Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Strikebound (1983)

play
clip The Women’s Auxiliary

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

At a public meeting, Agnes Doig (Carol Burns) announces the formation of a Women’s Auxiliary to help the miners. Company manager Birch (David Kendall) angrily interjects.

Curator’s notes

One of many sequences which acknowledge the critical role played by women during strikes. As Agnes makes very clear to shopkeepers at the meeting, women will not patronise anyone who helps the company’s effort to defeat the strikers. Carol Burns marvellously captures the spirit of a woman who is finding the courage to speak out and show how powerful her gender can be.