EPISODE 2 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’ Australians are governed by ‘protective apprehension quickly turns to curiosity. Central Australia (1878–1897) legislation’ which binds them to Friendships form, some between reserves, controls their wages, powerful men such as Governor Arthur Throughout the history of white residency, ability to marry and travel. Phillip and the Aboriginal Bennelong. settlement, individual white men, good Yorta Yorta man William Cooper forms But by the time this pair leave for and bad, have significantly affected the Australian Aborigines League in London three years later, relations the first Australians. Supported by 1933 to continue his life-long campaign between the two races have soured. pastoralists keen to make their fortune, for equality. His nephew also becomes The bloodshed worsens as settlers the homicidal police officer Constable a political animal; Doug Nichols, a spread out across the land. Willshire, brings mayhem to the Church of Christ pastor who becomes Arrernte nation in Central Australia. Episode 2: ‘Her Will to Survive’ a champion for those affected by the With the authorities turning a blind eye, Tasmania (1803–1880) Maralinga nuclear bomb tests in the the telegraph operator Frank Gillen 1950s. The land grab moves south to stops him. Gillen’s other legacy is Tasmania. In an effort to protect the real comprehensive records of the Arrernte Episode 7: ‘We are No Longer estate prices, it is decided to remove people’s way of life. Shadows’ Queensland and the Torres the Tasmanian Aboriginal people from Strait Islands (1967–1993) Episode 5: ‘Unhealthy Government the island. The Government enlists Experiment’ Western Australia Eddie Koiki Mabo fights for Australian an Englishman for the job, who is (1897–1937) law to recognize that his people own helped by a young Aboriginal woman, Murray Island, where they have lived Truganini. Jandamurra is born on a cattle station for generations. In 1992, six months in the Kimberley in the 1870s. His Episode 3: ‘Freedom For Our Lifetime’ after his death and a decade after the hybrid life takes a bloody turn when he Victoria (1860–1890) statement of claim was first lodged in trades in his status as a police tracker Queensland, the highest court in the The threat of extinction hovers over the for his own people. Gladys Gilligan is land decides in Mabo’s favour. The first Australians of Victoria at the time one of more than 50,000 half-caste outcome overturns the notion of terra Wurundjeri clan leader Simon Wonga children plucked from her family and nullius, that is, the notion that the land seeks land from the authorities. He sent to a mission. The Chief Protector of belonged to no-one at the time of white soon gives up and leads his people to Aborigines, A.O. Neville, institutionalizes settlement. the banks of the Yarra River, claiming her first son, orders her to be arrested, a parcel of land, Coranderrk. With and denies her the right to marry three The series provides rich information, the help of a Scottish preacher, and times, but she remains resolutely and raises controversial and inspired by the farming practices of the independent. challenging issues and ideas about settlers, the community prospers – until Australia’s past, present and possible Episode 6: ‘A Fair Go for a Dark Race’ the authorities step in and resist self- futures. South-Eastern Australia (1937–1967) determination. Across the continent, the first 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 through the stories of Trugannini, an been estimated by historian Lyndall • Indigenous Studies. Indigenous woman, George Robinson Ryan that 1000 Aborigines remained a white government protector, and in the settled districts. Between 1826 This study guide provides discussion also through the views of Indigenous and 1831 a pattern of guerrilla warfare points, additional material and historians and commentators, some by the Aborigines began, and some classroom activities to help teachers of whom are descendants of the First colonists acknowledged the Aborigines and students develop an understanding Tasmanian Australians. Trugannini was were fighting for their country. The of Australia’s past and the experiences the daughter of Mangana, chief of the colonial government responded with of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Bruny Island people. A survivor of The a series of measures to limit the Australians through these rich Black Wars that occurred as European conflict, culminating in the declaration resources. settlement spread in Tasmania, her of martial law in 1828. This episode of Introduction to the guide life epitomises the story of colonial First Australians tells the story of what encounters in Tasmania, the clash happened in this period. The ‘Thinking about the period’ of two disparate cultures, and the • Why would the First Australians have section provides information about resistance and survival of indigenous begun guerilla warfare? the focus of the episode, and suggests Tasmanians. some key questions students should • Why would the government have be able to answer. THINKING ABOUT begun martial law? The ‘Exploring the story’ section THE PERIOD * Read the following background history is designed to help middle secondary to enhance your understanding of this This episode focuses on the period students follow and understand the episode. narrative and provides some from 1825 to 1860 in Tasmania when learning activities to involve serious conflict developed between students in the stories. the white settlers and military, and the First Australians. Rapid pastoral The ‘Exploring the series as a expansion and an increase in the representation of history’ section colony’s population triggered Aboriginal is to enable senior students to apply resistance at this time. European critical analysis to the series as an settlers and stock keepers had at first historical source. provided rations to the Aborigines The ‘Exploring issues and ideas’ and the during their seasonal movements across ‘Telling the story’ sections can be used the settled districts, and recognized at the teacher’s discretion with both this practice as some form of payment middle and senior secondary students. for trespass, but the newer settlers and stock keepers were unwilling to Episode 2 maintain these arrangements. ‘Her Will to Survive’ • If you had been part of the communities of First Australians, The land grab moves south to Tasmania. what might have been your attitude In an effort to protect the real estate to the white settlers? prices, it is decided to remove the Tasmanian Aboriginal people from • What emotions would you have the island. The Government enlists an experienced when you saw white Englishman for the job, who is helped by people for the first time, witnessed a young Aboriginal woman, Truganini. the killings and were moved from your country? In this episode, we see the dramatic effect of the spread of white settlement Around 1824, the Aborigines began to raid settlers’ huts for food. It has SCREEN EDUCATION 4 Background history • Archaeologists now believe the First Australians may have inhabited this continent for at least 60,000 and up to 100,000 years. • When Europeans arrived in Tasmania in 1803, it is believed that up to 6,000 First Australians lived in clan groupings with their own distinct languages and cultures that varied and sealers on the coast of Tasmania the communities and identify as depending on the region where they simply took Aboriginal women Indigenous. So while Trugannini may lived, and their local environment. in relations not of agreement or have been one of the last ‘full blood’ Clusters of families with special care, but of force, violence and Tasmanians, descendants from this kinship traditions lived with close rape. Children borne from these time did survive and carried on the links to the land. By 1828, it is relationships carried on Indigenous culture. estimated there were only 1,000 traditions and culture through the survivors. Here are some focus teachings of their mothers. questions that any study • The arrival of Europeans had a more • Between 1826 and 1831 as the of this period should try to devastating effect on First Australians pattern of guerrilla warfare by answer: than anything that had previously the Aborigines grew, the colonial happened in their history. Europeans • Why did Europeans first move to government responded with a series did not see that First Australians Tasmania (which in the 1800s was of measures to limit the conflict, had any rights, and simply took over known as Van Dieman’s Land)? culminating in the declaration of the land.