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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: sarah on Monday 02 March 15 16:34 GMT (UK)

Title: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: sarah on Monday 02 March 15 16:34 GMT (UK)
Looking foward to watching "Banished" coming up on Thursday Evening BBC2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/banished (http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/banished)

Also available on BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand 
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: LizzieW on Monday 02 March 15 16:46 GMT (UK)
I've set Sky+ to record it as my OH wants to watch it and he goes out on Thursday evenings.  It'll probably be really good, as some critics have already panned it.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Jazgran on Tuesday 03 March 15 22:28 GMT (UK)
Not sure if I want to watch it as my 5x gt. grandfather was transported.  The programme is set in 1788.  He went in 1830 so maybe conditions were a little better by then?
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: osprey28 on Thursday 05 March 15 22:15 GMT (UK)
Just watched it - seems promising - good first episode.

Osprey
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 05 March 15 22:28 GMT (UK)
Thanks Sarah - I will try to chase that up.  :)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: groom on Thursday 05 March 15 22:52 GMT (UK)
Just watched it - seems promising - good first episode.

Osprey

I agree, I enjoyed it.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: John915 on Friday 06 March 15 00:17 GMT (UK)
Good morning,

Just watched it - seems promising - good first episode.

Osprey

I agree, I enjoyed it.

Ditto

John915
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: smudwhisk on Friday 06 March 15 00:32 GMT (UK)
Not sure if I want to watch it as my 5x gt. grandfather was transported.  The programme is set in 1788.  He went in 1830 so maybe conditions were a little better by then?

My 4xGGfather was transported in 1814 for 14 years, three months after his youngest child was born.  Probably worth a watch, shall have to catch up on iPlayer.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 06 March 15 00:36 GMT (UK)
The information in the link above says that it is intended to focus more on the people and their stories rather than being historically accurate. (so a bit like Downton Abbey in that respect I am expecting)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: LizzieW on Friday 06 March 15 09:58 GMT (UK)
I've recorded it so will watch later, I see all the reviews are bad, so it's probably quite good  ???
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: sarah on Friday 06 March 15 10:17 GMT (UK)
Quote
I see all the reviews are bad, so it's probably quite good

Funny how we all love the "bad" programmes the best  ;D ;D
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: tjugg on Friday 06 March 15 10:45 GMT (UK)
It sounded as if would be good but its yet  another candle lit drama so you could see very little action just a black screen.  Why do they do that?
Linda
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 06 March 15 10:51 GMT (UK)
It sounded as if would be good but its yet  another candle lit drama so you could see very little action just a black screen.  Why do they do that?
Linda
Atmosphere and realism?  :-\
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: rosie17 on Friday 06 March 15 11:02 GMT (UK)
Just watched it - seems promising - good first episode.

Osprey

I agree, I enjoyed it.

Must agree also really enjoyed it ....roll on next week  :) :)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: rosijayne on Friday 06 March 15 12:48 GMT (UK)
I was a bit disappointed as I hoped we would see more of the conditions of transportation and what lead up to them being transported, rather than the convicts just appearing in Australia.

Gill
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Finley 1 on Friday 06 March 15 16:46 GMT (UK)
Yes loved it...
But wondered
I was a bit disappointed as I hoped we would see more of the conditions of transportation and what lead up to them being transported, rather than the convicts just appearing in Australia.

Gill

this bit as well..
Would have like to know more about the reasons for their transportation etc etc...

xin
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: groom on Friday 06 March 15 17:09 GMT (UK)
I suppose they didn't cover that as it is about the founding of the penal colony.

A good book that describes conditions of transportation is "Remember Me" by Lesley Pearse. This tells the story of Mary Bryant from Cornwall who is transported for stealing a silk bonnet. She gives birth on the way to Australia, marries and then escapes and tries to return to England. I think this was made into a television series a few years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bryant
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: rosijayne on Friday 06 March 15 17:26 GMT (UK)
Yes, I remember that as a tv series, and really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: bykerlads on Friday 06 March 15 17:46 GMT (UK)
I wonder if the language used was entirely accurate?
Specifically, the "bad" language, referring to the main theme of the first episode, ie the sexual availability of the female convicts and to who was entitled to avail themselves thereof.
Quite a lot of use was made of what seems to be modern terminology which didn't really ring true.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Regorian on Friday 06 March 15 17:56 GMT (UK)
I haven't seen it and won't. I threw my TV out in the mid 90's. Reading the posts, it seems inadequate not to show how people came to be transported. I believe transportation of criminal elements was started around 1712 and to colonies in North America and the British West Indies. I'm surprised the American colonies did not complain bitterly as they were generally sober, law abiding, god fearing people.

