jigalong

Group members: Lei-Keane,Regan,Geoffrey,Lee-Ann

__What is a WIKI???__
A wiki is a source on the Internet where information can be shared. On wiki's it is possible to creation and edit many inter-linked web pages. This sometimes may not be a positive benefit of a wiki. It is similar to a blog, but the thing that differentiates a wiki from a blog is that a blog is a web log where people comment on events in their lives or that are happening in the world. A wiki however allows people to edit pages with information and to **DISCUSS** things on pages. Some examples of wiki's are well known like wikispaces, wikipedia and wiki leaks. They are also used to create collaborative works, for example community websites, corporate intranets, knowledge management systems, and note services. The software can also be used for personal note-taking. Wiki is also //FAST// in Hawaiian.

__Sources:__ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog Regan Fung (yes, he was a source)

By Lee-Ann Chen, with contribution from Regan

__Group Evaluation__
Completing these tasks has been a difficult time for our //Jigalong// group. It's been a trouble to send information to each other and often, many a late nights have been spent staring at a computer. Regan was not part of the Rabbit Proof Fence Wiki because apparently he wasn't a member yet. Lei-Keine and Geoffrey somehow couldn't post up their answers on the wiki and so I, Lee-Ann was left to post it up. Somehow, we have survived and learnt many things together like how, facebook is the most useful tool to ever have when trying to contact someone when you don't have their email address. Facebook has been a very useful tool for us as a group to discuss what had to be done and who had to do what. As well as that, we have also learnt a lot about Aboriginal culture and the Stolen Generation. We had a bit of trouble trying to get things done on time, but we managed in the end by working co-operatively together.

By Lee-Ann

Molly and the girls were well aware of the consequences if the tried to escape and were caught, yet Molly was prepared to take this risk.
When Olive was caught by Moodoo, she was whipped, her hair was cut off and she was locked in the 'boob', a windowless tin shed, for seven to fourteen days with only bread and water to survive on. I think Molly decided she would lead the escape because firstly, she was the eldest and secondly, she had learned about tracking techniques and gathering food from her time with her grandmother and mother. I think Gracie was reluctant to go because it was far away and a long walk, she already felt comfortable at the settlement, and she may have been afraid of the punishment that would ensue if they were caught. She might have changed her mind because Daisy and Molly were leaving already and she didn't want to be left behind. Music is used to create a tense, edgy and nerve-wracking atmosphere while they are escaping as if they are about to get caught at any moment.
 * What happened to Olive when she was caught?**
 * Why do you think Molly decided she should lead their escape?**
 * Why do you think Gracie was reluctant to go? Why might she have changed her mind?**
 * How is music used in the escape scene to heighten the atmosphere?**

__The Black Tracker__
I think Moodoo could have found the girls if he really wanted to, but I think he didn't want to find them because he was angry at the Moore settlement authority's and Mr Neville for not allowing his daughter and him to leave the settlement. I think Moodoo does not give up. Instead, I think he is pretending to search for the girls, but is not putting any effort in. He may be doing this because he doesn't want the girls to get caught.
 * Consider the role of Moodoo, the Aboriginal tracker. Do you think that he could have found the girls if he really wanted to? What reason may he have had for not wanting to find them?**
 * Do you think Moodoo gives up on searching for the girls? Why or why not?**

