Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Message Stick – Tent Boxers (2001)

play May contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Violence – low
clip
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Earning a reputation

This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Accompanied by historical footage of a tent-boxing troupe at a local town showground, Aboriginal men talk about their experience as tent boxers, the theatrics surrounding the fights, the boxing lifestyle and conditions.

Curator’s notes

by Liz McNiven

The footage at the start of this clip gives a great sense of the rough and ready atmosphere of the local carnival. By contrast, the quieter individual testimonies provide a thoughtful behind-the-scenes insight into the lives of those who worked in tent boxing.