EPISODE 4 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’ Across the continent, the first apprehension quickly turns to curiosity. Central Australia (1878–1897) Australians are governed by ‘protective Friendships form, some between legislation’ which binds them to powerful men such as Governor Arthur Throughout the history of white reserves, controls their wages, Phillip and the Aboriginal Bennelong. settlement, individual white men, good residency, ability to marry and travel. But by the time this pair leave for and bad, have significantly affected Yorta Yorta man William Cooper forms London three years later, relations the first Australians. Supported by the Australian Aborigines League in between the two races have soured. pastoralists keen to make their fortune, 1933 to continue his life-long campaign The bloodshed worsens as settlers the homicidal police officer Constable for equality. His nephew also becomes spread out across the land. Willshire, brings mayhem to the a political animal; Doug Nichols, a Arrernte nation in Central Australia. Episode 2: ‘Her Will to Survive’ Church of Christ pastor who becomes With the authorities turning a blind eye, Tasmania (1803–1880) a champion for those affected by the the telegraph operator Frank Gillen Maralinga nuclear bomb tests in the The land grab moves south to stops him. Gillen’s other legacy is 1950s. Tasmania. In an effort to protect the real comprehensive records of the Arrernte estate prices, it is decided to remove people’s way of life. Episode 7: ‘We are No Longer the Tasmanian Aboriginal people from Shadows’ Queensland and the Torres Episode 5: ‘Unhealthy Government the island. The Government enlists Strait Islands (1967–1993) Experiment’ Western Australia (1897– an Englishman for the job, who is 1937) Eddie Koiki Mabo fights for Australian helped by a young Aboriginal woman, law to recognize that his people own Truganini. Jandamurra is born on a cattle station Murray Island, where they have lived in the Kimberley in the 1870s. His Episode 3: ‘Freedom For Our Lifetime’ for generations. In 1992, six months hybrid life takes a bloody turn when he Victoria (1860–1890) after his death and a decade after the trades in his status as a police tracker statement of claim was first lodged in The threat of extinction hovers over the for his own people. Gladys Gilligan is Queensland, the highest court in the first Australians of Victoria at the time one of more than 50,000 half-caste land decides in Mabo’s favour. The Wurundjeri clan leader Simon Wonga children plucked from her family and outcome overturns the notion of terra seeks land from the authorities. He sent to a mission. The Chief Protector of nullius, that is, the notion that the land soon gives up and leads his people to Aborigines, A.O. Neville, institutionalizes belonged to no-one at the time of white the banks of the Yarra River, claiming her first son, orders her to be arrested, settlement. a parcel of land, Coranderrk. With and denies her the right to marry three the help of a Scottish preacher, and times, but she remains resolutely The series provides rich information, inspired by the farming practices of the independent. and raises controversial and settlers, the community prospers – until challenging issues and ideas about Episode 6: ‘A Fair Go for a Dark Race’ the authorities step in and resist self- Australia’s past, present and possible South-Eastern Australia (1937–1967) determination. futures. 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 stops him. Gillen’s other legacy is • The arrival of Europeans had a more • Indigenous Studies. comprehensive records of the Arrernte devastating effect on First Australians people’s way of life. than anything that had previously This study guide provides discussion happened in their history. points, additional material and THINKING ABOUT classroom activities to help teachers • Europeans did not see that First and students develop an understanding THE PERIOD Australians had any rights to the land, of Australia’s past and the experiences Key facts about the period and simply took over waterholes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous and the land with little regard for • At this time in Southern and Central Australians through these rich traditions and sacred sites. Australia, contact with white resources. • Every aspect of the land; the Europeans was advancing quickly for landscape, trees, rocks, birds and Introduction to the guide the First Australians in these areas. animals, were central to the First The ‘Thinking about the period’ • Aboriginal Australians lived in Australians’ traditional life and section provides information about hundreds of clan groupings with their culture, so their whole existence the focus of the episode, and suggests own distinct languages and cultures was threatened by the arrival of some key questions students should that varied depending on the region Europeans. be able to answer. where they lived, and their local The ‘Exploring the story’ section environment. is designed to help middle secondary • Clusters of families with special students follow and understand the kinship traditions lived with close narrative and provides some links to the land. learning activities to involve • Archaeologists now believe that the students in the stories. First Australians may have inhabited The ‘Exploring the series as a this continent for at least 60,000 and representation of history’ section up to 100,000 years. is to enable senior students to apply critical analysis to the series as an historical source. The ‘Exploring issues and ideas’ and the ‘Telling the story’ sections can be used at the teacher’s discretion with both middle and senior secondary students. EPISODE 4: ‘There is No Other Law’ Throughout the history of white settlement, individual white men, good and bad, have significantly affected the first Australians. Supported by pastoralists keen to make their fortune, the homicidal police officer Constable Willshire, brings mayhem to the Arrernte nation in Central Australia. BLIND MOSES With the authorities turning a blind eye, the telegraph operator Frank Gillen SCREEN EDUCATION 4 • The spread of the pastoral industries profoundly changed Aboriginal Australians’ lives because of their impact on the land. • Open conflict between First Australians and Europeans broke out across Australia: in NSW from 1788 to the 1840s; in Tasmania from 1804 to the 1820s; in South Eastern Australia in the 1830s and 1840s; in South Western Australia from their heritage and the manner in • Why did some educated Europeans 1829 to 1845; in central Queensland which the clans continued to value take an increasing interest in the in the 1850s and 1860s; in North their Law, their Dreaming, rituals and traditions and culture of the First Queensland from the 1870s to the way of life. Australians? 1890s; and in the Kimberleys and other outback areas from the 1880s Some focus questions that There is a list of references in this to the 1930s. While First Australians any study of this period guide for further reading and research. frequently fought back, they lacked should try to answer However, you will find the answers to many of these questions in the film. You gun power and resources. Recorded • Why did white pastoralists move will be asked after watching the episode history does not document all the through Central and South Australia? conflict, but in many areas across to decide how this film contributes to Australia, ruthless killings wiped out • What varied attitudes did Europeans your knowledge and understanding of, whole clans. have towards Aboriginal people at and your empathy with, the people who this time? were part of this historical period. • In the period 1878–1897, the building of the telegraph line from the north to • Why did conflict increase between EXPLORING THE the south of Australia signaled a new Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal era where traditional life of the First people? STORIES IN THIS Australians would never be the same • Why were