Similarities Between Oodgeroo Noonuccal And Bruce Dawe

Good morning and welcome fellow active citizens.

Today we will be examining the wide spectrum of cultural identities, values, and beliefs that Australian poetry and film are underpinned with.

By the end of this presentation, you will walk away with knowledge of the Australian Identity through the works of two Australia poets Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Bruce Dawe and one of our beloved Aussie box office smash ‘The Castle’.

But before I begin, I want to pose the question. What truly is the Australian identity?

Well, its not just fashionable mullets, jars of vegemite and people riding kangaroos.

Our History is rich with our indigenous heritage to the First fleet the Gold Rush and Gallipoli we have had our fair share as a nation of historic events.

Noonuccal has used this to show the lack of respect the un-indigenous society had towards Aboriginal beliefs.

Oodgeroo Noonuccal uses both language and poetic devices to portray her views on what the Australian identity is and what heartfelt damage it has given her and her people.

Moving on to the next poet now. Bruce Dawe who is considered one of the most influential Australian poets of all time has a multitude of former careers such as air-force officer, teacher, postman, and labourer. These jobs have served him an insight of people from all different backgrounds and upbringings, which is a focal point throughout many of his works.

The poem ‘Homo Suburbiensis’ is about a man in a world that is changing where all he wants is simplicity just like in his vegie

The film is an Australian classic made by Australians for Australians.

Its popular as it revolves around everyday Australians portraying the common Aussie family perfectly. It is underpinned by the Australian trait of rising against authority, which is a universally loved story of the underdog overcoming challenges.

The plot is about the typical Australian family who live near an airport but when the airport tries to take their land the Kerrigans take them on in court for their property and ultimately win. Darryl Kerrigan is represented as the working class man but the underdog in the eyes of the law, which is the distinctive Australian trait of the Aussie battler. The mocking of authority is constant throughout the film as part of the comedic satire, which reflects the Australian characteristic of larrikinism.

Another distinctive Australian trait is Mateship, which is displayed through the film but is crucial at the end when Lawrence Hammill the retired barrister takes the case for the Kerrigan's as an act of this trait

Aboriginal culture is also referred to when Darryl states, “I’m really starting to understand how the Aborigines feel!” when he is referring to the people trying to take his house which is his