My recent research at the NT Archives in Alice Springs uncovered a great find ! The 1949 Lake Nash Police Journal where Constable Jack Mahoney devotes two entire pages to the walk off by Aboriginal stockmen in February, 1949. Banjo’s name is highlighted in red.
Category Archives: Latest News
Lake Nash Police Journal
Banjo’s First Walk Off
I recently got some development funding from SA Film Corporation to allow me to research Banjo’s first walk-off which will be an integral part of the feature documentary. The research extended to include a trip to Darwin to meet up with Richard Downs where just yesterday we translated Banjo’s first interview shot out at Honeymoon Bore in 2010. In the second interview shot with Banjo in May this year, we found out that Banjo’s first walk off may have been the very first time Aboriginal stockmen walked off in the NT. This could be a historically significant event and more research at the NT Archives in Darwin and other significant places in Alice Springs will help provide some exciting visual material for the story. The development funding will also allow me to cut a new teaser with the information I gather over the next two weeks and to prepare pitch materials for the broadcasters.
Meeting Lindsay Murdoch
Veteran journalist from The Age, Lindsay Murdoch, was at Honeymoon Bore last weekend while I was there. Lindsay is the journalist who wrote the story about Banjo last year that I read and got so inspired by and which started the journey of the making of “Banjo’s War”. It was great to meet Lindsay out there at the walk-off camp. Thanks to Angela Wylie (The Age) for the photo. Check out The Age this Saturday (14 May) for Lindsay’s follow-up story about Banjo and the walk-off camp.
May Filming Trip
The filming trip in March was cancelled due to the heavy rains and washed out roads. I’ll be going out next week and am now looking to raise the last $500 to cover the costs of this trip. Any donations are welcome and can be made via the SUPPORT page or if you’d like a tax deduction for your donation, you can make your donation via the Documentary Australia Foundation. Click on “Make a Grant” on the left hand side and be sure to identify that it’s “Banjo’s War” that you want to support. Thank you ! And a big THANK YOU to Toben Darley, Director of Total Photographic Supplies in Adelaide for the loan of a DSLR to take out on the next trip.
Award Winning Documentary Maker Joins The Team
Think Films is thrilled to announce the newest filmmaking team member – Jonathan Stack. Jonathan Stack is a multiple Emmy Award winning and two- time Academy Award® nominated documentary filmmaker. During his career Jonathan has written, produced and directed over 25 films and 50 television programs including The Farm, which was honored as Sundance Film Festival’s 1998 Grand Jury Prize winner. He has distributed his films through HBO, BBC, Channel Four, Discovery Channel, A&E–among many others. Jonathan, based in New York, will act as Special Adviser to the filmmaking and distribution process.
March Filming Trip Fundraiser
The online auction has now ended. Thank you to everyone who participated. Donations to the making of “Banjo’s War” are always welcome especially at present to help buy a Canon 5D Mk II kit that will be used for filming the feature documentary. If you can help, tax deductible donations (in cash or in kind) can be made via the Documentary Australia Foundation. Click on the “Help” page for details.
The Story Hits Sydney
Richard Downs, Edith Hanlon, Angelina Luck and Louise Clarke made the inaugural journey from central Australia (350 km NE of Alice Springs) all the way to Sydney for the Two Films Screening event held on 4th December at Leichhardt Town Hall in Sydney. Over 3000km by road and air ! With well-known journalist and former ABC foreign correspondent, Jeff McMullen as special guest, the evening was a great success in terms of raising awareness about the Intervention and what the Alyawarr People are doing to create their new self-sustainable community at Honeymoon Bore. Unfortunately Banjo Morton and his wife Lillie were unable to make the trip due to Sorry business but it was a great night of learning, understanding and sharing.
Latest Filming Fundraiser
I’ve started the next fundraiser for our next filming trip. This trip will be extra special as we’ll be documenting the journey of Banjo Morton, Angelina, Lillie and Eddie as they make an inaugural journey from Honeymoon Bore (350 km NE of Alice Springs) all the way to Sydney for the Two Films Screening event being held on 4th December. Over 3000km by road and air ! I’m so excited to be able to film this inaugural journey as Banjo and the other elders take their story to the public in Sydney ! Check out the AFFECTAustralia website for more information about the event. So, in this final few days of fundraising, there’s another $1000 to raise ! To make a donation, visit our HELP page….and THANKS for your support !
The Advertiser article 30/11/10
Banjo’s story got a great write up in the Adelaide “Advertiser” on 30th November. Click on the article to open up a large readable version.
Alice Springs Gathering July 6-9
We returned on Friday night from Alice Springs, having attended the Gathering of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People and having sat through the coldest recorded day in Alice Springs history !
Unfortunately, the roads from the Alyawarr Community were washed out so Banjo Morton and the other elders from Honeymoon Bore weren’t able to get to Alice Springs for the conference. However, it was a very powerful event and one which really opened my eyes. As I sat, filmed and listened to the stories from the Traditional Owners of their experiences with the Government’s Intervention, I came to fully understand their struggle.
I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was to have thousands of years of history, tradition and culture standing before me over the course of the week. And I realised how little mainstream Australia really knows about the issues and the struggle affecting our Indigenous People. How rich Australia is to still have our Indigenous people. How sad it is that they are struggling to survive. How wrong it is that our Government is still unable to understand their plight and listen to their needs. Attending the conference last week has made me even more resolved than ever to make the story of “Banjo’s War” – for it’s definitely a story of hope for all Indigenous Australians. Here’s a video clip I made from the conference last week:
