still more easily learn and accept new information, like excelled with the new device, Sally had the opposite sounds they would be hearing for the first time. Ear, experience as her husband. She could not grow accus- nose, and throat specialist, Doctor Robert C. O’Reilly, tomed to all of the new sounds that filled her head and explains “children who are 12 months of age or older she would constantly have migraines as a result. Due with profound hearing loss in both ears are excellent to the stress it caused Sally, she lost the motivation to candidates,” but that cochlear implants are successful improve and most days would no longer attempt to wear on adults as well (KidsHealth). the outer piece of the cochlear implant (Hear). It is these mixed reactions to the cochlear implants that also play The cochlear implant team is composed of counselors a role in part of the Deaf community’s skepticism toward and doctors. The counselors evaluate the situation to cochlear implants. ensure that the people trying to get the implant would be suitable for the surgery and have the right reasoning for Perhaps the strongest argument the Deaf community getting one. They also conclude if the motivation to par- has against cochlear implants is that they are genu- ticipate in the difficult journey afterward is present in the inely proud of being Deaf and in some cases could not family. The doctors, on the other hand, are the ones who imagine otherwise. This is the case for many Deaf and look at the reasoning behind the lack of hearing and their hard of hearing people I know. Take Kimberly Klock, for relative compatibility for the procedure (Kids Health). example, who I used to play basketball with on our high school team. She would rarely have her cochlear implant Another misconception is that cochlear implants “fix” on, even around only hearing teammates. I asked her Deafness, which is a complete misunderstanding of how specifically about this in the interview to which she re- they are designed to work. After receiving a cochlear plied, “I didn’t wear it because it didn’t matter that I was implant, the patient is still technically Deaf or hard of Deaf around you guys... I would have needed Nichole hearing. It is not a “cure”. During a two-four hour surgery, [Kimberly’s interpreter] to interpret and I don’t like having the implant package is placed inside the skull, within it on” (Kimberly). Having the cochlear implant on just the inner ear. The microphone is worn, and hooked up wasn’t worth it for Kimberly, and as stated previously, to the package on the outside of the ear, which means she regrets getting the procedure. I also questioned her it can be turned on and off. In essence, regardless of about why she regrets having the procedure done if she having received a cochlear implant, the patient is still can turn the device off and still be Deaf, while she still considered Deaf for they are still unable to hear sound has the option of hearing if she so chooses. Why do I when the speech processor is turned off (KidsHealth). have an implant to correct my hearing if I am fine without Furthermore, even when the processor is turned on, the it?” (Kimberly). Simply because Kimberly is without patient will not hear sounds like a non-hard of hearing or something most people have, does not mean she wants Deaf person would. Getting the cochlear implant does it. Following this thought process, it would be easy to SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 not restore normal hearing. The sound heard is similar to find the pain endured, time spent learning and tuning out a robotic tone. sounds, and the cost of the surgery not worth it if the patient is content with their life in the Deaf community to As stated previously, it is a mistaken belief that all Deaf begin with. people want a cochlear implant. The results described above are not necessarily ideal. Not only are the inter- http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/cochlearimplants. preted sounds electronic-sounding, but for those who htm 14 6 How did Lexcen test his idea for a winged keel?

7 How was a winged keel a potential advantage?

8 What weakness did it still have?

9 How did the Americans try to coun- ter Australia II’s potential advantage?

10 Why did Australia II do so badly in the first four races?

11 What happened in the last of the nine races?

12 Why was Australia II’s victory so important to Australia?

Putting the story in time and place

13 Mark on the map where this took place. See Timeline 3 and map on page 16.

14 If the first block of time below represents 60,000 years, and then each other block of time represents 25 years starting at 1700 and continuing SEGMENT 3 Understanding the story until today, in which block of time did this story take place? Write the main

»»AMERICA’S CUP 2 Who is Ben Lexcen?

September 26, 1983. Rhode Island, 3 What is the ‘America’s Cup’ race? New York. The oldest international sporting competition in the world. 4 What is special about it? and Australia II trails Liberty in the deciding race of the America’s Cup. 5 What was Ben Lexcen’s and The Americans are undefeated since Alan Bond’s record in previous cup 1851. Our only hope, a little bit of challenges? AUSTRALIA II’S ACTUAL WINGED KEEL luck and a secret design. To beat the country that put man on the moon, Ben Lexcen knows a quantum leap in technology is needed. And he thinks he has the answer: an upside down keel with wings.