The switch to Australia, was presumably the loss of the American colonies in 1783. The interesting thing is that Australia has not become a gangster state. Given a second chance, the transportees could turn their lives round. Even in the early days, free immigrants multiplied and now Australia (with New Zealand) is one of the best places on Earth to live.     
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: bykerlads on Friday 06 March 15 19:30 GMT (UK)
It's not surprising that the transportees created such a peaceful and successful country. Most of them seem to have been transported for quite minor crimes, purely caused by hunger and poverty.
As Francois Villon wrote many years earlier :"Necessite fait gens mesprendre, et faim saillir le loup du bois"= Need makes  folk do wrong and hunger drives the wolf from the forest.
Our family has been in England for ever but at least one young lad narrowly missed transportation.
If I was Australian I would be proud of my "convict" forbears- what a stalwart bunch they must have been.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 06 March 15 19:55 GMT (UK)

If I was Australian I would be proud of my "convict" forbears- what a stalwart bunch they must have been.

I know I am!

I do hope we get this series soon  -  and I hope it isn't too sanatized!  It was tough and they had a hellish time for the first few years, when they didn't know how to treat the poor soil and the supplies from 'home' weren't getting through.

  I have a marine and a convict from the first fleet in my family, as well as one from each of the second and third fleets.  They were survivors, and they did well.  The marine chose to stay and settle when his service time was up, and the convicts didn't have much choice, but did well for themselves.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: davidft on Friday 06 March 15 20:10 GMT (UK)
I watched it but was not enamoured by it. They have given it the "soap" treatment and by the end I couldn't care what happened to any of them alas.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Old Bristolian on Friday 06 March 15 22:20 GMT (UK)
I have to agree - the acting was good but the script was terrible - rather flat and expressionless. I would think the actors were embarrassed having to say some of the lines. However I think the swearing was about the only thing that was authentic

Steve
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 06 March 15 22:22 GMT (UK)
I look forward to seeing this series when it comes this way - my usual gripe is that everyone looks far too clean to be real . . . . .  ;D ;D   

Do they have lots of great unwashed??
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: IMBER on Saturday 07 March 15 08:09 GMT (UK)
One of the main male characters had a very neat and short haircut, discussion of which distracted both of us from the action. I think it would have been helpful for many to have placed the events briefly into some sort of historical context. Difficult to comment here on the adult language authenticity. However, I note that they acknowledge that this is story about people and not about history. We'll watch next week to see where this is going.

Imber
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: lisalucie on Saturday 07 March 15 13:16 GMT (UK)
I enjoyed it but much the same as I enjoyed the bbc's adaption of the White queen....it makes a change from reality awfullness but I won't be taking anything it offers "historically" seriously lol...they all looked extremely clean and attractive considering they were just off the convict boat, but stop beats have the dribble on the tele lately  ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: polly50 on Saturday 07 March 15 16:39 GMT (UK)
Wiggy...not sure about the great unwashed, but they have beautiful teeth :)

Apart from the very unauthentic pearly whites the programme was quite interesting. I liked the different accents and I'm sure as the weeks go by more will be revealed about the convicts backgrounds and crimes.

Maybe the ending was a little soap opera like, but on the whole a good start to the series.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 07 March 15 20:40 GMT (UK)
 I remember reading "Sarah Dane" by Catherine Gaskin, This gives a good account of the trivial reasons for transportation,the conditions on the ships and at the penal settlements and how when their sentences were served many made good lives.
 Captain Bligh of the Bounty , was Governor  of N.S.Wales. He was an absolute martinet and was relieved of his post, much to the relief of all concerned.

Anyone remember the Ashes match when the scoreboard said " POMS----CONVICTS----"(Sorry, can`t remember the score) ?Viktoria.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Saturday 07 March 15 22:40 GMT (UK)
Governor Bligh was a strict man - but he didn't stand a chance against the corruption of the Rum corps - he actually did lots of good things.  And he was an A-1 navigator.   ;) ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: a chesters on Sunday 08 March 15 04:53 GMT (UK)
Gavernor Bligh was a strict man - but he didn't stand a chance against the corruption of the Rum corps - he actually did lots of good things.  And he was an A-1 navigator.   ;) ;)

And one h**l of a good sailor.

