First off, I would like to apologize for my abrupt manner to some postings.
I was born on an outback Station in the Northern Territory and I guess that's where the personality comes from. There was no time for any 'bull....' and you called it as you saw it.
The little boy 'Omah' is my grandson. I raised his father after his parent's passed away. Omah now lives in Maningrida NT with his biological family. He is the most gentle loving little boy that I know. Last time I flew up there he ran around picking frangipani and placed them in my hair as a greeting
I am defensive of our Indigenous people as their past history with the 'white man' has not been good, even on the Station where I lived back 70 years ago they had to eat outside and not mix with the 'whites'. Their pay was flour, sugar and new boots and shirt at Christmas.
I played with their kids and the Ladies would take me hunting and fishing with them, it was a great life for kids and no harm ever came to me or my siblings and not for one minute do I regret it. What I regret is the horrible way they got treated by most Australian white people back then.
Of course there are good and bad people of all races, and I am sorry for the one's who have a chip on their shoulder because of past history with their families. I hope one day this will pass and they realize that alcohol and drugs are ruining their culture and future.
Anyway I will try to be nicer in future and have a bit more tolerance to other people's postings (I am a nice person really) and never set out to hurt anyone.
Helen
The Belmont Bear said
02:55 PM Apr 11, 2017
Hi Helen, I don't think people should be taking offence with anyone who is passionate about something that they believe in providing that the discussion stays on the topic and does not attack the individual who posted it. I personally have no problem with our indigenous population, I know that they have issues to sort out but then again so does the rest of our society regardless of their colour or creed. I hope that Omaha's life works out better for him than what his ancestors have experienced in the recent past.
cheers
BB
brickies said
04:15 PM Apr 11, 2017
Thank you helping people on this forum to have a better understanding of our first people , I did a post recently about Adam Goodes who was guest speaker at a function we attend and was surprised at some of the comments from some on the forum .
Ron-D said
05:08 PM Apr 11, 2017
How people feel about Adam Goodes has nothing to do with skin colour ,personally Aborignals were here first some have a chip on there shoulder from past treatment and that's understandable ,but there well looked after now by social security,and they have all the opportunities any one else has and that's the way it should be,but when people are given free housing white or black anb they choose to destroy it that's what gets up my nose...
macka17 said
05:40 PM Apr 11, 2017
We've ALL got red blood.
End of story.
Personal attitudes only, are what affects it all.
Ignore the bad. Embrace the good. Specially the females (chuckle) And get on with your lives regardless.
Mr Goode.
Hmm Nuff sed. The name does NOT match that persons attitudes.
Unfortunately he and his like. are the ones that propogate Racism.
I'll stand up beside any person,man, or woman. That works for a living and looks after his family.
Regardless of colour or creed.
Jeez. I'm a POM. (long time ago)
What chance have I got..
-- Edited by macka17 on Tuesday 11th of April 2017 05:41:56 PM
jules47 said
05:41 PM Apr 11, 2017
Thanks for sharing a lovely part of you life with us, Helen - I have two grandchildren who are half blood - the best kids in the world - so clever and agile. Very loving as well.
Mike Harding said
05:51 PM Apr 11, 2017
Hi Helen
Thanks for sharing your history.
Internet forums are odd places, nothing like real life at all and names such as "Round the campfire" are complete misnomers because we only get to see a very small part of the person posting - it's like looking at them through a crack in the door.
Many of my friends and acquaintances have views with which I disagree, sometimes strongly, but that's fine because we agree and connect in sufficient other ways to cancel out the areas of disagreement. On the internet we do not have the option to get to know a person more roundly. Are they kind to animals? Do they smile a lot? Are they generous? And all those other good things which go to make a "nice" person. All we see is one focused opinion which may have been written when they had drunk a beer too many, were in a bad mood or perhaps in a lot of pain from a chronic injury - who knows? Of course, they could just be a d!ckhead but, in my experience, most people aren't.
I've been posting to news groups and forums for 23 years and I don't take anything written on them to heart... life is too short.
