A STUDY GUIDE by Robert Lewis
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A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS http://www.metromagazine.com.au http://www.theeducationshop.com.au OVERVIEW OF FILM The series of three 54-minute episodes immigration program. Migrants from charts how the dream soon became war-torn Europe arrived en masse. It At the dawn of the twentieth century a nightmare for some. The insecuri- was social engineering on the grand- Australia was a social laboratory. ties of those at the helm meant that est of scales. The country would be A great experiment was underway at the start of the twentieth century fundamentally transformed forever. But to make this new country the most immigration policy was driven by fear the gatekeepers to the nation’s borders progressive and egalitarian nation in and racism, as well as by a vision had to take Australia and its people the world. of being a ‘British’ Australia. As the with them on this radical journey of White Australia Policy was developed change. The new arrivals had to be The country was busy initiating radical and enforced, many of the non-white white, and the dream was kept alive reforms, born of noble ideals, that residents were deported and barred through stealth and propaganda. The enshrined basic political freedoms and from entry. Vibrant communities were message was clear: ‘You’re welcome the rights of fairness and opportunity fractured and the Chinese population but on our terms and only if you adopt for all. At Federation in 1901, Australia dwindled dramatically. this country as your own.’ It was the seemed to stand as a beacon to the age of assimilation. world – a new nation with a utopian Reflecting its British heritage, Australia vision. Or so it thought … isolated itself from the Asian region. But the world changed and the 1960s The bombing of Darwin by the Japa- brought with it civil rights movements In fact, at the heart of this great, bright nese in 1942 highlighted the vulnerabil- and activism in the United States and experiment lay a dark paradox – the ity of this vast and sparsely populated beyond. The idea of an exclusively belief that to create a country of such land, and the film argues that the White white Australia was questioned from cutting-edge social ideals the popula- Australia Policy contributed to the without and within. This was a time tion had to be exclusively white. It was Japanese aggression. when the influence of the immigrant a fundamental contradiction that would population grew and those in the corri- take almost a century of extraordinary As the nation reeled from World War dors of power raged against the system evolution to try to resolve. Two, the great experiment that started and transformed a nation once again. at Federation was about to enter its Immigration Nation: The Secret History next crucial phase. A Department In 1975 Australia’s fears of ‘invasion’ of Us (Renegade Films, 2010) is a of Immigration was created and its from the north seemed to be finally three-part documentary on the history inaugural minister, Arthur Calwell, had realised with the arrival of Asian ‘boat of the White Australia Policy – from its a clear message for the Australian peo- people’. But the newcomers were SCREEN EDUCATION incipience in 1901 to the 1980s – and ple: ‘We must fill this country or lose it.’ migrants and refugees from war- its place in the history of today’s multi- ravaged Vietnam. Testing Australia’s cultural Australia. Fearful for its future and security, deep-rooted insecurities to their limits, Australia embarked on a dramatic it was this humanitarian crisis that 2 finally forced open the borders to Asian CURRICULUM • English – a study of a controversial immigration and crushed the White issue Australia Policy forever. APPLICABILITY Students can use Immigration Nation: • Media Studies – an examination of Immigration Nation: The Secret History The Secret History of Us as a source of the nature of documentary films of Us tells the story of a country com- knowledge and understanding about ing full circle. It is the story of how the development and overturning of Australia dared to dream of what it the White Australia Policy, and its place could become. The story of a nation in Australia’s immigration history. forced to confront its fears; the story of The film comprises three a vast land that has ultimately suc- They can also critically analyse it as a separate episodes: ceeded in living out the dreams of its representation of that history, using it to founding fathers, not by closing its explore how we know about the policy, • Episode 1: Origins of the borders but by opening them. and how certain our knowledge is. White Australia Policy in the twentieth century 1901–1945 More than simply a social history of It is a resource that can be used with different migrant groups, Immigration senior students (Years 10–12) in: • Episode 2: Post-war Euro- Nation: The Secret History of Us is also pean immigration 1945–1975 a dramatic political thriller told through • Australian History / Society and interviews with eminent historians and Environment / Politics – the de- • Episode 3: Beginning of the testimony of eyewitnesses, many velopment of the White Australia Asian migration and the end of whom have never told their stories Policy and its impacts over time. of the White Australia Policy before, to the momentous events that History curricula around Australia 1945–1980s built a nation. This is combined with encourage students to critically ana- © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION rarely seen archival material, specially lyse representations of history. This The film can be viewed shot sequences and cutting-edge study guide also offers some ways as an overall history, or computer graphics applied to the ac- in which the film can be discussed particular episodes can be tual places the events unfolded, both as a representation of history. used separately to suit local at home and overseas. curriculum requirements. 3 BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM Activity 1 – What do you know? Immigration Nation: The Secret History of Us is an exploration of the White Australia Policy. Before you watch the episodes complete the middle column of the table, summarising what you know about that policy. Do not worry if you cannot answer some of the questions – just record what you do know or think, and then you will be able to revisit this table and make any changes needed after watching and discussing the film. Aspect of the White Australia Policy Before After What was it? Why was it created? When was it created? By whom? Against whom? What were its main impacts/conse- quences – both positive and negative – on • the nation • individuals • particular groups? Why was it accepted by people? Why was it finally rejected? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION When did it cease to exist? How would you briefly summarise it? 4 Activity 1 – What ARE your attituDES? On 19–20 December 2010 The Australian newspaper published the findings of the Ipsos Mackay Report on public perceptions of Australia’s immigration history. Here are ten questions from that survey. Record your own opinion – Strongly disagree (SD), Disagree (D), Neither agree nor disagree (N), Agree (A), Strongly agree (SA) – for each statement. You do not need to share these opinions; they are yours alone. You may like to compare your answers with those of Australians in general after you have finished watching and discussing Immigration Nation: The Secret History of Us. Statement Your attitude SD D N A SA 1 Generally speaking, Australia has always been generous to immigrants. 2 Relative to other nations, Australia has taken more than its fair share of immigrants and refugees. 3 Australia has a responsibility to accept refugees. 4 Australia has always been a world leader in racial equality. 5 Australia should be a multicultural society. 6 Immigrants have enriched the Australian way of life. 7 There is a strong sense of community among immigrants. 8 Immigrants make for a more interesting society. 9 All immigrants should be able to maintain their culture without prejudice or disadvantage. 10 Generally speaking, what do you think is the level of racial prejudice compared to five years ago, and thirty years ago? Much more now More now About the same Less now Much less now Rather not say SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Five years ago Thirty years ago You can revise your answers if you want to after watching the film, and you can compare your answers to those of the general population by looking at the second last page of this study guide. 5 EXPLORING IDEAS AND Matthew Nagas’ grandfather had been out to defend the policy when it came ISSUES IN THE FILM brought to Australia as an indentured under the international spotlight during labourer to work on the Queensland the Paris Peace Conference held at sugar plantations. In order to escape Versailles in 1919. Episode 1: From 1901 to 1945 deportation he had to work in hiding. Many thousands were less lucky and At this momentous meeting of nations were returned to their Pacific Islands, designed to build a lasting peace, a Summary often to places they had little knowl- League of Nations was proposed. edge of or connection to. Japan pushed for a racial equality When the Commonwealth of Australia clause to be included in the settlement. was founded in 1901, the very last By World War One these policies, col- Hughes was implacably opposed thing the nation wanted to be was lectively labelled the White Australia and saw the measure defeated. He multicultural. Policy, had substantially reduced the returned to Australia a hero, but the number of non-whites in Australia.