Some things haven't changed in the "business" world, have they?
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Sunday 08 March 15 05:12 GMT (UK)
Gavernor Bligh was a strict man - but he didn't stand a chance against the corruption of the Rum corps - he actually did lots of good things.  And he was an A-1 navigator.   ;) ;)

And one h**l of a good sailor.

Some things haven't changed in the "business" world, have they?

Not really - and yes a very, very good sailor.    ;)  Bligh was probably too late for this series though.  I am looking forward to the series coming to our TV. 
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Viktoria on Wednesday 11 March 15 00:18 GMT (UK)
 I agree, Bligh was indeed a wonderful navigator.
I`m not sure if his character , nit picking and wanting absolute  perfection was necessary for the post and won`t have really helped as he did not seem to be adaptable . Everything by the book, but of course at sea that is the way it had to be, so far from land with no communication  and the  captain the ultimate authority. However he was answerable to ---I suppose The Navy Board or Admiralty  so things had to be done as per regulations.
 He  was though , as has been stated, an excellent seaman. 
 That did not necessarily make him suitable as governor.Viktoria.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: osprey28 on Thursday 12 March 15 22:06 GMT (UK)
Just watched tonight's episode - has the series shaping up into a good drama - hope it keeps developing.

Osprey
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 12 March 15 22:53 GMT (UK)
Do hope the ABC starts showing it soon.   :D
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: andycand on Thursday 12 March 15 23:11 GMT (UK)
Do hope the ABC starts showing it soon.   :D

Banished will commence on BBC First (Foxtel) in June

Andy
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 12 March 15 23:28 GMT (UK)
Great - if you have foxtel!   ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Thursday 12 March 15 23:45 GMT (UK)
I remember reading "Sarah Dane" by Catherine Gaskin, This gives a good account of the trivial reasons for transportation,the conditions on the ships and at the penal settlements and how when their sentences were served many made good lives.
 Captain Bligh of the Bounty , was Governor  of N.S.Wales. He was an absolute martinet and was relieved of his post, much to the relief of all concerned.

Anyone remember the Ashes match when the scoreboard said " POMS----CONVICTS----"(Sorry, can`t remember the score) ?Viktoria.

As Governor of NSW he was usurped by a military coup d'etat .  (the only successful one in Oz history)

The main protagonist was working behind the scenes.  The Military leader was sent to England.   

The replacement Governor was Lachlan Macquarie, a Military man, a Scotsman, and the first of the non Admiralty governors.

Bligh's administration put in place many of the procedures and practices that Macquarie developed further, such that without both of those administrations, there would not be the records to be found by family historians interested in the Penal Colonies.

I have NSW ancestors who supported Bligh's removal, and I have NSW ancestors who supported Bligh. 

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Thursday 12 March 15 23:55 GMT (UK)
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bligh-william-1797

This might help re Bligh.  Seems to be fairly balanced.

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: DavidG02 on Saturday 14 March 15 11:14 GMT (UK)
The information in the link above says that it is intended to focus more on the people and their stories rather than being historically accurate. (so a bit like Downton Abbey in that respect I am expecting)
Apparently this '' focus on not being historically accurate '' also includes , not only white teeth, but white casting.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/bbcs-banished-jimmy-mcgovern-defends-allwhite-cast-20150309-13z0fy.html

To be honest , I think its quite ridiculous to portray this time in our history and ignore the interaction between both cultures.

As noted an ABC radio today, '' could you present the Mayflower story and not include the Native American Indians?''
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Saturday 14 March 15 11:45 GMT (UK)
So, it seems there's no script to disclose one of the more infamous characters transported to New South Wales.  This chap  transported under a sentence of an English court, arriving with the First Fleet, so he was walking around on land in January 1788, weeks before the female convicts disembarked .... He was a John Black Caesar.  He was a man of colour. and he led a very colourful life in the penal colony too.   

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/caesar-john-black-12829

http://firstfleet.uow.edu.au/s_caesar.html

Perhaps it is not the colour barrier, but rather that there's too much material available for the script writers to draw upon.

If there are female convicts depicted in this TV show, it is depicting more than the first fortnight in NSW.     

19 Jan 1788 to Botany Bay.   26 Jan Flag raised Sydney Cove   2 Feb beginning of the landings of the female convicts.   7 Feb the Colony of NSW was proclaimed.  10 Feb first marriages

Yes, I can be pedantic  ::) but ..... they may as well call it "Non Historic founding of a Penal Colony"
..... even mentioning "Australia" is not chronologically correct.   First recorded official use was by Lachlan Macquarie and he did not even arrive until December 1809 ... 