I had noticed your absence and am glad to see you back :)
MH
Nelly said
06:04 PM Apr 11, 2017
I was also bought up with aboriginals - they worked for my Dad - they stayed with us for a very long time. The last old fellow Jack was a kind and gentle person. He was very much a part of our lives. Yes, all societies have problems but I have a lot of respect for our 'people'.
Warren-Pat_01 said
08:52 PM Apr 11, 2017
Hello Helen,
I'm reading a book at the moment called "Dark Emu, BLACK SEEDS : agriculture or accident?" by Bruce Pascoe; published by Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation, Broome WA; website is www.magabala.com . A friend managed to buy a copy & has passed it on t me.
It blows out the concept that aboriginals were "Hunter-Gatherers" only. Initially, I thought it was off the track but my limited exposure to aboriginals catching fish in the Top End from 1969 to 1972 (my time working in Darwin) came back & I'm enjoying the book.
Of course some of the early European settlers & some even recent academics refuse(d) to accept the facts written by early explorers eg Sturt, Mitchell that clearly showed that aboriginals may have been the earliest farmers of the land & waters.
It is written (elsewhere) that it was not the lack of water that killed Burke & Wills (there was adequate in the water holes on the Cooper) - they had watched aboriginals harvest a grass seed (Nardoo?) but failed to copy the preparation which if not done correctly, formed a poison.
erad said
09:34 PM Apr 11, 2017
I have aborigiinal blood in me - my Grandmother was a half aborigine. I have ultimate respect for the genuine aboriginal person who could and did live off the land. There is no way I could even survive a day the way they did. Equally, I have nothing but disgust for the aborigines who live around the towns outback and destroy their housing, loll around all day outside the pub and generally create an awful image for all of them.
The book above is an excellent read. I was amazed at the ingenuiity shown by the aborigines in cropping and storing grains, in fish traps and generally surviving in the rugged outback. They had a culture which allowed the white man to come into their areas (and take them over). When they resisted in the only way they knew, they were shot. OK - this has happened all over the world, and to this day still goes on, but whole tribes and cultures were wiped out. The book even describes the language used at the time and it is obvious what was going on. It was officially endorsed by the powers at the time as well. That happened and nothing can undo it. The entire ecology of the outback was changed by the white man - sheep and cattle grazed the grasses down to the ground and within a few years, there were no more seeds or crops. Thousands of years of heritage and cultivation in one of the most hostile environments on earth were destroyed. Now, I do not support those who nowadays demand all things bright and beautiful for the aborigines. MABO (Money Available, Barristers Only) was the worst thing that could happen to this country. Development since then has been stifled. Local people could easily have particpated in the developments, instead of the token efforts they have now. Yes - I know that the developers would have destroyed local aeas, but even now, big business will win every time and the aborigines will lose yet again.
Regarding Burke & Wills, they saw the locals using the seeds and making a dough and baking it. What they did not pick up was that the seeds were washed overnight to remove the toxins. The toxins prevented the absorption of iron and the white men all became weaker and eventually died. Only King survived, and then only because the locals took him in and nursed him until the search party arrived to find him. A tragic story, but one which displays the arrogance of the white men of the time.
As I said at the start, I have ultimate respect for the capabilities of the original inhabitants of this land. Spears and axes were useless against muskets and whole cultures were lost. Where tribes used to live in relative peace, and arrangements were made for travellers to pass through areas, the white man destroyed all this. The only way for aborigines to exist in our modern society is to merge and live by our standards. This applies to all ethic groups - not just aborigines. They have the ability, they simply need the opportunity and the will to use all offerings available to them. Sadly, really important opportunities do not exist in small outback communities. We need to start with the children and get them educated so that they do not imitate and repeat their parental examples. It is not an easy task.
