Black diggers Flashcards
(30 cards)
Who said this? “Ever since you came back home you’ve been the worst kind of black, an uppity one. I suggest you get on with the job at hand and stop being a troubled maker”
The manager said this.
This quote shows the racism displayed to some indigenous people after the war people disregarding their service because there indigenous.
“We can’t have the darkies in the same battalions as white chaps”
Said by the secretary about indigenous soldiers.
“No one mentioned the colour of my skin from the day I enlisted”
Shows that Nigel didn’t experience racism when he was in the military.
“When they look at you, they cannot see the Australian”
Tom Wright depicts the attitudes towards the aboriginal people, through, the Indian prisoner.
“They slow, them Australian niggers”
2nd Trinidadian, demonstrating stereotypes and attitudes towards the aboriginal soldiers.
“Reason: Of strongly aboriginal experience”
Ern illustrates the discrimination he faces while trying to enlist in the army.
“They painted my colour back on the day I got off the boat”
Stereotypes arise for Norm once he is part of society again. 32
“You’re as good as a white man, Harry”
White soldier talks about how he would have a beer with Harry.
“These two ex-servicemen are more than welcome today. Or any day. We don’t see the skin we see the service.”
RSL secretary sticks up for aboriginal soldiers.
“If they are willing to get off their backsides and show a bit of pluck then they’re white enough for me.”
Clerk is willing to look past colour, more than most. War causes people to neglect racism.
“And the worst of it is that Ollie is still alive, he’s in the hospital and he hasn’t got a face but he’s alive Aunty May.”
Archie depicts the trauma of war from his fellow soldier.
“Dark dark blood that comes from deep and has been there for ages.”
Ern depicts the war is still apart of him, “age”.
“That’s the thing, the bits left behind, they’ll come out. They have to.
Ern illustrates how the iron harvest, bits of war still remain with him.
“I was a big bloke and I was strong but I was starting to lose it, up here”
Ghost illustrates the mental toll of war.
“Bertie stands, unable to speak”
Stage directions illustrate the effect of war on Bertie.
“started to shake in the last few years. See…right hand. Can’t stop”
Ern depicts lifelong trauma.
“I want to see the world. I want to be a man.”
Bertie’s statement reflects his youthful eagerness to grow up and prove himself. He sees war as a way to escape the confines of his world, not yet understanding the toll it will take on his innocence.
“I haven’t seen the world, not really. All I know is this place.”
Ern expresses his desire to see more than the small community he’s known, showing a youthful curiosity and naivety.
“Once they see us fight, they’ll know we’re the same as them.”
Mick naively believes that proving himself in battle will earn him acceptance and respect. This line reveals his desire to belong and be recognized, though he later realizes that societal biases run deeper than wartime valor.
“You’re just a child. You don’t understand what they’ll ask of you.”
Bertie’s mother tries to shield him from the harsh realities of war, understanding the irrevocable loss of innocence he’ll face. Her words reflect a mother’s awareness of her son’s naivety and the irreversible changes that lie ahead.
when there’s been a war there’s metal everywhere, just tons of it and it gets buried in the mud and the dirt and it gets forgotten.
Ghost illustrates how the hardships of war are buried.
Come back to what remained of my land and farm it and try to heal this massive wound.
Mick shows how he wants to heal the wound which is aboriginal discrimination which he remembered from his time prior to war.
“I thought I’d just be able to forget about it, but now it’s like it happened yesterday, every day. The noise, the blood.”
Archie shows how his memories have been filled with traumatic memories.
“Sometimes I get a whiff of something, or hear a sound, and it takes me back to the trenches.”
Norm speaks to the haunting nature of memory, illustrating how sensory experiences can bring traumatic memories back to the surface, long after the war has ended.