1 Look at thes photographs on the right. Describe the ‘winged keel’.

MODEL OF A WINGED KEEL 15 HEADING

16 to illegally channel money from that company into his own one — which still collapsed, and also left the other company very weak. Should he still be presented as a hero for his 1983 triumph in the America’s Cup? Discuss the arguments for and against.

Creating the story

24 Look at the way the filmmakers have created the story to appeal to the audience. Comment on how they have used these aspects of filmmaking:

• Computer effects • Music to create mood • Narration to tell the story • Reconstructions or re-enactments to give a feeling for the times • Editing to influence the rhythm and movement of the story • Use of experts to help provide facts and to apply the story to today date or dates for this event in that Story of Us. Does this story have • Any other aspects you can identify block. any relevance to who we are today? Explain your views. Extending the story Reflecting on the story Applying or Testing the story 25 Imagine that you have been given 15 List at least three things that you the task of writing or orally presenting have learned from this story about a justification for the Western Australia Australian history. 21 The victory in the race was a result Maritime Museum taking Australia II as of many factors. Identify as many ele- a permanent display. How would you 16 Why is national pride important to ments as you can in the reason for the persuade the museum to take it? a nation? victory. These may be human, techno- logical, financial and other. Finding out more 17 How can it be a negative attitude as well as a positive one? 22 The race was between two wealthy groups, sailing in an elite aspect of 26 Find out more about Australia II in Analysing the story sailing that few people are physi- the WA Maritime Museum. cally involved in. Why did people in Australia respond to it so well? 18 There are several people who make comments about this event. 23 Alan Bond is presented as one of Summarise what these people say are the heroes of the race. In 1992 Bond the significant aspects of the story and was declared bankrupt with personal what these can tell us about the event. debts totalling A$1.8 billion His family SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 See Table on page 18. bought him out of bankruptcy, with creditors accepting a payment of 19 What is the main message or A$12 million, a little over half a cent meaning in this segment about what per dollar owed. In 1997 Bond was happened in Australian History? sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to using his 20 The series is called Australia. The controlling interest in one company 17 Charlie Teo

Karl Kruszelnicki

Noni Hazlehurst

18 SEGMENT 4

»»EXPORTING AUSTRALIA

Paul Hogan couldn’t be more Aussie. He’s a former harbour bridge painter, locally successful comedian and face of the Australian Tourism campaign. But he wants to tell a quintessential Australian story to a global audience. The experts think he’s dreaming. Hogan creates mines the outback myth, ‘80s chutzpah and crocs to create Crocodile Dundee. It changes the way the world sees Australia. And Australian films, TV and music ride a wave of success around the globe.

Before you TIMELINE 4 watch the story

1 What is your image of the typical Australian?

2 What is the image of the typical Australian that non-Australians have? Is it the same or different? Why?

Understanding the story Putting the story in Analysing the story time and place 3 Who is Paul Hogan? 15 There are several people who make comments about this event. 4 What is the basis of his humour? 12 Mark on the maps the two areas Summarise what these people say are where the main action in the film took the significant aspects of the story and 5 How well known was he place. See Timeline 4 and map what these can tell us about the event. internationally? above and map on page 20. See Table on page 21.

6 What other Australian agents of 13 If the first block of time below 16 What is the main message or popular culture were well known? represents 60,000 years, and then meaning in this segment about what each other block of time represents 25 happened in Australian History? 7 What did he want to do with years starting at 1700 and continuing Crocodile Dundee? until today, in which block of time did 17 The series is called Australia. The this story take place? Write the main Story of Us. Does this story have 8 Why was there resistance to it? date or dates for this event in that any relevance to who we are today? block. Explain your views. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 9 How did he overcome this problem? Reflecting on the story Applying or Testing 10 Why did audiences respond to the the story film? 14 List at least three things that you 11 What impact did the film have on have learned from this story about 18 Search for several reviews of Australia’s image overseas? Australian history. Crocodile Dundee and discuss what 19 the reviewers say about it. Do the • Computer effects Finding out more and reviewers agree that a large part of • Music to create mood Extending the story the popularity of the film was the at- • Narration to tell the story tractiveness of the Australian image • Reconstructions or re-enact- presented by Hogan? ments to give a feeling for the 20 Research other elements of times Australian popular culture in the 1980s SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Creating the story • Editing to influence the rhythm (films, TV shows, radio, music, bands). and movement of the story Then prepare a set of interview ques- • Use of experts to help provide tions for people who lived during that 19 Look at the way the filmmakers facts and to apply the story to time. Questions could ask about what have created the story to appeal to the today they remember, what their favourites audience. Comment on how they have • Any other aspects you can were, how important or influential dif- used these aspects of filmmaking: identify ferent aspects were. 20 Peter Lalor

