WDYTYA is coming to SBSTV in OZ

[perth tiger]

i just hope with tonights episode they dont get too political

perth

[deeiluka]

Don't think you could call it political, Perth. They just presented it how it was for Cathy's family......very tough.  I thought it was an excellent history lesson in many ways.

They didn't even mention that Alice Mero was one of the Stolen Generation, so certainly steered clear of that issue.

I'd really like to sort out the Sibley connection a bit more.  Once I get the DVD and can write down a few more details, I'll have a go.....just for my own interest.

......dee

[trish251]

I  tried to post last night - but had trouble getting on to RC. I enjoyed the show very much -  I think it was truly "Cringe" time for white Australia & it was presented at a very opportune time. I thought it was lovely that Catherine's Mum had hidden one of the worst aspects from her daughter (mother's do try to protect their children from reality at times    ).

It is hard to believe that I was an adult while some of these events were still happening and to get truly political I think we owe them much more than just an apology. Interesting that the Qld paper this morning is full of the new version of "The Biggest Loser" but not a word did I find about Catherine and her show. Guess the press here won't change overnight.

From a reseach point of view I loved the Dorset connection (& the accent at the end) as one of my immigrant families left Dorset in 1849.

Trish

[Ruskie]

Enjoyed this episode but was still left wanting more. I know there is only an hour but after sending her all the way to the UK I felt her Dorset roots, which would probably be relatively easy to trace, were neglected.

[drodgers34]

While you can't blame anyone live today Its hard not to be put off by some of the crap that happened to all people and especialy aborigines in that era. In all I thought the participants acted with real grace considering what happened.

Those familiar with australian politics will have chuckled that her ancestor was 'transported' to palm island for refusing to sign a "work agreement". Roll forward to 2005 (not 1925) and our last government was dumped form office largely beccause of its "workplace agreements" John Howard was often accused of living in the 50's but it seems it might easily have been the 20's. Funny also that he often berates those who have a 'black armband' view of australian history but this program was quite mild and kept to simple facts which were documented and quite damning (eg being allowed to go overseas to fight in a war but not to play rugby).

However Cathys mum realised Cathy did not need to be burdened with this, and ist just as well - though it might have motivated her rather than less. We can all take a leaf from that and while not ignoring history, don't go on so long that future generations might develop an unhealthy chip on their shoulders.

Looking for ward to Dennis Cometti

[johnfw]

Marginalising sections of a community is not unique to Australia of the past. It could be seen as 'Officialdom' doing their best to help the downtrodden and protect the others from some undue influence. In my family it was a case of isolating the 'disabled', who would by todays standards been provided treatment and nurturing to their potential.

Where on earth are all peoples treated equally, do gooders are discriminating in all corners. In Australia it was seen as the correct action for that time, we now know better.

(Seems someone got in before me)

[drodgers34]

Given the documents have survived you'd think the officials of the time saw themselves as "guardians" and the aborigines as "minors" in their care. What you also saw was examples of high standards of (english) literacy among aborigines when literacy was not yet consistent in the english world.

Roll forward to the 2000's and while officials use 'anti terrorist laws' to lock up people they see as inconvenient suggests that current populations shold not forget the lessons learned.

Dubious migration and people trafficking from eastern europe is another example
Reminds me of the story when Ghandi visited england to further his independence caluse and found that english residents were under similar harsh conditions to the indians back in india.

in the 1840s the conditions for the navvies building the Woodhead tunnell were described as among the worst in the empire and led to a lot of the OHS type laws of the era

[jadewing]

Interesting too that they failed to mention that the so called equality for Indigenous veterans stopped when they were discharged.  No pension, no returned serviceman land, no recognition, they couldn't even drink at the pub with the other veterans.    And some of them even returned to find their kids had been taken away while they were off serving their country. 

I find it frustrating that the show doesn't try to go further back.  Or maybe they do but don't like to show the familiar frustration of the brickwall?  EG: The digger's file should've shown his NOK and where he was born Etc.  And the 1871 Census would've shown the Sibley family too ...

Jane

[cando]

 The digger's file should've shown his NOK and where he was born Etc.

Jane

The file on naa shows his birth place and  NOK [2nd wife] - names of 3 chn from 1st marriage and mentions that 2nd wife had a child of her own prior to marriage to him. 

Cheers
cando