a radio feature produced by Michael Shirrefs
One of the most familiar names in the story of Australian colonisation is that of the Tasmanian Aboriginal woman ‘Truganini’. But for most people the story begins and ends with a single, very famous photo, along with a label describing her simply as the last of the full-blood Tasmanian Aborigines.
Not only was that label deeply misleading, we now know that Truganini’s life is one of the most significant foundation stories of European settlement in Australia. But there’s still one story that few people know about and about which little has been written—it’s the extraordinary tale of Truganini’s time as a bushranger.
Guests
James Boyce—Historian and author of Van Diemen’s Land
Peter Christiansen—Historian and author of the essay ‘The Western Port Outbreak, 1841’, published in Heat 08 – And So Forth
Beverly Davis—Coordinator of the Bruny Island Historical Society and the Bruny Island History Room
Greg Lehman—Manager of Aboriginal Education in Tasmania, writer and a member of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community
Lyndall Ryan—Historian and author of The Aboriginal Tasmanians
Shirley Westaway—Local historian in South Gippsland, Victoria
Publications
Title—The Western Port Outbreak, 1841
Author—Peter Christianen
Publisher—Giramondo Publishing
Description—Published in ‘Heat 08 – And So Forth’
ISBN—0-920882-05-7
Title—Van Diemen’s Land
Author—James Boyce
Publisher—Black Inc, 2008
ISBN—9781-8639-5413-6
Title—The Aboriginal Tasmanians
Author—Lyndall Ryan
Publisher—Allen & Unwin, 1996
ISBN—9781-8637-3965-8
Further Information
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Acknowledgments
Thanks go to the National Library of Australia, The Mitchell Library, The State Library of Victoria, Tony Brown, Julie Gough, Richard Flanagan and Elva Press.
Credits
Producer—Michael Shirrefs
Readers—Zulfikar Abbany / John Reid / James Freemantle / Selena Sullivan / Jan Wozitsky
Composer—Michael Shirrefs
© 2009, Michael Shirrefs & ABC RN