__Survival on the Journey Home__
I think each of the girls might have been feeling fear of getting caught and punished, and great longing to go back to Jigalong and their mothers. Their moods and feelings as the journey continued would have changed as they got tired and hungry on the walk back to Jigalong could have been feeling discouraged and tired as they struggled across dry terrain without barely any food and shelter. Mr Neville would have been keen to keep the news of the escape out of the paper because news reporters may have wanted to investigate the Moor settlement to see why the girls wanted to escape and may have found the living conditions unjust and disgusting. They then may have written what they saw in the news papers for the public to know or try to oppose Mr Neville's actions and authority. The woman at the farm might have been motivated to give the children clothes and food because she felt sorry for them because they were only children, but she may have informed the authorities of their whereabouts because they had tried to steal her chicken's eggs and also because there might have been a reward. Molly planned the escape to coincide with a storm so that their tracks would be hidden, and their scent could not be tracked. She also made sure their scent was lost, by walking through the river and stepping on stones. She ensured they had food by either stealing off passing travelers or farms, or asking for some food from passer's by. What does this concept of 'home' mean to Molly? Represent Molly's concept of home either as a drawing or as a poem.
 * How do you think each of the girls might have been feeling after they first escaped?**
 * How would their moods and feelings have changed as the journey continued?**
 * Why would Mr Neville have been so keen to keep news of the escape out of the paper?**
 * What might have motivated the woman at the farm to give the children clothes and food, but then inform the authorities of their whereabouts?**
 * Identify the various strategies that Molly uses to evade capture and enable the girls to survive and pursue their journey to the end.**
 * How would you describe the country that the girls had to cross on their journey? Use an atlas to help construct your answer to this question.**
 * The country the girls had to cross was very dry and barren. It was always hot during the day and there wasn't much nutritious plant life to eat. [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Rabbit_proof_fence_in_Western_Australia.PNG width="800" height="1175"]] **
 * Over the streams and deserts I go, **
 * Searching for the one place I need to go. **
 * We trekked through the bush, **
 * and followed the fence, **
 * To go back home. **

Imagine you are Molly aged about thirty, and the mother of two children. Tell your children what you learnt (life truths and practical skills) from your experiences in 1931.
 * Home is family and relatives near, **
 * Home is filled with memories so sweet. **
 * The eagle comes swiftly to guide us home, **
 * the thought of it fills me with contentment and strength **
 * To go back home. **
 * If I were Molly aged thirty, I would tell my kids how hard life was for Aboriginals back in 1931 and how I walked all the way from Moore River to Jigalong and the ways I kept alive. **

__Lei-Keine's Questions and Answers__
**__Jigalong Depot__**

**Jot down words used to describe Jigalong depot and share your images to form a class description.** Jigalong Depot is near the rabbit proof fence. It is a small area where the aboriginal people live with an aboriginal protector. **Why were depots like this established throughout Australia with Aboriginal Protectors?** Depots like these were built around Australia so that where ever there were aboriginal people, there will be a depot to ensure that they will remove children between certain ages to raise them up as "white". The depots would also supply food to aboriginal families. **Find out why it was necessary to hand out blankets, tobacco and flour.** The government handed out blankets, tobacco and flour. This was a necessity to keep the aboriginal people alive.

**__Arrival at the Moore River Settlement__**

**Write or explain how each girl might have felt as they arrived at the Moore River Native Settlement.** Molly as the oldest and most mature may have felt lonely, trapped and lost a sense of where her home is. Gracie and Daisy not knowing much may have felt lost from home and their mother/aunt. They may have felt like someone else, not knowing where they are. **How might they have reacted to seeing the nun for the first time?** The nun is dressed differently than other white and aboriginal people. The girls may have reacted to the nun as shy as seeing a nun for the first time and being greeted nicely and escorted them to their cabins. **What are your impressions of the conditions at the Moore River Native Settlement?** The conditions of the Moore River Settlement look suitable to the buildings of that period of time although it was dirty the quality of the buildings weren't in the best conditions. **Why do you think that some children just accepted their fate, whereas others were desperate to escape?** Some children may not of had the determination and strength to try and escape the Moore River Settlement and fear the consequences which have been done to previous children who were captured when running away. Other children may had had determination and a sense of belonging somewhere else so strong it would make them try and escape. **What were the consequences for those who escaped and were caught by the tracker?** Children that were captured were isolated in a small hut where their hair was shaved off and were whipped. After this they were kept in there for a period of time. **How did Molly, Daisy and Gracie learn what was expected of them at the mission?** The oldest girl slowly made them realise what was expected at the settlement by telling them what to do. The nuns were also ones who guided them also telling what them what to do. **Why would they have been denied the right to speak in their own language?** Children removed to the settlement weren't allowed to speak in their native language because that would mean the children would grow up still as half-castes but not as white. Also because white culture was educated into them so they could be "civilised" and "helped". **What kinds of activities were the children involved in to 'civilize and Christianize' them?** To help civilise and Christianize the aboriginal children, they were forced to pray before they ate; eat with a spoon, fork and knife on a plate; shower behind a translucent fence and say "please" and "thank you".