Noni Hazlehurst

Troy Cassar-Daley

21 SEGMENT 5

»»SYDNEY OLYMPICS

On a warm September evening in 2000, 27-year-old Cathy Freeman is moments from the race of her life. Watching on – 112,000 spectators in the stadium and an estimated three billion on TV. More than any other athlete at these games, Freeman carries the weight of a nation on her shoulders - in more ways than one. The race will become a moment of immense national pride prompting reflection on who were are and what we might become.

Before you watch the story TIMELINE 5

1 Talk to family members and ask them what they remember most about the Sydney Olympics, including the opening and closing ceremonies, and the athletes. Compare your results with the rest of the class, and create a summary of what and who is remem- bered most frequently. 11 Did Freeman realise the signifi- Australian history. Understanding the story cance of the event? 16 What does the narrator mean by 12 How did she celebrate? saying ‘Cathy’s win is a shared mo- 2 Who is Cathy Freeman? ment of hope — for what Australia Putting the story in might become’? 3 What is her main event? time and place 17 How did the Apology to the Stolen 4 Why is she ‘carrying the hopes of all Generations in 2008 continue that her country’ on her shoulders? 13 Mark on the map where this took momentum? place. See Timeline 5 and map this 5 Why was the occasion of the page. Analysing the story Olympics so important for Australia? 14 If the first block of time below 6 How is Cathy Freeman the ‘star’ of represents 60,000 years, and then 18 There are several people who the show? each other block of time represents 25 make comments about this event. years starting at 1700 and continuing Sum marise what these people say are 7 What is her background? until today, in which block of time did the significant aspects of the story and this story take place? Write the main what these can tell us about the event. 8 How does this add to the signifi- date or dates for this event in that See Tables on pages 23-24. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 cance of her role? block. 19 What is the main message or 9 How does she accommodate two Reflecting on the story meaning in this segment about what worlds? happened in Australian History?

10 What success did Australia have 15 List at least three things that you 20 The series is called Australia. The before Cathy Freeman’s event? have learned from this story about Story of Us. Does this story have 22 Ian Thorpe

Peter Lalor

Adam Goodes

23 Layne Beachley

Larissa Behrendt

Pat Rafter

24 any relevance to who we are today? used these aspects of filmmaking: Explain your views. • Computer effects Conclusion 21 A number of commentators provide • Music to create mood some final comments. What are the • Narration to tell the story 1 This episode has presented qualities or characteristics that they say • Reconstructions or re-enactments five incidents or stories that best summarise Australians? to give a feeling for the times the filmmakers argue helped to • Editing to influence the rhythm and make Australia what it is today. Applying or Testing movement of the story the story • Use of experts to help provide Do you agree with this assess- facts and to apply the story to ment of each of the stories? today 22 The main way that Australia pre- • Any other aspects you can identify Are there alternative stories sented itself to the world in 2000 was that might have been presented through the Opening Ceremony. On Finding out more and which explain equally as well or pages 25-27 is a description or sum- Extending the story better who we are today? mary of the main elements of that ceremony. Look at each and decide what You will get some ideas about message or meaning about Australia 24 This episode concludes with the this by looking at the National each was presenting to the world. words ‘The story of us is still be- Museum of Australia website ing written.’ Drawing from your own http://www.nma.gov.au/online_ Creating the story life and discussions with family and features/defining_moments for a friends, select 5 events or people that list of 100 defining moments as might extend The Story of Us from suggested by the Museum. 23 Look at the way the filmmakers 2001 to today. Briefly justify why each have created the story to appeal to the of the five would be worthy of being audience. Comment on how they have added to the series.