The information in the link above says that it is intended to focus more on the people and their stories rather than being historically accurate. (so a bit like Downton Abbey in that respect I am expecting)
Apparently this '' focus on not being historically accurate '' also includes , not only white teeth, but white casting........
To be honest , I think its quite ridiculous to portray this time in our history and ignore the interaction between both cultures.

As noted an ABC radio today, '' could you present the Mayflower story and not include the Native American Indians?''

Exactly,  completely agree, quite quite ridiculous to ignore the interaction between both cultures. particularly when Governor Philip deliberately strove to interact with the locals.  :)

Cheers, JM

Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 14 March 15 12:15 GMT (UK)
To quote an old Hollywood maxim: "Never the the facts get in the way of a good story".

I haven't watched, simply because I don't much like "faction".
Either stick to facts, or make it a fiction.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Viktoria on Saturday 14 March 15 20:28 GMT (UK)
 Well you would expect Bligh to want accurate records etc, and you can imagine he was very efficient.His naval training and character would govern his attitude to everything he did.
 Where there is an honest man you can usually find other men who find that inconvenient as they cannot then  pursue their own ends.
 So it seems whether he was a martinet or not he would have been superceded, but he must have given enough reasons  and it is  sad if an honest man, -- I don`t doubt he was that-- behaved in such a way to give reasons which were not the real reasons, for his replacement.
 Sadly this would mask the ulterior motives of less honest men.
 Thanks for the information.Viktoria.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: bykerlads on Saturday 14 March 15 21:25 GMT (UK)
Am a bit puzzled by the apparent shortage of food and the seeming dependence on supplies from England.
A lot of the initial plot is to do with lack of food etc.
Why did they not get fish from the sea?
No hunting or foraging seems to be going on, either.
Am certain the actual transportees and the military must have been a bit more resourceful ?
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: groom on Saturday 14 March 15 21:39 GMT (UK)
I'm not sure that they were. I remember reading that they were dependant on supplies from England and there were problems when the boats didn't arrive as they were delayed by storms or ship wrecked.

"While the natives subsisted on local plants and fish, the settlers found few of the plants to be appetising. As the settlers appear to have been poor fishermen, most of their food had to come from the supplies brought with them on the ships. This resulted in their total dependence on a shipping trade monopolized by the East India Company and non-existent as far as Sydney was concerned."

http://www.australianhistoryresearch.info/the-first-fleet/
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Saturday 14 March 15 22:19 GMT (UK)
I have seen the first two episodes and enjoyed it. It does not claim to be historically accurate and is just a fictional account of events so I think only fair to judge it as you would a 'soap'. It is a little different from the usual offerings so for that alone worth a viewing.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Nova67 on Saturday 14 March 15 22:29 GMT (UK)
Just found this re screening in Australia in June:

http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/03/bbc-first-slow-tracks-banished-wolf-hall-to-australia.html

"Meanwhile colonial drama Banished, filmed in Australia with Russell Tovey and David Wenham, has also premiered to good numbers in the UK, scoring 3.4m viewers on BBC Two. Co-commissioned by BBC Two and BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand, it will not premiere here until June -three months after the UK".
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: John915 on Saturday 14 March 15 22:57 GMT (UK)
Good evening,

It's been a while since I covered this subject at school so I'm a little rusty. I seem to recall though  that they had been there for some time before meeting the first indigenous people. As the series only covers a 2 week period of time then we are not going to see them.

As for the blacksmith "escaping", just strolled off would be a better description as there seems to be no guard on them at night. Or they all looked the other way as the "body" was dragged across the beach. Buried the now dead body, washed themselves and presumably erased all drag marks across the beach. Then a second night of illicit wandering about the beach and still no guard.

Major Scott?  would be better off improving his military skills rather than his bedside skills.

John915

Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: andrewalston on Sunday 15 March 15 14:38 GMT (UK)
In an interview with Jimmy McGovern, he said that while the people portrayed in the series actually existed, all the events he wrote about were fictional. One example he quoted was that the convicts would not have been hanged; in reality they would have been flogged.

"Never let the facts get in the way..."
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Monday 16 March 15 00:19 GMT (UK)
Good evening,

It's been a while since I covered this subject at school so I'm a little rusty. I seem to recall though  that they had been there for some time before meeting the first indigenous people. As the series only covers a 2 week period of time then we are not going to see them.

....... and still no guard.

Major Scott?  would be better off improving his military skills rather than his bedside skills.


