Australia Day Writing Challenge – A Dark History With A Bright Future

My ancestors were Convicts. The first to arrive was part of the First Fleet on board the Scarborough, which landed here on the 26th of January 1788. Others would follow in the years to come on the Second and Third fleets and my family has traced our lineage back to 6 Convicts that we know about. 5 of them were convicted of stealing (plus 1 non-descript “felony” which was probably stealing). In a time when the poor were so destitute and oppressed back in Mother England you could hardly blame them for such common and petty crimes. But I’m not writing today about judgement or vindication, I’m just trying to pay tribute and create some context for what it means to me to be an Australian on our National Day.

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Some might call them Convicts or even Invaders, but in my eyes my ancestors were Slaves. They were brought here against their will and they were put to work in chains when they got here. Life for them was very hard. The mortality rates on some of those old boats was as high as 30% so only the hardy and the lucky survived the months long journey. The chaplain of the colony, Reverend Richard Johnson wrote about the Second Fleet :-

“The slave trade is merciful compared to what I have seen in this fleet in that it is in the interests of the masters to preserve the health and lives of their captives, they having a joint benefit with the owners; in this (the Second Fleet) the more they can withhold from the unhappy wretches the more provisions they have to dispose of at a foreign market, and the earlier in the voyage they die, the longer they can draw the deceased’s allowance to themselves; for I fear that few of them are honest enough to make a just return of the dates of their deaths to their employers”

I am forever grateful and respectful of these men and women who endured such hardship because without them doing so I would not be here today. I am a 6th generation Australian.

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Over the next 2 centuries my ancestors and the young colony of Australia would cast off the Convict shackles, but a transformation into nationhood and a civilized society would not happen overnight. Some of these New Australians would become Bushrangers, initially escaped convicts, but later just outlaws who took up the practise of “Robbery Under Arms” and they had the survival skills to take refuge in the vast Australian bush. In the 1850s and 1860s there were notorious Bushranger Gangs that thrived during those Gold Rush years as they were helped and harboured by many. They were known as “The Wild Colonial Boys” and were mostly Australian born sons of convicts. The most famous of these was Ned Kelly, who wore a metal suit to protect himself in his final shootout with police in 1880. Ned Kelly went on to become a popular cultural icon and a symbol of rebellious anti-authoritarian attitude in Australia.

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In the same Gold Rush era was the Eureka Stockade which was another rebellion against authority in 1854. Gold miners at Ballarat were objecting to the imposition of a Miners License which was a form of “Taxation without Representation” that was a very similar grievance to that which had sparked the US War of Independence in the previous century. The Gold Miners fought the Colonial Forces of Australia and at least 27 people died in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade. There was a mass of public support for the rebels and in the aftermath of the bloodshed the Electoral Act of 1856 was passed which gave male colonists a vote in the lower house of the Victorian parliament. It is an example of Australians standing up to authoritarians and fighting for a “Fair Go”. In this instance, despite the casualties, there was a positive outcome.

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As the 20th century arrived, Australia became a formal self-governing nation in 1901. We have always had a culture of resenting authority telling us what to do, but we also are always ready to help out a mate who is in genuine need and now we had our own country. When the World Wars broke out in 1914 and 1939, it wasn’t really our fight but Australians answered the call. We sent our best and brightest young men off to the other side of the world to fight and die in horrendous circumstances against forces of Imperialism and Fascism.

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Since then we’ve fought against Communism and now Terrorism. As a people we try to help fight for a Fair Go even though we might sometimes be getting it wrong. We’ve joined some ugly conflicts which I personally wish we hadn’t but my point is that we aren’t shirkers and we don’t run from a fight if our mates need us. It’s not in our nature and it never has been.

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So if you ask me what it means to be Australian, I have to start by looking at our bloody history and acknowledge it. This is where we’ve come from and I know that I can’t hide from it. As an Australian my family history is part of who I am. I haven’t suffered or struggled as many of my ancestors did, nor taken part in any of those horrible events I’ve talked about, but they are part of our National Identity and I respect the sacrifices so many have made to get us where we are today.

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When I look back to see where I’ve come from, I don’t feel guilt. I know that as a people we’re not perfect but I feel proud that we’ve made it this far. I look forward to the future where we can continue to evolve and improve our civilisation and our way of life. Australia today and the future Australia are going to be better than the past. I know that cultural diversity is one of our strengths now and I welcome anyone to this country who genuinely wants to have a “Fair Go” and help make this a better place. I may not be one of the First Australians, but my lineage has been here for 6 generations now and we’re not going anywhere so let’s just get on with it and try to make the most of what we have together - A chance for a better future in a bountiful land. Not just for us, but for our kids and their kids too.

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This Australia Day I’ll be doing what many others will be doing all around the country. I’m taking my family to a mates house. The blokes (boys) will probably stand around the barbecue with a cold beer each, telling stories and talking about sport while we burn the meat. The sheilas (girls) will probably get stuck chasing the ankle biters (kids) around the backyard. They’ll be swigging a few champagnes while putting out the pre-made salads and snacks as they set the table to try to make sure everyone eats something. There might be a blow-up pool if it’s hot. The cricket will be on a TV somewhere and there will be plenty of ruckus (noise). I’ll probably eat and drink too much and fall asleep on the couch.

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I know it sounds like a cliché, but that’s one thing about being an Australian - We don’t care and we don’t pretend to be something we’re not. Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

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Images and Credits
http://williamsfamilyfirstfleeters.blogspot.com.au
http://screenanarchy.com
http://www.connect4designs.com.au
https://www.greenleft.org.au
http://www.worldwar1.com
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au
https://www.weekendnotes.com
https://www.theurbanlist.com