Albert Namatjira

Albert Namatjira was born on the 28th of July 1902. An artist called Rex Batterbee taught Albert the techniques of watercolour painting. Batterbee took Albert Namatjira on a 8 week painting tour in 1936, this gave him the only tuition he was to receive

The first indigenous and exhibit professionally in western style is Albert Namatjira. He produced over 2000 paintings of his country and he founded a school of painting, which continues today. 

In 1938 there was a solo exposition of 41 works which was held in Melbourne, All these works were sold. Over the next 10 years Albert started to enter many more exhibitions, And he started to become a celebrity. In 1953 he was awarded the queens coronation medal.In 1954 he was flown to Canberra to meet the queen. In 1956 his portrait by William Dargie won the Archibald prize. He was granted citizenship in 1957. 3 films have been made about him before his death on 8th august 1959.

[Information from http://www.anbg.gov.au/biography/namatjira-albert.html]

Lionel Rose

 

Known as one of the best boxers, Lionel rose.  He was born in a small Aboriginal settlement in the year 1948, The settlement was called Jackson Track. When he was growing up he was studied his dad moves and boxing drills as he looked up to him and wanted to be  like him. At the age of 15 he won his first ever Australian amateur flyweight title.Lionel rose was the first boxer to win a world title.After missing out on the Tokyo Olympics he became a professional boxer and was trained by a Melbourne trainer Jack Renee. At Sydney stadium Lionel rose fought Rocky Gattallari. Everyone in the crowed supported & cheered on rocky, But in the 13th round, Lionel had knocked out rocky & the crowed had just seen a new hero emerge.

[Information from http://teachit.acreekps.vic.edu.au/cyberfair2001/lionelrose.htm]

Cathy Freeman

One of the aboriginals who has achieved high standards for their life is Cathy Freeman, which was born in Queensland, Australia. At the age of 17 in 1990 she won her first gold medal at the commonwealth games, And also became a member of the woman’s Australian relay team. She became the young Australian of the year after she had won. in 1994 she won a second gold medal in the 200 metre & the 400 metre races, becoming the first athlete in commonwealth history to achieve such a great accomplishment. After she won these races, she did a lap of honor and carried her Australian and Aboriginal flag, the public started to think more of her. Again she was named Australian of the year in 1998, after winning the 400 metre title in 1997. in the 2000 Sydney Olympics she was chosen to light the Olympic torch. She went on winning the gold medal in the 400 metre final. In 2003 she finaly announced her retirement.

[Information from http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/043/Cathy-Freeman.html]

Michael Long

Michael Long was born on the 1stof October 1959 and was an Australian ruler footballer. Michael started playing Footy for club in the Northern Territory after being recruited by the Essendon Bombers. Since then he has stayed with the Essendon Bombers and has won 2 premierships with the club(1993,2000),he won the Norm Smith Medal in 1993,he was an All-Australian in 1995 and he received his greatest honor by becoming inducted into the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. He has encouraged more indigenous footballers to come and step up like Michael O’loughlin and Adam Goods who now play for the Sydney Swans.

[Information from http://home.vicnet.net.au/~brad/players/long.htm]

COVER LETTER

SSG2

(Social Studies Group2)

2 Darcy Rd

Westmead NSW 2145

Ph: (02) 9635 7066

Fx: (02) 9633 4983

     _________________________________________________________________________________________

19^th February 2008

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

Australia

To Whom it May Concern,

I believe our group’s Preamble should be included in the Australian Constitution.

Our groups preamble explains, the origins, cultral significances, Famous people, dreamtime, stolen generation and the spirtual beliefs of the Aboriginals. All of these heading’s have a lot of detail in their specific topic range and they contain all correct and consice information on the topic while it links Aboriginals to the specific links above. The information in our preamble about Aboriginal History, it is accurate and helps you understand what the Aboriginals went through in their lives and when they went through the good times and when they went throught the hard times. This Preamble shows the complex summary of Indiginous Aboriginals who have lived in Australia from the beginning to today.

But why should our preamble be in the constitution?