__Geoffrey's Questions and Answers__
__**Meeting Mavis**__

When we meet Mavis for the first time in the film, she is hanging out the laundry. Her boss calls out to her telling he to goo back to the house. Mavis scurries to the house with the basket of laundrytucked under her arm. Mavis was from Moore River Settlement herself and didn't like it. She wanted Molly, Gracie and Daisy to stay with her because she doesn't want them to be captured and sent back to the settlement. Mavis thought her boss wouldn't report Molly, Gracie and Daisy because Mavis's boss had tried to rape Mavis, and may have been embarrassed the girls had seen him with his pants down. Mavis rejects the option of running away because if they run away, her boss may try to rape her again.
 * What evidence is there to suggest that life is very difficult for Mavis?**
 * Why was she so keen for the girls to shelter with her for the night?**
 * Why did Mavis think that her boss would not report the girls?**
 * Why do you think Mavis rejects the option of running away?**

__**Returning to Jigalong**__ Gracie wanted to run off to Wiluna because a traveler told her there was a train to Jigalong. Molly and Daisy followed Gracie to Wiluna because they didn' t want to leave her or get separated. I think Gracie was captured because she was at a place where she could easily be found and disobeyed Molly's instructions. Also, the traveler that told her to go to Wiluna had set her up, and had told the authorities about their whereabouts. Riggs is frightened of the women as they tried to warn him away. I don't think Neville has changed his views as he still wants Molly and Daisy to be recovered. The closing scenes of the film start off with Molly and daisy reuniting with their family. Then, A.O. Neville writes a letter to Riggs telling him he wants to be informed of Molly and Daisy's whereabouts. Lastly, Molly and daisy are shown when they are older and living safely at Jigalong.
 * Why did Gracie want to run off to Wiluna?**
 * Why did the girls subsequently follow her there?**
 * Why do you think she was caught?**
 * Why do you think Riggs withdraws from the women's camp?**
 * Do you think Neville has changed his views at all?**
 * Write a short storyline describing the sequence of events in the closing scenes of the film.**

__**Working towards reconciliation**__ The English wanted the Indigenous Australians to be bred out because they didn't want a third race. Indigenous Australians and Europeans have equal rights today. English have stopped capturing Indigenous Australians to be bred out.
 * What did you learn from viewing //Rabbit-Proof Fence// that you did not know before?**
 * How does this knowledge help you to understand Indigenous Australians today?**

__Regan's Questions and Answers__
__**After watching the film**__

**Firstly, write down a few of your own thoughts about the film //Rabbit-Proof Fence.// How did you react to the film? Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? ** I enjoyed most parts of the movie, because it captured my attention by showing scenes realistically. (e.g The way the Aboriginal families have a close bond.) My reaction to the film was Mr Neville always thought he was right and never thought about other people's feelings. **What do you think are the film's key themes and issues?** The key theme of the film is the struggle physically and mentally throughout the girl's journey home. Some issues with the movie which was unclear to me was why didn't Constable Riggs fire at Molly's mother at the end of the film and how couldn't the constable see Molly and Daisy when Gracie was caught? **Write two different descriptions: one in a few short words or phrases and another in a full paragraph commenting on its style, what the film is about, where it is filmed, the key characters and what you learn from the film. Discuss the different impressions you create with the language you choose.** The style of the film is rural, and outdoor landscapes. There are tracking shots, a long journey without provisions, children following the Rabbit-Proof Fence to re-unite with family. It is set in Flinders Ranges, Adelaide. Main characters are Molly, Daisy and Mr Neville**.**

What I learnt from the movie is the importance of family to the Aboriginals and the Stolen Generation, and what happened when they were taken away.