 :)  :)  :) Re NO Guard ..... there was actually no garrison force sent out .... the marines were charged with the responsibility to guard during the voyage, but in a formal sense they had no authority once they had supervised the landing of the convicts....  And many of the RN knew this technical legality .... it caused the NSW Governor some significant hassles.... 

 :)  :)  :) Re Major SCOTT .... who was he?

My school girl memories have
 Major Robert Ross,
his Adjutant, Second Lieutenant John Long,
Quartermaster Lieutenant James Furzer,
 Engineer Officer Lieutenant William Dawes and his four Company Commanders,
Captains James Campbell and John Shea and
Captain Lieutenants James Meredith and Watkin Tench.

Has Sergeant James SCOTT become a Major ...... ;D http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journals_of_the_First_Fleet#James_Scott

 :)  :)  :) First meetings of the two cultures:  From Day 1  :)  and available online for Jimmy McGovern to draw upon....

"18 January: After a voyage of eight months from Portsmouth in England, 11 sailing ships, carrying officers, sailors, male and female convicts and marines and their wives assemble at Botany Bay. To avoid a large group of Gweagal at Kundul, Captain Arthur Phillip, the first governor of a planned convict colony, lands at Kamay on the north shore. Aboriginal people show Phillip where to find water.

22 January: Phillip takes two cutters and a longboat to explore Port Jackson. Impressed by young warriors at Kayeemy, he renames it Manly Cove. While the English are eating, Phillip draws a circle around them in the sand. This ‘line in the sand’, secured by marines armed with muskets, sets up a physical and symbolic barrier between the Indigenous people and the English at their first meeting.

23 January: The English party spends two nights in tents on the beach at Cadi (Camp Cove, near Watsons Bay), heartland of the harbour-dwelling Cadigal (Grass Tree Clan). Phillip decides to abandon Botany Bay and establish the settlement at the spacious harbour of Port Jackson.
At Botany Bay, the red-coated British marines, who carry long-barrelled Brown Bess muskets, awe the Gweagal and Kameygal.

‘I am well convinced that they know and dread the superiority of our arms,‘ writes Surgeon John White, adding, ‘from the first, they carefully avoided a soldier, or any person wearing a red coat, which they seem to have marked as a fighting venture’. White sees Botany Bay warriors painted with stripes across the chest and back ‘which at some little distance appears not unlike our soldiers’ cross belts’."

Source: John White, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, London: Debrett, 1790:118. John White’s Journal is available online as a Project Gutenberg of Australia e-Book.

http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/go/hsie/background-sheets/british-colonisers-1770-1792#1788
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: John915 on Monday 16 March 15 22:35 GMT (UK)
Good evening,

I couldn't remember his name when typing and Scott was the only one that came to mind. Which is why I put a query after it.

As for a guard detail, it is and always has been the practice in the British Army to put pickets out at night in a position such as they are in. Even if it was only to safeguard themselves, after all, the prisoners couldn't actually go far with no food, tools or weapons.

John915
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Monday 16 March 15 22:45 GMT (UK)
 :)

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/phillip-arthur-2549  There's plenty of material in this bio to provide the script writers with material that has factual basis.

ADD
and here too :  http://botanybaymedallion.com/?page_id=692


Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: DavidG02 on Tuesday 17 March 15 05:45 GMT (UK)
Even if it was only to safeguard themselves, after all, the prisoners couldn't actually go far with no food, tools or weapons.

John915
And this is my issue with this portrayal.

Why did they know the convicts wouldn't go far? Because of the ''savages in the bush''

So it becomes , too me, a detail that needs to be mentioned.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Tuesday 17 March 15 05:54 GMT (UK)
Exactly so, and particularly when the marines were not actually assigned by their officers to guard the convicts anyways ..... mind you there were ships in the harbour that had previously housed the convicts at sea, so perhaps could have provided sleeping accommodation of a night .... and the marines may have mounted nightwatches  :) during that first fortnight....

Has anyone sighted any female convicts, or wives of the marines on dry land? 

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 17 March 15 06:31 GMT (UK)
From various books I've read, it wasn't only the 'savages' but the 'foreign' bush itself with it's lack of recognizable food (for European eyes anyhow) etc .

 ;) ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Tuesday 17 March 15 06:39 GMT (UK)
 :)  yes, and planting crops at the wrong time of the year, and in the wrong soil, but apparently this TV show covers the first fortnight after landing....   :)  :) so this is before the smallpox outbreak, but after  La Perouse landed at Botany Bay 26 January 1788.  So same day perhaps same time as Phillip was raising the Jack at Sydney Cove.

