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Clip description
Walter Saunders, from the Kilcarer Gilgar clan of the Gundidj-Mara peoples, tells the story of the Convincing Ground massacre in Portland Bay, Victoria, while others talk of its legacy.
Curator’s notes
This clip demonstrates the Gundidj-Marra peoples’ maintenance of their oral traditions, as the people talk about the stories passed down through their families about the massacre at the Convincing Ground.
A number of Indigenous peoples from the Portland Bay area recount the stories told to them by family members about the massacre at Convincing Ground. The simplicity of the filming, restricted to medium close-ups, serves to highlight the power and impact of what’s being said.
The filmmaker, Richard Frankland, uses still images including maps, photographs, documents and artworks to provide strong visual support in portraying the sequence of events leading to the massacre. This approach is simple and appropriate for the sombre nature of the content. Denise Lovett, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer; Denis Rose, CEO Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation; and Kelvin Onus-King provide an insight into the depth of community sentiment relating to the Convincing Ground site.
The use of re-creations is jarring and doesn’t add anything meaningful to what is being said. But even this unnecessary intrusion doesn’t detract from the poignancy and tragedy of the stories told in this clip.