ELEMENT AND WHAT IT SHOWED ITS MESSAGE OR MEANING

WELCOME The Opening Ceremony began with the arrival of a lone rider, whose Australian stock horse reared dramatically. The stockman then cracked his stockwhip and a further 120 riders and their stock horses entered the Stadium and performed intricate steps, including forming the five Olympic Rings, to a special Olympics version of the main theme for the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River. A giant banner said “G’Day” to the world.

DEEP SEA DREAMING The stadium floor was now turned into a beach setting. 13-year-old Nikki Webster, as Hero Girl, arrived in beachwear and basked in the light. She seemed to fall asleep on the

beach and drift off into a dream. The sea and the various SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 aquatic fauna appeared and moved around the arena floor, forming the Great Barrier Reef. Nikki was then hoisted up in the air by over head wires and swam with the sea creatures.

25 ELEMENT AND WHAT IT SHOWED ITS MESSAGE OR MEANING HEADING AWAKENING This was led by an Indigenous songman and elder who took Hero Girl by the hand to lead her through the ancient past. The stadium was symbolically cleansed with the burning of eucalyptus leaves. A giant banner showing a Wandjina Spirit, the creative spirit from the Kimberley region, rose from the ground.

NATURE The Nature segment showcased the Australian outback, wildlife and flora. It began with various fire performers (jugglers, breathers) moving across the stadium floor, symbolising the advance of a bushfire. In the aftermath, performers representing the flora stir as the land is replenished with water and life. The stadium floor is filled with performers dressed in costumes representing various flowers including Australia’s distinctive wild flowers such as the Golden Wattle (Australia’s national flower), the Waratah (State flower of NSW), the Sturt’s Desert Pea, Water Lilies and Eucalypt flowers. The fauna, which were represented by 7 large paintings depicting the indigenous animal life in Australia.

TIN SYMPHONY This segment began with the arrival of Captain James Cook and crew with caged rabbit, with bicycles to represent his ship, HM Bark Endeavour. Music included an Irish jig montaged with drums, bush sounds and voice. A multitude of performers dressed as the iconic Australian bushranger Ned Kelly then appeared onto the stadium floor, with other outback items such as corrugated iron and storm water tanks present. A mechanical horse-like vehicle was present which then changed into a windmill. Cultural items such as woodcutting and whip cracking were showcased. Irish dancers present in this section danced on the corrugated iron sheets, with umbrellas made up to look like giant cogs and wheels showing the industrial growth of Australia. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 The tempo changed as Australia’s rural aspects were introduced. In the middle of the stadium floor, a shed was constructed from the corrugated iron sheets. Out of the shed came a unique representation of sheep, an important livestock. The sheep were represented by performers in cardboard boxes. Australian suburbia was then revealed as the performers emerged from the cardboard boxes with simulations of Victa lawn mowers to form the Olympics Rings. 26 ELEMENT AND WHAT IT SHOWED ITS MESSAGE OR MEANING HEADING ARRIVALS This introduced each continent with a float and costumes. The five continents manoeuvred into position to represent their respective coloured rings. By the crescendo of the segment, four of the floats (Asia, America, Europe and the Pacific Islands) surround the African float as the performers from all the continents rushed out from the middle to form the Australia continent. The performers stood with welcoming arms reached towards the audience, forming the coastline of Australia. Then many children dressed in the Olympic colours flooded into the arena and formed a solid shape of Australia. Hero Girl then performed the song “Under Southern Skies” with 5 people representing each continent standing with her, as the children formed a large representation of the Southern Cross constellation with their lanterns.

A NEW ERA AND ETERNITY The next segment had tap dancers filing onto the stands where the audience was sitting who also joined in with performance. Several cherry picker cranes in the centre with the floats began to slowly rise up with the crescendo of the music. The dancers were the workers building a new Australia for the future. The dancers in the stands rushed out onto the stadium floor to join their fellow dancers. Some of the dancers held square sheets of steel, that they both danced on and held in their hands to reflect light out as they danced. By the finale of this segment, large steel frames rose from each floated to form a tall structure. In the middle were Hero Girl and the aboriginal elder, who looked wondrously out into the audience, surveying the workers. Then as the close of the presentation came near, the performers from the other segments all come out and joined in with the dancers already dancing. A large representation of the Sydney Harbour Bridge composed of sparklers was set off in the middle of the stadium with the word “Eternity” shown in the middle of the bridge.

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