Bruce and Bev said
10:20 PM Apr 11, 2017
Helen - so much great history in so few words - thank you
And Omah looks a wonderful kid with a beautiful smile - lets hope he one day becomes a doctor or similar to help others in his community or better still sets up a practice in Sydney to demonstrate that skin colour has nothing to do with skills, intelligence or nature - we are made what we are by the way we are taught and raised
Desert Dweller said
05:21 AM Apr 12, 2017
Nice personal profile, it still doesn't excuse your abusive comments (they've been removed) in the thread that was closed by the Moderator regarding Wilcannia. We have no bias against any ethnic or indigenous groups. Peace & harmony to all.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Wednesday 12th of April 2017 05:33:21 AM
Aus-Kiwi said
09:26 AM Apr 12, 2017
Can I ask ? We did Maori culture as a kit at NZ school . A little Aboriginal, Was there such a thing in schools in 50,60 etc here ? I find other cultures VERY interesting . 1/2 the time spent in US native Americans ( don't call three Indians ) and other countries I find the local culture so so interesting . Not into white V black conflicts . Rather learn how they lived and survived . Learn big time .
adreamer said
10:48 AM Apr 12, 2017
Aussie, 50s/60s was the White Australia policy. The 'half caste' kids where rounded up 'stolen' from their families, sometimes snatched from their mother's arms, sometimes never to be seen again.
The idea was to eventually wipe the race out.
Helen
The Belmont Bear said
11:01 AM Apr 12, 2017
Sad to say AK in the NSW public school system in the 50s and 60s the history that I remember being taught was mainly from a British perspective, I learnt heaps about people like 'Tin Legs' Bader, Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson etc. etc. I learnt very little about our own history and absolutely nothing at all of any value about our indigenous past. Probably understandable as up until 1901 we were still just basically 6 self governing colonies of the British empire. As we move further away from that time the links are continuing to become weaker and we are now forging our own history with no need to borrow someone else's. Good to see that Aussies are going back and looking more closely at our past, finding out about things that were either glossed over or were not considered to be important.
Letstravel said
04:24 PM Apr 12, 2017
Can I ask......
Is that a used toilet seat????????? ha ha ha ha
Bill B said
08:19 PM Apr 12, 2017
Letstravel wrote:
Can I ask......
Is that a used toilet seat????????? ha ha ha ha
Yeah it's full of you know what
al said
08:25 AM Apr 13, 2017
HI Helen : I know a lot of bad things happened in in history,but that is what it is history. We have had 2 world wars in the last century but time moves on
most people from those conflicts seem to get on these days. The current generation of Indigenous people are still living a history that did not happen to them.
I have worked and lived for months with a lot of different indigenous people over my life so I have nothing against indigenous people in fact I have over at last count 18
indigenous relatives through marriage. there are bad and good in all races. Don't you think we all moved on ???
AL
Aus-Kiwi said
09:11 AM Apr 13, 2017
Trouble is some things done in
Past is still affecting today's people . Keep in mind there where plenty of white woman had their babies taken too . It was thought to be the right thing . The white policy ? I'm
Not 100% sure it was used to full degree when it was also done to
White single girls at the time . White policy tmk was more about who came into the country . Lawyers etc have twisted things around a little . One thing for sure we all get along better if we let the past go . Yet learn from it . Other cultures have been fighting for centuries! Why ? The NZ Haka is one thing that brings people as one . Aust imo need something similar .
The Belmont Bear said
11:07 AM Apr 13, 2017
Good idea AK but here's some trivia for you - Australian Rugby League sides performed a war chant between 1908 and 1967 (haka equivalent) whenever they toured Great Britain and France. In 2008 it was performed again for the first time at an exhibition game between Australia and a New Zealand Maori side in response to their Haka. In recent times The Indigineous All Stars have been issuing a challenge before their games - go on youtube and check it out.
We are a race of fighters, descended from the War Gods-
Beware! Beware! Beware! Beware!
Where we fight there will be great bloodshed-
Go! Go! Go! Go!
We are powerful, but merciful. Are you friends?
Good! Good!
The Kangaroo is dangerous when at bay.
Come on. Come on, Death.
macka17 said
11:36 AM Apr 13, 2017
Letstravel.
Just as much as you're wearing a nice suit there lad.
Hmmm.
Some can't help themselves at times. can they.
Nothing in brain sees nothing in brain.
