November 2008
Fred Kruger (Australian, 1831-1888)
William and Annie Barak with their son, David, at Coranderrk Aboriginal Station
c. 1875
A wonderful, long-overdue documentary series on SBS television about the history of ‘Terra Nullius’, the white occupation of lands through the persecution, massacre and genocide enacted upon the Aboriginal population.
Although some of the ‘academic’ comment lacks balance this can hardly be blamed.
As an Englishman who is now an Australian I feel deep shame over the actions of my predecessors and empathy towards those whose civilisation was uprooted. And so it continues …
In episode 3 the nobleness of the Aboriginal leader William Barak broke my heart:
“And may the Lord bless you sir,
and give you good knowledge.”
he wrote to his persecutors.
After his son had died
After the promises had been broken.
There is a moment in Greek tragedy when the hero realises all he knows is untrue: peripateum.
Barak must have had such a moment and he returned to his people and his cultural roots, in the last years of his life painting his memories: alive, wonderful, moving.
Vale
Dr Marcus Bunyan
Johannes Heyer (Australian, 1872-1945)
William Barak at work on the drawing ‘Ceremony’ at Coranderrk
1902
You must be logged in to post a comment.