I wonder .... perhaps the UK RChatters will know :

Does this TV show have the authentic Union Jack .... you know, no cross of St Patrick until 1801 ?

Cheers,  JM

Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 17 March 15 06:42 GMT (UK)
first two weeks - they haven't had time to plant/reap anything yet!!!   ;D
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Tuesday 17 March 15 06:49 GMT (UK)
I know, and the women folk had not landed until those two weeks had passed  :)

 :)

but there's been mentions on this thread about Mary Bryant,  Gov Bligh and events later than Jan/Feb 1788, so why not mention the poor decisions re crops ....  :) 

 :)

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: spices on Tuesday 17 March 15 06:58 GMT (UK)
Gee I will have to reread David Hill's book

1788 - The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Tuesday 17 March 15 07:09 GMT (UK)
There's also the Gutenberg project .... it has contemporary journals ..... ;D

http://gutenberg.net.au/first-fleet.html

Cheers,  JM

Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: california dreamin on Friday 20 March 15 09:43 GMT (UK)
Hi all,

I'm afraid I'm struggling with 'Banished'.  Last night we were told again that the men were on half rations nearing starvation and were exhausted from their labours...however their libido's still seem insatiable.  The first pregnancy has been announced!  However, as we have been told again that there is one woman to every five men and they seem to be in constant demand only one pregnant woman seems very low.    I think they have now found a replacement blacksmith (hurrah) however if only they could find a few fishermen perhaps they would not be so hungry??   :-[

I think I may go back to my usual Thursday night viewing on an opposing channel - which show all things creepy and paranormal....my particular fave is the 'Haunted Collector'
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Friday 20 March 15 09:55 GMT (UK)
Well, here's the link to the Uni of Wollongong's info about rations  :) 

http://firstfleet.uow.edu.au/s_rations.html

And here's the link to the origins of the story about the orgy http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/the_myth_of_sydneys_foundational_orgy

And I gave the link earlier to Gutenberg resources .... there's plenty there that will help sort out the unbalance in numbers of females and males


Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Friday 20 March 15 09:59 GMT (UK)
Was this the birth :
http://www.nla.gov.au/infoserv/faq/index.php?lang=en&action=artikel&cat=10&id=19264&artlang=en

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: california dreamin on Friday 20 March 15 10:17 GMT (UK)
Hi majm

Thanks for your links - I have been looking at all of them and they are very interesting.  Have you actually seen any of 'Banished' yet?  Seriously the  true details bare no resemblance to this story.  About the only truth is they are in Australia.  We might as well be back on Brookside Close.   :(
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: roopat on Friday 20 March 15 10:21 GMT (UK)
I had been recording this series but haven't watched it yet - but following the reviews on here I've now deleted it, it sounds like the sort of thing that would irritate me big-time! ;D  ;D

Thanks all - that's freed up some space on my Sky box!

Pat
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: ankerdine on Tuesday 14 April 15 17:21 BST (UK)
So disappointed with "Banished" for all the reasons stated before.

I keep shouting "go and shoot something to eat" and "why don't you catch some fish?"

Also, they may be short of food but they certainly have enough oil for their lamps. Everyone seems to be walking around with a lamp of sorts.

We've never seen the infirmary but now we are told there is going to be some cannibalism as they will let the dying receive no further food.

Oh dear this could have been such a good, factual series.  >:(

Judy
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Wednesday 15 April 15 08:00 BST (UK)
And after the cannibalism, ummm..... will they have pigs flying through the skies, backwards ?  or perhaps the cow jumping over the moon or perhaps some other figment of some writer's block brain storm....

The oil in those lamps, was it from the whales off the coast of New South Wales? 

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Wednesday 15 April 15 08:09 BST (UK)
I like it as a watchable TV series. It does not claim to be a factual account, so I don't think should be criticised on that level. Yes, some things seem a bit odd like why they don't attempt to catch some wildlife for food, but I'm enjoying it anyway.  ;D
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: andycand on Wednesday 15 April 15 08:21 BST (UK)
Hi

We have to keep in mind that they would not have been familiar with the wildlife, and wouldn't have known in the early days what was edible assuming they could have got close enough to shoot. Nor would they have known what berries etc were edible.

I thought many of the lamps looked to be candles but I must admit I didn't look closely.

Like a lot of historical films and novels it is not intended to be a factual account and poetic license is taken It is up to each viewer to decide whether it is entertaining or not, personally I think it is ok and will watch the rest of the series but wouldn't say it is a 'must see' show

Andy
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: stevew101 on Wednesday 15 April 15 08:51 BST (UK)
I have to agree with Ruskie.

A watchable program, although perhaps not too hot on the facts.

Gave me some insight into my 3x g grandfather who was transported somewhat later.

Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: DavidG02 on Wednesday 15 April 15 09:59 BST (UK)
Hi

We have to keep in mind that they would not have been familiar with the wildlife, and wouldn't have known in the early days what was edible assuming they could have got close enough to shoot. Nor would they have known what berries etc were edible.
Andy
They would have if they talked to the local population. Oh wait they have been blacked out (pun seriously intended)

Also they were on the Coast. One of the compelling historical propellants was that most of the populated Middle Ages British Islands were befouled with waste in the river water , killing fish , and providing impetus to fish the sea. This led to bigger and better boats , which in turn led to exploration and dominance of the sea. And that's how the British Empire started . Pooey water  ;D

So they would have known fish.

End of superior smugness rant  :-[
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ringrose on Wednesday 15 April 15 10:10 BST (UK)
Disappointed after a good first episode.Switched off last week half way through as I wondered why I was wasting time watching it.
Ringrose
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: california dreamin on Wednesday 15 April 15 10:56 BST (UK)

We have to keep in mind that they would not have been familiar with the wildlife, and wouldn't have known in the early days what was edible assuming they could have got close enough to shoot.


So they are familiar with eating people and know they will be okay to consume?  ???

Personally I would take my chance roasting and eating a parakeet rather than some disease ridden convict. 

Sorry Andy - I couldn't help myself  ;D
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: John915 on Wednesday 15 April 15 22:56 BST (UK)
Good evening,

I have to say that although the inconsistency of the series is fairly bad. I do enjoy watching it, if only to pick out all the wrong bits.

Just under 1400 people were landed, where are they all?

46 marines had their wives with them, where are they?

2 years worth of supplies were landed, did they have an eating orgy the first couple of days?

Rationing of food didn't start until Nov 89

We see about 20 marines but 247 landed

Where is the provost marshall and the judge advocate? both fairly important to the running of the new colony

What has happened to the livestock that was landed ( I know that apparently 1 bull and 4 cows absconded into the bush and were not found again for 7 years) ? Were they punished on their return?

Oh, and the Union Flag is correct JM. about the only thing in the series that is.

John915

PS Surely fishing nets were included in the stores landed
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Wednesday 15 April 15 23:14 BST (UK)
It's a soap opera set in 1788 inspired by factual events - that is all.
 :)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: groom on Wednesday 15 April 15 23:36 BST (UK)
It's a soap opera set in 1788 inspired by factual events - that is all.
 :)

True - as long as people realise that, it's fine. It's a bit like a lot of the historical dramas set in the UK, they are only loosely based on fact, most of the time the people are too neat and tidy. I watched the first 3 weeks and have recorded the rest but am not really inspired to watch them.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Thursday 16 April 15 01:09 BST (UK)
Oh, and the Union Flag is correct JM. about the only thing in the series that is.

Agh, so there's some factual basis afterall  ;D  ;D  ;D 
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 16 April 15 01:57 BST (UK)
Quote
46 marines had their wives with them, where are they?

One of the marines died within three weeks of landing, and his widow married my GGGGgrandfather!     ;D ;D ;D   
So - one accounted for - except apparently this series is only about the first 2 weeks!    Oh bother - forget that.   ;) ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Thursday 16 April 15 02:12 BST (UK)
Quote
46 marines had their wives with them, where are they?

One of the marines died within three weeks of landing, and his widow married my GGGGgrandfather!     ;D ;D ;D   
So - one accounted for - except apparently this series is only about the first 2 weeks!    Oh bother - forget that.   ;) ;)

Exactly .... and NO women were landed in those first two weeks.  The landing of the women commences from 7 February.  So the women in the series, if it is for the first two weeks, are those women who were locals, born of locals, who were of course born of locals themselves.  http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/introduction.shtml

The first NSW Governor recognised these locals, but somewhere along the line, perhaps from about the time of the gold rushes (1850s), the migrating peoples to the Australian continent began to call for their own 'rights' to occupy land, regardless of who were the traditional owners.  Simplistically,
those who had been part of the day to day administration in the years BEFORE Queen Victoria, eventually retired, and their understanding was no longer part of the administrative culture.  And so developed a culture even among the general populace that the traditional owners were about to die out, and so their land was occupied by the new settlers, new squatters and etc.   But that's decades after 1788.

