Just over ten years ago my good friend Michael Liu and I went out with Professor Marion Kickett to her home country in York to film her describing her life, country, culture, spirituality, family, education and resilience. Marion is a Noongar Aboriginal leader from the Balardong language group and is the former Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University in Perth.
From our filming of Marion, which was supported by the Teaching and Learning Centre at Curtin University, Michael and I created 12 films, totalling over 66 minutes, which were posted on YouTube on 25 September 2013.
Marion had asked Mike Liu and I if we would spend a day filming her on country talking about her culture and experiences, and various other related matters. We agreed and spent a day with Marion at various locations in York. It was quite an experience and we were amazed at how Marion kept going on from very early morning until late afternoon. Mike and I were buzzing by the end of the day.
One of the most powerful and moving of the short films is Ruby’s Story, the film below.
Marion tells how Ruby was taken from her mother and trained as a domestic. She was raped on the station to which she was sent, and gave birth to a child who was removed. This did not happen just once… Ruby married and had three children. Alcohol numbed the pain of losing her first children and Ruby developed a drinking problem. She was imprisoned for manslaughter, but eventually overcame her problems. She needed to forgive before she could begin healing. 25 September 2013 [9’43”]
You can find a playlist of the 12 Marion Kickett films here. This is one of the most pleasing pieces of work that I have been involved in over the years. I am very grateful to both Marion and Michael.