Living Cultural Diversity in Regional Australia: An Account of the Tow n of Griffith N. L. McCubben Doctor of Philosophy 2007 University of Western Sydney Acknowledgements Many people have made this study possible. One person who has been pivotal is my Aunt and friend Pat McCubben. Her invitation for me to live with her while I was in Griffith not only furthered my ability to carry out fieldwork; it has enriched my life in many ways. The journey that has brought me to this point began in 1998 when I started an undergraduate arts degree in tourism at the University of Western Sydney which was being co-ordinated by Dr Russell Staiff. Since then, Russell has inspired, encouraged and supported me in a range of ways, most recently as my principal PhD Supervisor. I would not have achieved what I have without him. The people most able to empathise with one are others who are also on the journey. For their unfailing support and friendship I would like to thank Lillian Barry, Jasmine Foxlee, Catherine Holmes, Ryan Kift, Kel Knox, Sid Parissi, Brad Purcell, Bob Ryan and Shane Smithers, collectively, the Backpassage Philosophical Society. Partners and family always put up with a lot. Thanks must go to John for his support and for never doubting my ability to do this no matter how much I tried to convince him otherwise. My family and friends, at times, must have felt like they were dealing with a complete alien—love and thanks for putting up with me to all of you. Without the co-operation and support of those people in Griffith who were involved, this study would not have emerged in the way that it has. I would like to thank everyone involved for their generosity—and I’m sorry I can’t name you all— especially Janine Rolles, Diane Erika, Margaret King, Rev. Matthew Trounce, Shirley Norris, and the Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council. There were of course many other individuals who assisted me either formally or informally with the study and I thank them too, in particular my anonymous interviewees who so kindly gave me their time. I hope they approve of the result. Several people in Griffith became friends and I would like to acknowledge in particular Frank and Mary Ann Signor, Polly Wilkinson and Joe Amato. A special thankyou must also go to Lucy and Peter Taylor for their interest and support, as well as to Eric Junkers. The tourism group at UWS is comprised of a fantastic bunch of academics that continually provided me with support, advice and encouragement. I would like to acknowledge you all, including Associate Professor Robyn Bushell, Dr Wendy Holland and Ian Knowd. Further institutional support came from the Centre for Cultural Research at UWS in the form of both supervision and by way of providing an active, vibrant, scholarly environment. In particular I owe a debt of gratitude to my co-supervisors Professor Bob Hodge and Professor Kay Anderson. I feel privileged to have had the support of academics of their calibre. For most of my candidature I was principally located in what was then the School Environment and Agriculture and I would like to thank former Head of School, Associate Professor Rob Mulley and the administrative staff of the school for their support. Statement of Authentication The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution. …………………………………… Table of Contents List of Figures List of Plates Abbreviations Abstract Introduction.............................................................................................................1 Multicultural Griffith Reading Griffith Culture and Identity Representation, Discourse, Ethnography On Theorising ‘Whiteness’ The Research Material Describing and Ascribing Cultural and Ethnic Identity Positioning Myself Australian Multiculturalism: Critical Questions Analysing Multiculturalism Multiculturalism and Indigenous Australia Similar Studies in Regional Australia Multicultural Griffith: Sites of Analysis Chapter One: Australian Multiculturalism: The Role of the State ……………..32 About Multiculturalism Immigration to Australia and Griffith Policies for Managing Cultural Diversity Scholarly Responses Cultural Diversity and Australian National Identity Multiculturalism Today Meeting the Challenges and Maximising the Benefits: The Federal Response Local Manifestations: Griffith Multicultural Community Council The Community Relations Commission: Promoting Multiculturalism Griffith City Council: Cultural Diversity at the Local Scale Conclusions Chapter Two: Multicultural Griffith for the Tourist: A Cosmopolitan City…….64 Griffith and Tourism Reading Griffith Cosmopolitanism and the Discourse of Enrichment: Constructing Griffith as Multicultural Ethnicity and Recognition