Bryan said
11:40 AM Apr 13, 2017
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Trouble is some things done in Past is still affecting today's people . Keep in mind there where plenty of white woman had their babies taken too . It was thought to be the right thing . The white policy ? I'm Not 100% sure it was used to full degree when it was also done to White single girls at the time . White policy tmk was more about who came into the country . Lawyers etc have twisted things around a little . One thing for sure we all get along better if we let the past go . Yet learn from it . Other cultures have been fighting for centuries! Why ? The NZ Haka is one thing that brings people as one . Aust imo need something similar .
AMEN
brickies said
11:42 AM Apr 13, 2017
Al if we have moved on from 2 world war why do we have RSL and Anzac day still .We can't have our cake and eat it .
Mike Harding said
12:52 PM Apr 13, 2017
brickies wrote:
Al if we have moved on from 2 world war why do we have RSL and Anzac day still
I'm astonished you would ask such a question!
The various "Remembrance Days" around the Commonwealth are in place to remind us of the men and women who died and suffered in order to preserve their, and our, nation, culture and way of life.
They are to honour the sacrifice these people and their families made, they are a mark of our respect for them. They are also to remind those of us who were too young to serve in the major wars how fortunate we are to have the freedoms we enjoy.
They are a time for us to quietly reflect upon the qualities of bravery, courage and self sacrifice and the terrible horrors of war.
They are to remind the very young that they must never forget such horrors lest they arise again.
They should not be used as debating points.
Izabarack said
01:39 PM Apr 13, 2017
Mike Harding wrote:
They are to remind the very young that they must never forget such horrors lest they arise again.
Same same as knowing that the 26 Jan is the anniversary of the the white invasion of Australia. The past is always with us, and it should be if the lessons of history can be used to make things better for all Australians. Many of the crimes against the original Australians affect people today. A dominant white Australian society looks down on those of indigenous descent. A bit of empathy would go a long way to making Australia a better place to live.
brickies said
02:53 PM Apr 13, 2017
I didn't say there should not be an RSL or Anzac day I was just point out that why should our first people forget their injustice
Mike Harding said
03:50 PM Apr 13, 2017
Izabarack wrote:A bit of empathy would go a long way to making Australia a better place to live.
"If you want to be good and do good, empathy is a poor guide"
Paul Bloom - Yale University
Bryan said
01:03 PM Apr 14, 2017
I read somewhere that no amount of guilt can solve past mistakes. Learn from it and move on. Dwelling on it may make you feel good but won't change the future.
Aus-Kiwi said
01:09 PM Apr 14, 2017
What invasion ? This is another twist on things to make things soure between us all . Just twisting good people to be against anything they want ! Lawyers mainly .,
Bryan said
02:12 PM Apr 14, 2017
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
What invasion ? This is another twist on things to make things soure between us all . Just twisting good people to be against anything they want ! Lawyers mainly .,
True AK. That's what happens when people dwell on things. Whether it be colonisation or invasion, giving it different labels is not going to change things, politicians adopt similar tactics as labels can give rise to strong emotions. Learn from the mistakes of the past, make sure they are not perpetuated or repeated and move on.
First off, I would like to apologize for my abrupt manner to some postings.
I was born on an outback Station in the Northern Territory and I guess that's where the personality comes from. There was no time for any 'bull....' and you called it as you saw it.
The little boy 'Omah' is my grandson. I raised his father after his parent's passed away. Omah now lives in Maningrida NT with his biological family. He is the most gentle loving little boy that I know. Last time I flew up there he ran around picking frangipani and placed them in my hair as a greeting
I am defensive of our Indigenous people as their past history with the 'white man' has not been good, even on the Station where I lived back 70 years ago they had to eat outside and not mix with the 'whites'. Their pay was flour, sugar and new boots and shirt at Christmas.
I played with their kids and the Ladies would take me hunting and fishing with them, it was a great life for kids and no harm ever came to me or my siblings and not for one minute do I regret it. What I regret is the horrible way they got treated by most Australian white people back then.
Of course there are good and bad people of all races, and I am sorry for the one's who have a chip on their shoulder because of past history with their families. I hope one day this will pass and they realize that alcohol and drugs are ruining their culture and future.
Anyway I will try to be nicer in future and have a bit more tolerance to other people's postings (I am a nice person really) and never set out to hurt anyone.
