NAIDOC Week & the Christchurch Earthquakes

A couple of experiences in the last 24 hours have demonstrated the important roles that libraries and other memory institutions play.

Last night we attended one of the NAIDOC Week events, a showing of three films from the NFSA at the Glebe Public Library in Sydney:

My Brother Vinnie (2006, M)

Dir: Steve McGregor, Australia, 25mins
Prod: Sarah Bond, Writ: Aaron Pedersen

A documentary that explores the relationship between Arrernte actor Aaron Pedersen and his brother Vinnie who have grown up as each others’ shadow. From a very young age Vinnie gave his older brother Aaron duty of care. Aaron is a successful actor all the while being responsible for the care of Vinnie, who has mild intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy. The journey hasn’t been easy for either brother.

Footy The La Perouse Way (2006, M)

Dir: Michael Longbottom, Australia, 25mins
Prod: Lisa Duff, Writ: Michael Longbottom

A documentary that uses historical photographs to talk about the history of rugby league in the Sydney suburb of La Perouse, and how football has helped build a community that prides itself on being open to people of all cultures.
Clips from Footy The La Perouse Way can be viewed on ASO along with educational notes.

Island Fettlers (2006, G)

Dir: Kelrick Martin, Australia, 25mins
Prod: Pauline Clague, Writ: Kelrick Martin

In the late 1960s, Torres Strait Islander men made the epic journey to the Pilbara in Western Australia to build railways between remote mines in the desert and ports on the coast. Tom Saylor was one of the first wave of island fettlers; both he and his son Thomas have waited over 25 years to embark on a cultural pilgrimage back to the islands to reconnect, to reconcile, and to ultimately realise just what it means to be from the Torres Strait.

Each showed aspects of Indigenous life in Australia. The event and those that continue through the week are examples of day to day reconciliation as they foster understanding between cultures.

The other experience was seeing photographs taken by Ross Becker of Lyttelton & Rapaki on the outskirts of Christchurch. The latest photos are first and show the damage from the 13th June quake.Becker was commissioned by the National Library of New Zealand to document the quakes and the experience of the people of Christchurch and surrounding parts of Canterbury.

- Alex