EPISODE 5 Hard Roads to Glory © ATOM 2015 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-556-8 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au OVERVIEW Australia: The Story Of Us (2015, 8 x 45 minute episodes) is an extraordinary narrative about the people, places and events that have shaped the continent from the first inhabitants to the present day. This groundbreaking drama-documentary series weaves together stories of the nation’s origins and offers fresh insights into how Australians came to create the homeland we inhabit today. Alongside astounding CGI and cinematic sequences, the series features interviews EPISODE 5: CONTENT OF with important thinkers, HARD ROADS THE SERIES notable celebrities and TO GLORY national figures who take us The series of eight episodes cov- ers these stories and curriculum inside the stories that have Australia emerges scarred from the emphases (see pages 3-4). influenced Australian history. First World War, but also victorious and confident. New technology like planes and radios shrink the CURRICULUM continent. Charles Kingsford Smith uses both to cross the RELEVANCE Pacific and tell Australians the story as it happens. Not even the Great Australia: The Story Of Us is a suitable Depression can stop the completion resource for use with of the nation’s most ambitious construction project: the Sydney • Australian History at Years Harbour Bridge. In hard times 5 and 9 Phar Lap carries the hopes of the • English at Years 5 and 9 nation on his broad back. And top • Film Studies Year 9 secret Australian contributions from unheralded genius Ruby Payne- The series can be viewed as a whole, Scott prove to be a critical turning or as individual episodes, or even indi- point in a second global conflict. vidual segments within episodes. The war with Japan tests Australia to its limits on the Kododa Track. 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION In the classroom it can be used as a series of creative starting points for students to begin their exploration of aspects of Australian history and the people who made it. 2 EP/ YEAR, CURRICULUM THEME SEGMENT EVENT STARTING POINT EP 1 Worlds Collide 1.1 The Death Fleet Foundation of Australia Convict Australia 1.2 Megafauna: Prehistoric Australia Ancient Australia. Aboriginal Australia 1.3 Sealing Early economic development of the colonies 1.4 Pemulwuy and the Frontier Wars Aboriginal resistance. Frontier wars 1.5 Rum Rebellion Early economic and social development of the colonies EP 2 Break Out 2.1 The Great Escape Convict Australia 2.2 John Foley — The Convict who Saves the City of Convict Australia Churches 2.3 Caroline Chisholm — Mother of the Nation Nineteenth century immigration 2.4 Gold Fever Gold 2.5 Eureka Stockade Gold EP 3 Fair Go 3.1 Gold Robbery Bushrangers 3.2 Inventing AFL Sport. Aboriginal culture 3.2 The Overland Telegraph Explorers. Communication. Technology 3.4 Nellie Melba Famous Australians. Heroes 3.5 Fight for a Fair Go Wool. Unionism EP 4 New Nation at War 4.1 Gallipoli Submarine The AE2 at Gallipoli 4.2 Billy Sing’s Deadly Gift Gallipoli SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 4.3 The Gallipoli Letter Gallipoli 4.4 WW1 Nurses Western Front 4.5 Villers-Bretonneux Western Front. Heroes 3 EP/ YEAR, CURRICULUM THEME SEGMENT EVENT STARTING POINT EP 5 Hard Roads to Glory 5.1 Charles Kingsford Smith 1920s and 1930s. Technology and communications 5.2 Sydney Harbour Bridge 1920s and 1930s. Technology and communication 5.3 Phar Lap 1930s Depression. Heroes 5.4 Ruby Radar World War 2 5.5 Kokoda World War 2 EP 6 Nation Building 6.1 Holden Post-war industrial development 6.2 Lang Hancock Post-war economic development 6.3 Sydney Opera House Technology. National identity 6.4 Snowy Mountains Scheme Post-war migration. Post-war economic development 6.5 Melbourne Olympics and Television Technology and communications. National identity EP 7 Revolution 7.1 Rock ‘n’ Roll Riot Popular culture 7.2 Beach Wars Surf culture 7.3 The Rise of the Larrikin Popular culture 7.4 Evonne Goolagong Aboriginal achievements. Heroes 7.5 Cyclone Tracy Environment EP 8 New Frontiers 8.1 Operation Babylift Vietnam War 8.2 America’s Cup Sport 8.3 Exporting Australia Popular culture 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 8.4 Bionic Ear Technology and innovation 8.5 Sydney Olympics National identity 4 TIMELINE 1 EXPLORING IDEAS AND ISSUES IN THE EPISODE Understanding the story 10 What was the result of his SEGMENT 1 attempt? 