Wiradjuri People: Part of the Cultural Diversity of Griffith? Constructing the Past Conclusions Chapter Three: Of Pioneers and Settlers: Constructing the Past………………..91 Museums and Heritage Sites: Cultural Representations Griffith Pioneer Park Museum i Background and Context of the Museum Telling the Story of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area ‘Griffith through the Decades’: The Sharam Hall Exhibition Inclusive Histories The Italian Museum Conclusions Chapter Four: Inscribing the Landscape: Soldiers, Settlers and Recent Arrivals………………………………………………………………………...128 Landscape Inscriptions Griffith’s Landscape War and the Supreme Sacrifice The Agricultural Endeavour: Mythologising Pioneers and Settlers A Monument to Cultural Diversity: The Lifecycle Project Conclusions Chapter Five: Celebrating Diversity: The Multicultural Festival……………...166 Multicultural Festivals: Performance and Celebration ‘La Festa: Faces of Australia’ Griffith’s Easter Festival: An Historical Sketch Celebrating Multiculturalism Griffith-style: La Festa 2004 Performing Community: Griffith’s Multicultural Mosaic Conclusions Chapter Six: Living Cultural Diversity………………………………………..195 Multicultural Griffith: ‘Quite an Exceptional Town’ The Managerial Gaze: ‘Anglo Saxons’ and ‘Italians’ Influence and Power Spatial Managers and Governmental Belonging Centres and Margins: Positioning Italians Constructing Others: ‘The Recent Arrivals’ Asserting Sikh Identity Multicultural Griffith: ‘Forging Friendships’ Chapter Seven: Multiculturalism and Indigeneity in Griffith………………….228 Intersecting Discursive Formations: Indigenous and Multicultural Discursive Constructions, Representational Practices Music, Dance and Storytelling: Incorporating Aboriginal Culture Griffith City Council: A Revealing Portrait Local ‘Knowledge’: Other Discursive Constructions ‘I’ve got nothing against Aboriginals but…’ Media Representations White Blindfold Histories Multiculturalism: A ‘House Built on Sand’? Conclusion: The Cultural World(s) of Griffith...................................................254 References Cited……………………………………………………………….262 Appendices ii List of Figures Figure 1: Wiradjuri country showing Griffith (AIATSIS, 1999) List of Plates Plate 1: View of the town of Griffith from Scenic Hill 7 Plate 2: View of the town of Griffith from Scenic Hill 7 Plate 3: Farmland on the edge of the town 8 Plate 4: The main irrigation canal running through Griffith 8 Plate 5: Griffith Visitors Centre 69 Plate 6: Part of the GVC interpretive display 70 Plate 7: GVC panel 'Multiculturalism' 75 Plate 8: GVC panel 'Indigenous People' 82 Plate 9: Griffith Pioneer Park Museum 96 Plate 10: Griffith Pioneer Park Museum 97 Plate 11: Forging a wheel at Action Day 2004 101 Plate 12: Making soap at Action Day 2004 101 Plate 13: Part of the Pioneer Park Museum collection 102 Plate 14: 'Taylor's Store' 103 Plate 15: A 'scarred tree’ 108 Plate 16: The first part of 'Griffith Through the Decades' 110 Plate 17: Part of 'Griffith Through the Decades' 111 Plate 18: 'Early Settlers' and 'Recent Arrivals' in 'Griffith Through the Decades' 115 Plate 19: Griffith Italian Museum and Cultural Centre 118 Plate 20: Part of the Italian Museum display 119 Plate 21 Banna Avenue, Griffith’s main street 133 Plate 22: Griffith War Memorial 137 Plate 23: The Fairey Firefly, a 'memorial to all airmen' 139 Plate 24: The Memorial Hall 140 Plate 25: Griffith Italian Prisoners of War Memorial 144 Plate 26: Griffith Soldier Settlers Memorial 147 Plate 27: Memorial to Pioneer Women 153 Plate 28: The 'pioneer/soldier settler' contribution to Lifecycle 157 Plate 29: The 'recent arrivals' contribution to Lifecycle 158 Plate 30: The 'Indigenous/Wiradjuri’ contribution to Lifecycle 159 Plate 31: The 'Italian' contribution to Lifecycle 159 Plate 32: La Festa 2004: the lantern parade 177 Plate 33: La Festa 2004: the crowd gathers 178 Plate 34: 'Community performers' at La Festa 184 Plate 35: The audience at La Festa 184 Plate 36: The 'Indian lady', the ‘piece de resistance’ of the lantern parade 188 Plate 37: A flower symbolising Cook Islander culture 188 Plate 38: One of the food stalls at La Festa 189 *All photographs were taken by the author. iii Abbreviations ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics CRC Community Relations Commission For a multicultural NSW CWA Country Women’s Association DIMIA Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs DIMA Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs GCC Griffith City Council GGHS Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society GMCC Griffith Multicultural Community Council GRAC Griffith Regional Advisory Council GSSM Griffith Soldier Settlers Memorial GWM Griffith