Our preamble should be in the constitution because we have outlined the significance in Aboriginal history. The Aboriginals have a strong part in Australian History and we should preserve that by adding our preamble in the Australian Constitution and by this the Legacy of Indigenous Aboriginals will live on. When this is done the Aboriginal race will never be forgotten and Aboriginals can finally have an equal stand on the constitution.

Kind Regards,

Social Studies Group 2

(Social Studies Group 2)

Parramatta Marist High Year 9

Preamble

Australia’s population consists of Indigenous Australians. For starters the aboriginals were first to embrace Australia’s great land, their intense culture was denied in white society (they are not even treated fairly within the Australian community). Indigenous Australians are also responsible of increasing the identity of Australia. Therefore it is necessary that the indigenous people of Australia are included in the preamble of Australia.

The indigenous culture is said to be one of the oldest cultures known in the world, it is said to be over 40 000 years old. ‘Dreaming’ Is ones beliefs and spirituality. People pay tribute to their beliefs by panting various different artworks to express what they think, they also write stories to express things. There are many different dreamtime stories, To name 1 the ‘creation story’ by Aunt Beryl Carmichael which was a story that explained the creation of the world..

The aboriginal people are extremely close to their land, here are a few quotes spoken by the indigenous people themselves.

‘ We don’t own the land, the land owns us’

’ The land is my mother, my mother is the land’

‘The land is the starting point where it all began, It is like picking up a piece of dirt saying this is where I started and this is where i will go’

‘ The land is our food, Our culture, our spirit and identity’

‘We don’t have boundaries like fences, as farmers do. We have spiritual connections.

 the aboriginal children were driven more than 1000 miles away from their homes, the aboriginal children where taken to camps where there were nuns, chiefs and secretary’s working, they teach the aboriginals to adapt to their own daily life

They believe that the ancestors have made everything, Ants, Emus, Crows, Snakes, Possums, Kangaroos, lizards, Food, Water, Plants etc.

This is quoted from an aboriginal person named Paul Ah Chee Ngala-Manager.

[ Information gotten from http://aboriginalart.com.au/culture/dreamtime2.html]

Between the years of 1910 to 1970 100 000 aboriginal children were forced to be taken away from their families by police or welfare officers. Most of the children were at the age of 5, there was rarely any chances to fight against the police for right to keep your child, to be aboriginal was enough. This generation was called the “Stolen Generation”.

The officers literally carried them and forced them into their vehicl, they force them to change religion, language, personality, accent, life style and family in other words, make them forget their culture and turn them into people of the ‘white’ community.

Most of the aboriginal children were raised in churches or a state institution, some were even fostered or adopted by white parents. The children were sexually abused and were treated poorly. There was very little water or food. Education wasn’t seen as essential for them because the expectations of the indigenous children were very low, The white people only expected them become things like farmers or housekeepers.

The aboriginal children were taken away from their families as the government thought he had to take them away from their parents, especially the children who are brought up with an European father and an aboriginal mother. The main reason they took them was because they wanted to put them into a European society and eventually wipe out the aboriginals .

Just recently the Australian government said sorry for the children stolen in the “Stolen Generation” time, yet the Aboriginals still don’t think the word “sorry” is their Saviour to a better life.

The Australian Government is now trying to fix the school crisis and house crisis which the Aboriginals are facing. For some Aboriginals life is hard and they are just hoping for a better life.

It is amazing to see that the aboriginal culture is still alive today after going through all of those cruel years. Obviously it is not as active as it was many years ago but it is still here within the hearts of all the indigenous people who chose not to be conformed to the white society.

Another reason why the indigenous people should be included in the preamble is because there are many individuals that have made such a significant difference to this great country. For example , here are a few indigenous Australians who have made a difference by increasing the identity of Australia.

In conclusion Indigenous Australians being included in the preamble is a must because they are the founders of this great land and it is owed to them to be united with the non-indigenous people as one nation.  

Some famous aboriginals like Michael Long who is a famous aboriginal footballer.

Lionel Rose is the first ever indigenous aboriginal australian world champion at boxing.

Albert namatjira is considered to be the best ever known aboriginal painter

Cathy Freeman is famous for her 2000 olympic games 400 metre sprint triumph.