History Yearly Notes- By Jacky Murong

History Yearly: Notes 2005
By Jacky Murong

Australia’s Personality
- Personality Bradman

• Reputable sporting champion


• Generated confidence and unity in Australia during its time of need~ Great Depression


• Example of national spirit developed in sacrifices in WW1


• Displayed the qualities of nation’s true self


• Typical Aussie battler


• Developed obsession and skills of cricket when he was young


• One of the greatest cricketers that ever lived~ Achievements unparalleled


• National icon in his days


• Held many records for some time~ Highest international score~ Two test triple centuries in one year


• Champion on and off the field~ known for sportsmanship and devotion to his beloved sport~ gentleman- off the field- polite and courteous


• Given Australia’s highest honour, “Companion of the Order of Australia”


• Greatest character in Australian history


• Has left a commendable contribution and image on Australian history

- Event
“The Opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge”

• Significant to Australian history~ marked the beginning of one of Australia’s most famous and well-known icons


• World’s largest steel arch bridge


• Helps the development and expansion of the city


• A symbol of industrial maturity and growth of city areas


• One of the most remarkable feats of bridge construction


• Symbol of Australian culture, continually represented in movies and photographs


• Focal point of Australia’s tourism and national pride


• Ongoing significance in Australian history~ New Years Day~ Australia Day


• Icon that will stand and be recognised well into the future


• Plays a huge part in Australia’s culture and history

Changing Rights + Freedoms of Aborigines- Definitions

• Rights: rights of a citizen of a country as specified by the law


• Freedoms: opportunities to do certain things

- Paternalism

• By 1901 Aboriginal population dropped to 60 000 (est.)~ 1788: 300 000


• Europeans and Australians believed that Aborigines were inferior because they:» wore no clothes» were pagan» didn’t speak English» were black (non-white)

- Social Darwinism

• All this was the underlying reason for paternalism


• Impacts: Aborigines were:» forced from traditional lands onto missions + reserves without consultation» given handouts (dependent on the government)» isolated and segregated from white people


• These were deemed in their best interests~ better than leading their ‘barbaric, nomadic lifestyle’


• Resulted in:» More discrimination + control» The creation of remote + isolated communities which had:          › no right to vote          › no right to reserve the basic wage or pensions

- Self-determination


- Policies

• Policy of Protectionism


• Aborigines were forced to live on reserves


• Aboriginal children could be removed from families and sent to homes or stations to be trained as servants or farm labourers and to make them ‘civilised’.  It was a way of salvaging them from their ‘primitive’ lifestyle.


• Described by some authorities as a system of “protection-segregation” (separation of Aborigines from the white society to protect them from its bad effects)


• Provided medical care, rations, blankets to those on the reserves and stations


• Led to the appointment of two white ‘guardians’ in NSW who had many powers to control Aboriginal people


• Federal government creates an Aboriginal Department which is under a Chief Protector.  This person had the right to take an Aboriginal person into his custody and arrest Aboriginal people without a warrant.  No Aborigines could marry without the permission of the minister of external affairs.


• 1913: Commonwealth report on Aborigines recommends that Aboriginal children should be taken from their parents so that: ~ the mixed-blooded children could be integrated~ the full-blooded children would lose their nomadic lifestyle›› Leads to Stolen Generation

Reactions to this policy

• Aborigines were forced to accept this policy up to 1914


• One Aborigine complained that Europeans stole his country and were stealing Aboriginal children by taking them away to live in huts, work, and read books like white fellows.


• The Australian Aborigines Progressive Association (1924) and the Aborigines League (1932) pushed for reform until changes were made.

Policy of AssimilationImpacts:

• Aboriginal children frequently taken away from their families and re-educated with white values under this policy


• Less full-blood Aborigines


• Limited recognition for those who fought in WWII and worked in the cattle industry


• Found difficulties getting work


• Some towns still segregated things


• Aboriginal man’s wages were less than white man’s


• Encouraged many to give up their traditional lifestyle to be more independent of the government


• Ostracised as the community was less accepting


• Often denied access to housing and health assistance


• Encountered resistance in shops, entertainment values and public places

Experiences of children under this policy:

• Taken away when still an infant


• Thought they had no family, no parents


• Thought they were white


• Harsh Treatment- treated like animals


• Sexual Abuse

- 1967 Referendum
Significance

• Important leap in the struggle for Aboriginal rights and freedoms- the movement of equality


• Gave the Commonwealth the power to make laws specifically to benefit Aboriginal people


• Allowed Aboriginal people to vote freely and gain proper citizenship


• Gave them more freedom in what they could do


• A policy made by the Commonwealth government meant uniform laws, instead of different ones depending on which state they were in


• Having the Council of Aboriginal Affairs meant Aboriginals had a political voice for the first time and some influence over the policies that governed them


• Made them equal to the rest of the white population