** How would you describe the genre of the film? ** The genre of the film is suspense, adventure and biographical. ** The film passes through several phases- beginning at Jigalong, the journey to Moore River, the Moore River settlement, the first part of the journey, crossing the salt lake and finally, the return to Jigalong. What techniques does the director use to reflect and define these different phases? ** The director uses wide shots and tracking shots every time they change scene (e.g At the beginning there is a wide shot of Jigalong, on the train there is a wide shot and tracking, at Moore River there is a wide shot of the place and there is a wide shot at the river.  ** Which features of the events and scenes in the film surprised you? Explain your answer. **  The mos surprising part of the film for me was when Gracie left Molly and Daisy to find her mother. It is surprising to me because they had endured so much together and had expected Gracie to follow them.  ** What other films has Phillip Noyce directed? **   Some films which Phillip Noyce has directed is //Salt// and //T////he// //Bone Collector.//  **The film was shot in the Flinders Ranges in Adelaide. Why do you think the production team chose this location instead of shooting in Jigalong where the film is actually set?** I think the production team chose Flinders Range in Adelaide rather than Jigalong because the landscapes in Flinders Range might seem more Australian like, Jigalong might look old and shabby also there might have been a lack of provisions for the crew.

__**The Start of the Film**__ **How do the filmmakers begin the film and engage us in the story?** The film makers start the film by having a voice over done by the real life Molly saying what happened and where it was. There is also a birds eye view of the vast plain with many yellow bushes which symbolize the traditional art of the Aboriginals. **When the film begins, what do you think you are seeing at first?** When the film starts we think we are seeing bright yellow dots but in fact these are bushes. **What impressions do you gain of life in the desert Aboriginal community?** The Aboriginal Community in the desert are very close together and do many activities together (e.g. Hunting and collecting food items.) **Very early in the film, we see the eagle, Molly's totem, her spirit bird. Her mother tells her the eagle will look after her. When does the bird appear again in the film and why?** The Spirit Bird appears again at the end of the movie. It appears because Molly and Daisy have fainted and just woke up. This gives them both power and strength to continue walking home. **What impressions do you get of the role of the policeman in the community?** The impressions I get from the role of the policeman in the community is that he is powerful and highly respected and/or feared. **How do we know that the Aboriginal people fear the police?** We know the Aboriginal people fear the policeman because no one tried to help Molly, Daisy and Gracie when they were taken away. **By the end of the film, have your impressions of the police changed? Why or why not?** By the end of the film my impressions of the policeman have changed because at the beginning he acts all high and mighty and at the end he acts like he is a small mouse.

__**Mr Neville, the Chief Protector of Aborigines**__ **Why would some people today say that Neville's policies were racist?** People today would judge Mr Neville's actions racist because he never thought about the half caste's mother and always thought that their black and have no feelings just like an animal.

**What were his policies and official duties?** His official duties was to protect the half-caste against their mothers. **Why was he implementing a policy of removal of 'half-caste children'?** He was implementing a policy of removal of half-caste children since he realized the skin tone would soon fade away later through generations of marrying white people. **Outline Neville's attitude towards the girls. Does it change over the course of the film? Give some examples of words and actions that indicate this change.** Yes, he would get angry because he thought he was doing the right thing but actually it was wrong. **How would you judge Neville? Can he be seen as a product of his society and its values, or are the decisions he made universally wrong? You might like to consider some of Neville's own words in answering this question.** Key themes and issues: Policy of removing half-castes from their Aboriginal mothers, general treatment of their children in institutions, closeness of family laws in Aboriginal Families, perseverance against all odd are things Mr Neville thought about. I believe that he is definitely, universally wrong.

code code