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Constable Peterson (Konrad Matthaei) is met by Sergeant Miller (Ronald Morse) and tracker Jubbal (Ed Devereaux) upon his arrival at Coopers Creek. Peterson tells Miller and his wife (Marie Clark) he’s on special assignment.
Curator’s notes
Peterson creates friction immediately by refusing to shake hands with Jubbal. His assignment is an affront to Miller, who has maintained the peace between white settlers and the Indigenous population by not interfering in tribal matters. Miller represents the sympathetic viewpoint regarding Indigenous laws and customs. Peterson speaks with the unyielding voice of most politicians and lawmakers of the day who believed Indigenous Australians must be forced to adapt to white man’s laws and adopt white ways of life. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders did not begin to receive citizenship rights in Australia until 1948.
