Agriculture
The following clips have teachers’ notes related to this topic:
Falkiner cane harvester in operation
The harvester is operated by a person seated on one side of the machine. The camera films, from various positions, the harvester as it is guided along the edge of the cane field. Men walk …
Growing up Aboriginal
Actor Stephen Albert and writer Jimmy Chi, the author of the musical play Bran Nue Dae, talk about childhood, education and identity, intercut with one of the musical numbers from the production, historical footage and …
Farming classes at Dookie Agricultural College
This clip from a brief documentary shows an observational look at returned First World War servicemen in 1919 as they train to be farmers at Dookie Agricultural College and commence work at Merbein, Victoria. It …
‘You have cheesemaker’s hands’
Tucked away in a beautiful valley in north-east Tasmania, is the tiny town of Pyengana where John Healy and his family have been raising dairy cattle and making cheddar cheese for over 100 years.
And the poor get poorer
This clip explains that Australian agricultural aid is not assisting those who truly need it in the Philippines. The pesticides, fertilisers and other aspects of Western farming practices are not freely given but must be …
Of droughts and flooding rains
Reporter Jim Downes stands in the middle of a sea of sand. It’s the Castlereagh River in drought; a drought that’s killing the wheat belt of NSW. It’s a story so often …
1930s Java
This clip shows the planting, harvesting and cultivation of rice in Java. It features a group of Javanese children dancing and playing musical instruments, with a European woman also joining in the fun. The paddy …
Banjo’s place
A nostalgic look at life in the district of old Jindabyne, long before the advent of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
South Sea Islanders cutting cane
This clip filmed in 1899 is one of the few pieces of footage of Melanesian labourers cutting cane in Queensland. The workers stack the cane onto a wagon while their supervisor keeps a watchful eye.
The Royal Easter Show
This clip captures the atmosphere of Sydney’s Royal Easter Agricultural Show. It includes footage of novelty stores, the woodchopping competition, equestrian events, the sideshows and the show rides.
A male voice-over narrates the clip.
Modes of transport and Victoria Downs
Donkey teams in the North are shown pulling large wagons of supplies along dusty tracks. The camel team of an Indian hawker near Wave Hill brings supplies to people of the outback to whom ‘shops …
Wheat harvesting
This silent actuality footage was taken by the official photographer of the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Frederick Charles Wills, and his assistant Henry William Mobsby in 1899. It shows a horse-drawn Buckeye brand reaper and …
The one day of the year
The high point of the Melbourne Royal Agricultural Show each day is the Grand Parade. For this great moment each year, the workhorses are brushed, combed and groomed to take their place in the parade.