Helen
cheers
BB
How people feel about Adam Goodes has nothing to do with skin colour ,personally Aborignals were here first some have a chip on there shoulder from past treatment and that's understandable ,but there well looked after now by social security,and they have all the opportunities any one else has and that's the way it should be,but when people are given free housing white or black anb they choose to destroy it that's what gets up my nose...
We've ALL got red blood.
End of story.
Personal attitudes only, are what affects it all.
Ignore the bad.
Embrace the good.
Specially the females (chuckle)
And get on with your lives regardless.
Mr Goode.
Hmm Nuff sed.
The name does NOT match that persons attitudes.
Unfortunately he and his like.
are the ones that propogate Racism.
I'll stand up beside any person,man, or woman.
That works for a living and looks after his family.
Regardless of colour or creed.
Jeez. I'm a POM. (long time ago)
What chance have I got..
-- Edited by macka17 on Tuesday 11th of April 2017 05:41:56 PM
Hi Helen
Thanks for sharing your history.
Internet forums are odd places, nothing like real life at all and
names such as "Round the campfire" are complete misnomers because we
only get to see a very small part of the person posting - it's like
looking at them through a crack in the door.
Many of my friends and acquaintances have views with which I disagree,
sometimes strongly, but that's fine because we agree and connect in
sufficient other ways to cancel out the areas of disagreement. On the
internet we do not have the option to get to know a person more
roundly. Are they kind to animals? Do they smile a lot? Are they
generous? And all those other good things which go to make a "nice"
person. All we see is one focused opinion which may have been written
when they had drunk a beer too many, were in a bad mood or perhaps in
a lot of pain from a chronic injury - who knows? Of course, they
could just be a d!ckhead but, in my experience, most people aren't.
I've been posting to news groups and forums for 23 years and I don't
take anything written on them to heart... life is too short.
I had noticed your absence and am glad to see you back :)
MH
I'm reading a book at the moment called "Dark Emu, BLACK SEEDS : agriculture or accident?" by Bruce Pascoe; published by Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation, Broome WA; website is www.magabala.com . A friend managed to buy a copy & has passed it on t me.
It blows out the concept that aboriginals were "Hunter-Gatherers" only. Initially, I thought it was off the track but my limited exposure to aboriginals catching fish in the Top End from 1969 to 1972 (my time working in Darwin) came back & I'm enjoying the book.
Of course some of the early European settlers & some even recent academics refuse(d) to accept the facts written by early explorers eg Sturt, Mitchell that clearly showed that aboriginals may have been the earliest farmers of the land & waters.
It is written (elsewhere) that it was not the lack of water that killed Burke & Wills (there was adequate in the water holes on the Cooper) - they had watched aboriginals harvest a grass seed (Nardoo?) but failed to copy the preparation which if not done correctly, formed a poison.
The book above is an excellent read. I was amazed at the ingenuiity shown by the aborigines in cropping and storing grains, in fish traps and generally surviving in the rugged outback. They had a culture which allowed the white man to come into their areas (and take them over). When they resisted in the only way they knew, they were shot. OK - this has happened all over the world, and to this day still goes on, but whole tribes and cultures were wiped out. The book even describes the language used at the time and it is obvious what was going on. It was officially endorsed by the powers at the time as well. That happened and nothing can undo it. The entire ecology of the outback was changed by the white man - sheep and cattle grazed the grasses down to the ground and within a few years, there were no more seeds or crops. Thousands of years of heritage and cultivation in one of the most hostile environments on earth were destroyed. Now, I do not support those who nowadays demand all things bright and beautiful for the aborigines. MABO (Money Available, Barristers Only) was the worst thing that could happen to this country. Development since then has been stifled. Local people could easily have particpated in the developments, instead of the token efforts they have now. Yes - I know that the developers would have destroyed local aeas, but even now, big business will win every time and the aborigines will lose yet again.
Regarding Burke & Wills, they saw the locals using the seeds and making a dough and baking it. What they did not pick up was that the seeds were washed overnight to remove the toxins. The toxins prevented the absorption of iron and the white men all became weaker and eventually died. Only King survived, and then only because the locals took him in and nursed him until the search party arrived to find him. A tragic story, but one which displays the arrogance of the white men of the time.
