Australian history incursions: shows & workshops for primary and secondary schools
General Australian History

The Australian History Show

A song & story show that covers a wide range of Australian history topics,
tailored to suit your curriculum focus.

Please ask and I’ll build the show accordingly.

Curriculum
P-6 and secondary
Cost
$5 per student with a minimum of $500 per show
Travel/accom/road toll fees apply in some locations

In The Australian History Show is made up of songs and stories from all periods of Australian history – entertaining, informative and fun, with myself playing five-string banjo, harmonica, bodhran (Irish drum), ukulele, spoons, rhythm bones and tea-chest bass, and using props, costumes and artefacts I’ve collected on my travels.

Students are always involved – in discussion, singing and playing simple instruments.

The show varies according to the curriculum focus of the class. This focus can be general Australian history – anything from convict ballads, Indigenous songs and stories (with permission) to original contemporary material – or we can narrow the focus to particular areas.

So teachers, please ask and I’ll let you know how I can fit the bill.  For example, the following topics have been requested by teachers. :

• Black-white history & First Contact & First Fleet
  Songs and stories I’ve learnt from Indigenous friends; researched from events such as the 1966 Gurindji walk-off and the First Fleet; my personal experiences working with Indigenous people; excerpts from my theatre show The Go-between: William Murrungurk Buckley; material from radio and television documentaries I’ve made with Indigenous people, and from my biography with Wardaman elder, Yidumduma Bill Harney.

• Australians of Significance
  Songs and stories that tell of Capt. Cook (even though he wasn’t Australian) to writers such Henry Lawson; his mother Louis Lawson, also known as the ‘mother of the vote for women’; the female immigrant’s friend, Caroline Chisholme; John Batman, who started the ‘land rush’ to Melbourne; Gough Whitman and Vincent Lingiari who marked the beginning of Australians understanding of Land Rights with the famous photo with the handful of sand; poets Mary Gilmore and CJ Dennis, Ned Kelly and more.

• Colonial Times
  As is well-known, I was a founder of Australia’s most famous bush band, The Bushwackers, specializing in Australia’s folk repertoire of 18^th, 19^thand early 20^th century Australia. From this repertoire – be it convict material, men and women in the bush, the bish and the city, and much more – I can fashion a show to suit your studies.