Do you ever have that one class that completely changes your perspective on an idea in the best and most educational way possible? Call me a nerd, but I love learning, especially about topics which I have little to no prior background information on. I will admit, I had absolutely no background knowledge about the history to Australia before moving here. Yes, I skimmed countless articles on how to live in Australia, but most of them explained to not tip waiters and to beware the deadly spiders, rather than recounting the tragic settlement stories. This is where my Discover Australia class comes into play. Quite honestly, I had no idea what to expect when this class started. It seemed like an "Australia for dummies" course (and in a way it totally is), but it also meets a mandatory requirement for all La Trobe Uni students, so it has some credibility for students of all backgrounds, even Australians. Having an amazingly caring and lively professor definitely helps pique my interest in the subject; however, the class recites the myths and stereotypes surrounding the settlement of Australia, and uncovers the stories that are rarely talked about yet unmistakably and regretfully true. I find that Australia is not too different from America in terms of settlement and colonization. Australia was settled and colonized by the British in 1788. It is said that the first fleet from England brought convicts to the new land, basically using it as a dumping ground and a penal colony. However, the British were not the first true settlers of Australia. The Aboriginal peoples predate British settlement by around 40,000 years. Despite this prior occupation, the British, led by James Cook, inscribed the law of terra nullius (land belonging to no one) upon their discovery of the land. This law wiped away prior Indigenous claim of the land, and set forth the exclusion of the Indigenous peoples from the Australian historical narrative for generations to come. It was not until 1992 during the Mabo court case that the doctrine of terra nullius was overturned. This court case challenged the Australian legal system and finally gave the Aboriginal peoples claim to the land that they rightfully deserve. This long-term battle for recognition took a lot of blood, sweat and tears and was nothing short of traumatic. Throughout the 200+ years of battle early genocidal massacres ensued, discriminatory practices were in effect and the Aboriginal peoples were taught to lose their identity for acceptance into society. A national healing and reconciliation process of the country has begun to rebuild the native bonds to the land and move forward from the tragedy of the past. I always find it interesting to learn the history of a nation, especially from the start of the colonization period. There is so much left out of certain historical narratives because of the shame and guilt that entails. However, I am a firm believer to telling and learning the full story - the good, the bad and the ugly. This class has opened my eyes and mind to the true and real Australia, and it has been so cool to travel throughout this country and have aspects of this class pop up. For example, before the start of certain events and meetings the speaker will recite the Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners: I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where QUT now stands, pay respect to their Elders – past, present and emerging – and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the QUT community. When I first began hearing this statement I was lost. Each of my professors said it before our first class started, and it seemed like a nice gesture to me, but I had no clue why it was being said. It was not until I learned about the current reconciliation process in effect that everything finally came together in my head.
I am excited to learn more about the history of this country in the last few weeks to come, and to hopefully keep having moments of clarity like these pop up, both in the rest of my time here and when I leave. xoxo, Samantha
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AuthorHi, I'm Sam. Welcome to my blog! Archives
September 2018
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