As I said at the start, I have ultimate respect for the capabilities of the original inhabitants of this land. Spears and axes were useless against muskets and whole cultures were lost. Where tribes used to live in relative peace, and arrangements were made for travellers to pass through areas, the white man destroyed all this. The only way for aborigines to exist in our modern society is to merge and live by our standards. This applies to all ethic groups - not just aborigines. They have the ability, they simply need the opportunity and the will to use all offerings available to them. Sadly, really important opportunities do not exist in small outback communities. We need to start with the children and get them educated so that they do not imitate and repeat their parental examples. It is not an easy task.
And Omah looks a wonderful kid with a beautiful smile - lets hope he one day becomes a doctor or similar to help others in his community or better still sets up a practice in Sydney to demonstrate that skin colour has nothing to do with skills, intelligence or nature - we are made what we are by the way we are taught and raised
Nice personal profile, it still doesn't excuse your abusive comments (they've been removed) in the thread that was closed by the Moderator regarding Wilcannia. We have no bias against any ethnic or indigenous groups. Peace & harmony to all.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Wednesday 12th of April 2017 05:33:21 AM
Aussie, 50s/60s was the White Australia policy. The 'half caste' kids where rounded up 'stolen' from their families, sometimes snatched from their mother's arms, sometimes never to be seen again.
The idea was to eventually wipe the race out.
Helen
Can I ask......
Is that a used toilet seat????????? ha ha ha ha
Yeah it's full of you know what
most people from those conflicts seem to get on these days. The current generation of Indigenous people are still living a history that did not happen to them.
I have worked and lived for months with a lot of different indigenous people over my life so I have nothing against indigenous people in fact I have over at last count 18
indigenous relatives through marriage. there are bad and good in all races. Don't you think we all moved on ???
AL
Lyrics
Wallee Mullalra Choomooroo Tingal
Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah!
Cannai, Barrang, Warrang, Warrang
Yallah, Yallah, Yallah, Yallah,
Ah! Jaleeba, Booga, Boorooloong
Yarnah meei, meei, meei
Meeyarra, Meeyarra, Jeeleeba, Cahwoon,
Cooeewah, Cooeewah, Wahh, Wooh.
English translation
We are a race of fighters, descended from the War Gods-
Beware! Beware! Beware! Beware!
Where we fight there will be great bloodshed-
Go! Go! Go! Go!
We are powerful, but merciful. Are you friends?
Good! Good!
The Kangaroo is dangerous when at bay.
Come on. Come on, Death.
Just as much as you're wearing a nice suit there lad.
Hmmm.
Some can't help themselves at times. can they.
Nothing in brain sees nothing in brain.
AMEN
I'm astonished you would ask such a question!
The various "Remembrance Days" around the Commonwealth are in place
to remind us of the men and women who died and suffered in order to
preserve their, and our, nation, culture and way of life.
They are to honour the sacrifice these people and their families
made, they are a mark of our respect for them. They are also to
remind those of us who were too young to serve in the major wars how
fortunate we are to have the freedoms we enjoy.
They are a time for us to quietly reflect upon the qualities of
bravery, courage and self sacrifice and the terrible horrors of war.
They are to remind the very young that they must never forget such
horrors lest they arise again.
They should not be used as debating points.
Same same as knowing that the 26 Jan is the anniversary of the the white invasion of Australia. The past is always with us, and it should be if the lessons of history can be used to make things better for all Australians. Many of the crimes against the original Australians affect people today. A dominant white Australian society looks down on those of indigenous descent. A bit of empathy would go a long way to making Australia a better place to live.
"If you want to be good and do good, empathy is a poor guide"
Paul Bloom - Yale University
I read somewhere that no amount of guilt can solve past mistakes. Learn from it and move on. Dwelling on it may make you feel good but won't change the future.
True AK. That's what happens when people dwell on things. Whether it be colonisation or invasion, giving it different labels is not going to change things, politicians adopt similar tactics as labels can give rise to strong emotions. Learn from the mistakes of the past, make sure they are not perpetuated or repeated and move on.