2 Who was Charles Kingsford-Smith? Putting the story in time » CHARLES and place KINGSFORD 3 What was his war background? SMITH 4 What was he trying to achieve in 11 Mark on the map where this took 1928? place. June 8, 1928. Charles Kingsford Smith is attempting to cross the world’s larg- 5 Why was that significant or See Timeline 1 and map this page. est ocean. But the dashing World War important? One flying ace is flying blind, off course 12 If the first block of time below and in a storm that threatens to tear the 6 What qualities did he have that represents 60,000 years, and then each plane apart. He hopes to be the first to would make this possible? Add to the other block of time represents 25 years fly across the Pacific. If he survives. list as you watch the segment. starting at 1700 and continuing until today, in which block of time did this Before you watch the 7 Why was this attempt so danger- story take place? Write the main date story ous? Add to your list as you watch the or dates for this event in that block. 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION segment. Reflecting on the story 1 Who are your heroes today? Why 8 Who else was part of the crew, and – what qualities or achievements do what roles did they have? they have that make them heroic to 13 List at least three things that you you? List the criteria. 9 Why were people so interested and have learned from this story about involved in the attempt? Australian history. 5 audience. Comment on how they have used these aspects of filmmaking: • Computer effects • Music to create mood • Narration to tell the story • Reconstructions or re-enactments to give a feeling for the times • Editing to influence the rhythm and movement of the story • Use of experts to help provide facts and to apply the story to today • Any other aspects you can identify 14 What advantages or benefits were ••• there to air travel over sea travel? Extending the story Once again Australia has just cause 15 What disadvantages were there? for pride in the magnificent achieve- ment in aviation by which Captain 24 Imagine that there has been a pro- 16 What impacts were the new tech- Kingsford-Smith and Mr C T P Ulm posal to preserve the Southern Cross nologies of radio and flight having on have been the first to fly across the in a permanent museum display at Australia? Pacific Ocean. In this they share the Brisbane airport. The restoration and honours with Captain Harry Lyon and then the annual cost of maintenance 17 What might be a similar or compa- Sir James Warner both Americans who will be quite expensive. Prepare a case rable achievement today? have proved their pluck and hardihood for or against its preservation. in associating themselves with the two Analysing the story Australians in their splendid adventure. Then you might have a debate about Not even the exploits of the early navi- it in class. gators who sailed uncharted seas and 18 There are several people who faced unknown dangers can surprise The Southern Cross has actually been make comments about this event. the adventurous daring of the little preserved in this way. You can see a Summarise what these people say are band of men who blazed the trail by air YouTube clip at https://www.youtube. the significant aspects of the story and from the United States to Australia with com/watch?v=ujJ5rk5PJS0 what these can tell us about the event. only two rests on the way that have See table on the following page. accomplished a pioneer flight of 6,400 See photos this page. miles and have made the world smaller 19 What is the main message or by bringing the United States within a Finding out more meaning in this segment about what week’s touch of the Commonwealth. happened in Australian History? The flight of the Southern Cross bears witness to the fact that the spirit of 25 Research what happened to 20 The series is called Australia. The adventure that no risk can daunt still Smithy. There is an evidence-based Story of Us. Does this story have exists among the best of mankind. Her activity on the national Museum of any relevance to who we are today? crew placed their lives in the balance Australia website at http://www.nma. Explain your views. against their confidence in the skill and gov.au/interactives/ahm/smithy/ fortitude of their leaders, knowing well smithy_v1.html Applying or Testing that death was the penalty had the the story scale turned against them. In their bril- liant success they have written another chapter that is not the least glorious in 21 Imagine that you have been asked the underlying romance of aviation. to write a short report (maximum 250 words) about the achievement for your Argus 11 June 1928 local newspaper in 1928. Write that 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION report. ••• 22 Now read one from the time and Creating the story compare it to your own one.