View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Sydney eScholarship Australian Political Elites and Citizenship Education for `New Australians' 1945-1960 Patricia Anne Bernadette Jenkings Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney MAY 2001 In memory of Bill Jenkings, my father, who gave me the courage and inspiration to persevere TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................... i ABSTRACT................................................................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................. vi ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................................................vii LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................viii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................. ix INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 1 Theoretical Orientation ................................................................................... 9 Methodological Framework.......................................................................... 19 CHAPTER ONE-POLITICAL ELITES, POST-WAR IMMIGRATION AND THE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP .... 28 Introduction......................................................................................................... 28 Political Elites' Commitment to Large-Scale Post-War Immigration................................................................................................... 40 The Nationality and Citizenship Act (1948)........................................................ 54 The Continuing Consensus.................................................................................. 59 Conclusion............................................................................................................ 62 CHAPTER TWO-FORMAL MIGRANT EDUCATION FOR CITIZENSHIP ................................................................................................... 66 Introduction......................................................................................................... 66 Adult Migrant Education .............................................................................. 68 Camp Schools ...................................................................................................... 68 Continuation Classes ........................................................................................... 72 Campaign Problems Emerge ............................................................................... 76 Bathurst Camp School ......................................................................................... 76 Campaign Review................................................................................................ 87 Migrant Children in Camp Schools .......................................................... 93 Camp School Initiatives....................................................................................... 94 Review of Camp Schools..................................................................................... 97 Greta (New South Wales) Camp School ............................................................. 99 Migrant Children in the State School System......................................101 i Migrant Students' Impact on School Populations...............................................104 Haines Report (South Australia).........................................................................112 `Crisis' in Education - Implications for Campaign .............................................115 Queensland Survey.............................................................................................121 Conclusion...........................................................................................................127 CHAPTER THREE-THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA AND CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION: AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION .......................129 Introduction........................................................................................................129 Formation of the ABC....................................................................................131 Richard Boyer....................................................................................................135 ABC Radio as Cultural Educator .............................................................138 ABC's Campaign for Citizenship..............................................................143 Migrant Campaign Initiatives.............................................................................143 Campaign Expansion..........................................................................................145 Millionth Migrant and Campaign Review..........................................................152 Television, the Fledgling Medium......................................................................157 Conclusion...........................................................................................................158 CHAPTER FOUR-AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP CONVENTIONS 1950-1960........................................................................160 Introduction........................................................................................................160 Purpose of Conventions.................................................................................161 Convention Organisation..............................................................................165 National Elite Determine Structural Framework................................................165 ACCs Proceed as a National Event ....................................................................169 Official Change in Convention Format ..............................................................178 Migrant `Token' Representation .........................................................................180 ABC's Important Role.........................................................................................182 Convention Themes.........................................................................................187 Assimilation........................................................................................................187 Assimilating the New Arrivals......................................................................187 Report on the Progress and Assimilation of Migrant Children in Australia: The Dovey Report .................................................................192 Citizenship..........................................................................................................196 Conversion into Citizenship .........................................................................196 Citizenship Ceremonies................................................................................208 Conclusion...........................................................................................................210 ii CHAPTER FIVE-GOOD NEIGHBOUR MOVEMENT (NSW) 1950-1960 CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.................................................................................213 Introduction........................................................................................................213 The New Settlers League (NSW) ...............................................................216 League Formation...............................................................................................216 Citizenship Education `in Action'.......................................................................217 Migrant `Token' Representation .........................................................................220 First Regional Conference ..................................................................................223 Citizenship Ceremony Initiatives .......................................................................225 First Migrant Conference....................................................................................229 Organisational Review and Change of Name.....................................................230 Financial Constraints ..........................................................................................234 Watts Review of Campaign `Success' ................................................................235 Conclusion...........................................................................................................240 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................243 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................255 APPENDICES 1 Location of Migrant Centres Nation-wide 2 NSW Department of Education: Application for English Instruction for Non-English Speaking Migrants (Undated) 3 First ABC Broadcast Booklet, `For New Australians', 1, 1 June 1949 4 ABC New Elementary English Instructions Broadcasts, `For New Australians' Script, 1955 5 ABC Broadcast for Women, `Making Friends' Script, 1957 6 ACC Official Programmes, 1950 and 1960 7 Commonwealth Department of Immigration Brochure, `This is how you can help someone to become an Australian citizen', 1952 iii