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: healyjfch on Wednesday 29 April 15 21:37 BST (UK)
Is the series finished ?
The last episode that I saw had Freeman hanging his friend Tommy Barret.
The soldier that Barret had assaulted must guard Freeman.



Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: osprey28 on Wednesday 29 April 15 21:58 BST (UK)
Yes that was the last episode of the series

Osprey
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 30 April 15 00:05 BST (UK)
Since the last episode I've seen Freeman in two other TV shows and Tommy Barrett in a film.  ;D
(all oldies)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Thursday 30 April 15 00:08 BST (UK)
Thomas Barrett - 27 February 1788 - A 17-year-old male. His crime was forgery, converting pewter metal into money, silver dollars. First person hanged in the colony of New South Wales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_legally_executed_in_Australia

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 30 April 15 03:51 BST (UK)
He was only 17?  :(
Sounds like he might have been a shrewd kid - if only he'd turned his talents and skills into legitimate pursuits rather than illegal ones.  ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama on Women Transported as Bonded labour
Post by: healyjfch on Monday 04 May 15 17:27 BST (UK)
On Wednesday May 6th TV programme at 9.30 pm TG4
Mna Dibeartha The story of 25,000 women nearly half of them Irish who were transported to Australia in the 18th Century as bonded labour
English subtitles
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 04 May 15 23:07 BST (UK)
Sounds interesting HealyJ. I'd like to check that out.
What is TG4 please?
And the English subtitles? What language is the programme in?
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 04 May 15 23:18 BST (UK)
Irish Gaelic??    ;)
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 04 May 15 23:20 BST (UK)
Irish Gaelic??    ;)

I wondered if that may be the case.  :)
So TG4 may be an Irish TV station?
Added: http://www.tg4.ie/
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: a chesters on Tuesday 05 May 15 03:45 BST (UK)
Irish Gaelic??    ;)

What about Australian ;D ;D
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: DavidG02 on Tuesday 05 May 15 03:49 BST (UK)
Its not like the news stories from Scotland that have had subtitles?  ;D

I admit my first thought on the subtitles for this was the broadness of the accent.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Tuesday 05 May 15 03:59 BST (UK)
I cannot understand any of these people who speak with accents.    ;D  ;D  ;D   
 ;D  ;D  ;D  ::)  ::)  ::) I don't have an accent when I speak.  ::)  ::)  ::)   :P  :P  :P 
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: DavidG02 on Tuesday 05 May 15 04:00 BST (UK)
Is that you Julia?  ;D  :P
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: majm on Tuesday 05 May 15 04:07 BST (UK)
Nar  she's imported, mate  :P .

Boat person,  like many other pollies from left and from right.  :)

Title: Re: New TV Drama on Women Transported as Bonded labour
Post by: healyjfch on Wednesday 06 May 15 13:22 BST (UK)
On Wednesday May 6th TV programme at 9.30 pm TG4
Mna Dibeartha The story of 25,000 women nearly half of them Irish who were transported to Australia in the 18th Century as bonded labour
English subtitles
The programme is in Irish which others refer to as Gaelic.
TG4 is an Irish TV station.

Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: davidft on Wednesday 06 May 15 20:18 BST (UK)
Well there will be no more banished the BBC have cancelled it. Russell Tovey has not taken it well


http://www.rootschat.com/links/01f9j/ 


personally I think it was the only sensible decision they could make ................
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: polly50 on Thursday 07 May 15 11:47 BST (UK)
It got off to a promising start....but by episode 3 it just seemed to go downhill.

Shame really as the subject matter (initially) I found very interesting.
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: california dreamin on Thursday 07 May 15 12:03 BST (UK)
Well there will be no more banished the BBC have cancelled it. Russell Tovey has not taken it well


http://www.rootschat.com/links/01f9j/ 


personally I think it was the only sensible decision they could make ................

I agree.  Maybe someone else will take a better stab at this story another time.   :-\
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: groom on Thursday 07 May 15 12:06 BST (UK)
Does it say why? I wonder if a lot of people, like me, watched the first two or three episodes and then didn't bother after that?
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Sunday 14 June 15 04:04 BST (UK)
The Secret River - Convict 2 Part Mini Series

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=722953.0
Title: Re: New TV Drama "Banished" The founding of the Penal Colony in Australia in 1788
Post by: jaybelnz on Sunday 14 June 15 05:29 BST (UK)
It starts in NZ 26 June. I'm looking toward to it, so will have to reserve my judgement until it screens!  Just seeing the trailers at present!

Jeanne