Aussie History Podcast

In this episode we consider ten sometimes strange but true facts about Australia. These are:

• Australia really is populated by extremely dangerous animals that can and will kill you
• Australia was established as a penal colony
• The Prime Minister is missing
• Our strange ‘population’
• Giving women the vote
• How much can a koala bear?
• Australians love a good fence
• We eat our coat of arms
• We have a Queen - Australia is a Monarchy

For this episode I recommend thee movie Rabbit Proof Fence and also check out the Northern Territory News – it’s bound to have a croc story. Check out their web page at: http://www.ntnews.com.au/

Email me at: [email protected]

Music courtesy of Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/

Thanks to Ken Dampier for post-production.

AWP-07-Sugar Slaves and the Eurovision Song Contest

This deplorable part of Australian history is not widely known about. Between 1863 and 1904, some 62,000 South Sea Islanders were brought to Australia as indentured labour, and some say as slaves, to work on the cane fields in Queensland. It was on their backs that the Queensland sugar industry was built.

Despite the hardships, many Australians of South Sea Islander heritage have achieved a high profile in the community as civil rights activists, in politics and sport. We focus on one of the great Rugby League players of all time Mal Meninga.

Then we turn our attention to the Eurovision Cong Contest. Every year, around a million Australians tune into Eurovision. This year was special as Australian singer Jessica Mauboy was given the honour of performing at Eurovision as a guest artist.

Check out:

‘Sugar Slaves’ by Imelda Miller (2010) http://www.qhatlas.com.au/content/sugar-slaves

George Negus Tonight interview first broadcast on 13/09/2004. Transcript at: http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1197807.htm

The ABC article ‘A Form of Slavery’:

http://www.abc.net.au/federation/fedstory/ep2/ep2_people.htm

Jessica Mauboy’s appearance at Eurovision:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUsJi8nKsj0

Email me at: [email protected]

Music courtesy of Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/

Thanks to Ken Dampier for post-production.

AWP-06-Famous Chinese-Australians

In this episode we take a peak at four remarkable Chinese-Australians. These are:Billy Sing the decorated WWI war hero; Helene Chung the journalist and author; Dr Victor Chang the path breaking heart surgeon, whose life was so tragically cut short; and Penny Wong the Australian politician and former Government Minister.

For this episode I recommend Helene Chung’s book Ching Chong China Girl – from fruit shop to foreign correspondent. You can buy a copy by following the links from Helene Chung’s website: http://www.helenechung.com

Music by Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/

Thanks to Ken Dampier for post-production and Mr Laszlo Montgomery for continued encouragement and advice.

Email me at [email protected]

AWP-05-The Chinese and the Gold Rush

Ni Hao!

The Gold Rushes of the 1850s bought the first large numbers of Chinese settlers to Australia. Before 1850 fewer than 50 or so Chinese migrants had come to Australia, but by the early 1860s this number had risen to 40,000. Many came out as bonded labourers having to work long hours mining for gold to pay off their fare.

The Chinese have had a great influence on Australian culture and of course cuisine. On the goldfields, however, they faced discrimination and violence. Two of the most infamous cases were the Lambing Flat Riots and the Buckland Riot.

This month’s recommendation is The Rise and Fall of China by the late Professor Richard Baum. The audio book may be downloaded from: http://www.audible.com/

Also check out:

• Bill Richardson’s article on Gavin Menzies’ claims at: http://www.1421exposed.com/html/imaginography.html

• Laszlo Montgomery’s China Histroy Podcast on the remarkable life of Admiral Zheng He at: http://www.1421exposed.com/html/imaginography.html

Music by Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/

AWP Episode 4 - The Dunera Boys

On 10 July 1940, 2,542 detainees, all classified as ‘enemy aliens’, were placed on the HMT Dunera in Liverpool the United Kingdom and 57 days later they docked at Sydney Harbour. On board were over 2,000 male Jewish refugees who had fled Nazi Germany. Conditions on board were appalling and during the voyage these men were badly mistreated by their guards with many beaten.

Despite this, a large number of the ‘Dunera Boys’ remained in Australia, made a life for themselves and alos contributed greatly to Australian science, academia and culture.

One of the Sources used for this episode: Ken Inglis “From Berlin to the Bush” Monthly, August 2010. http://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-ken-inglis-berlin-bush--2638

The recommendation for this month is “A Bridge Too Far” by Cornelius Ryan.

Music by Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/

Thanks to Ken Dampier, jet engine extraordinaire for post-production.

Email me at: [email protected]

Aussie Waves Podcast Episode 3:The Afghan Cameleers

This episode tells the story of the Cameleers who with their camels played a critical role in opening up inland Australia from the 1860s until the early 1900s. Their story is one of hardship and discrimination.

The invention of the internal combustion engine eventually secured the end of the Cameleer era. By the late 1920s there were almost no cameleers left plying the inland.

For more information on the cameleers go to http://www.cameleers.net/

Music by Dan-O at: http://www.danosongs.com/

Thanks to Ken Dampier for post production.

Episode 2 of the Aussie Waves Podcast with James Dampier. In this episode we look at 'Ten Pound Poms'.

After World War II around a million people migrated to Australia from the British Isles under an assisted migration scheme. Thr cost of the boat trip out to Australia was ten pound sterling. Hence the term 'Ten Pound Poms'. These people made a great contribution to Australia and their children continue to do so. While many made a great life for themsleves, it wasn't all beer and skittles.

This month's recommendation is the History of England Podcast by David Crowther. You can download from iTunes or at: http://historyofengland.typepad.com/

If you want to email me I can be contacted at [email protected]

Music by Dan-O at: danosongs.com

Welcome to The Aussie Waves Podcast by James Dampier. The Aussie Waves Podcast tells Australian history though the lens of all those peoples who have made the journey from other lands to call Australia home. Episode 1 is a short introductory episode.

Each week I will make a recommendation. This week's it is Laszlo Mongometry's China Histroy Podcast. Visit the CHP webssite at: http://chinahistorypodcast.com