Posted: 21 June by Kristi

Today I went to the Sydney Film Festival with friends and my baby Jack. We were priveliged to see the world premiere of River Of No Return.  It's a documentary about Frances Djulibing, who is one of the stars of Ten Canoes.

From the AFC website:

Frances Djulibing is a 45 year-old mother of three who comes from the remote community of Ramingining in Northeast Arnhem Land. Like many young girls, Frances dreamed of being a movie star - a dream that came true when Rolf de Heer cast her in the lead female role of Nowalingu in 'Ten Canoes'. Her journey from traditional tribal life to red carpets and awards ceremonies is unlike any other. It is a fascinating and unique story as Frances learns to overcome huge personal and cultural challenges. 'River of No Return' is a story of change and transformation as Frances learns to move between the ancient life of the Yolgnu and modern world of the balanda - white culture.

See this doco.  Frances is utterly beautiful.  She is playful, youthful, joyful and, as she herself says, is a comedian of great wit.  Her idol is Marilyn Munroe.  She is traditional in her ways.  She is inspirational in her faith. But, it's also a difficult story.  She talks about the early death of her husband and her many ancestors who died too young, the violence from another partner who said he loved her and would take care of her and her six grandchildren, the profound difficulty of applying to go to acting school (it took 7 weeks to get the application in, so challenging is the task for people living in her situation in Ramingining).

My friends and I laugh through the film.  'Gawd, I love her!' we squawk as she says funny things.  We learn in the Q&A at the end it was Frances' idea to do a doco about herself - such is her vision for her place in the world, her drive to do what she's here on earth to do.  I feel like her sister, go gerl.

Taking for granted the luxury we enjoy as educated people in today's world is a lack of responsibility that is, really (c'mon it doesn't take much to think about it) a crime.

To have to walk 6kms into town to apply for a tertiary position over a 7 week period all the while being hungry and worrying about a $38.50 debt to Centrelink is beyond my comprehension.

This week I was at a dinner to celebrate Aboriginal children and teens who are on scholarship, studying for their secondary and tertiary education away from their remote or rural communities.  About 100 or more of them were at this dinner put on by the Foundation for Young Australians (well done Adam Smith! wonderful work) along with a few Sydney folk and notable leaders in the Aboriginal community including Warren Mundine.  I had the privelige of asking a few questions and hanging out with the scholars.  Again, I have to say it, 'Gawd they are gorgeous!'

The kids talked about how they miss home, how it's good to be at boarding school and what their ideas and aspirations are for the future.

The best part was question time for Warren Mundine.  The last question of the night: "Hello Mr Mundine.  I just have a question for you.  Did anyone ever say to you...either a black man or a white man... that because you're a black man you can't do something...you can't be something?"

Warren told a story of how he was the first black man to go into a traditionally white club in Dubbo because a taxi driver told him as they drove by the club, "you may be talking about all these things out here but you'll never walk into that club there..."

I'm touched by the young man who asked the question, who is now listening intently, earnestly with a furrowed, scrumpled look on his face. And, I think.

It's bloody hard for Aboriginal people in remote areas to get access. A fair go.

Come to this idea with an open heart, learn more and engage. Through your engagement and your giving you may be able to open up opportunities for these people, our most valued people of this land, the ancestors of this land, to share their wisdom, knowledge and culture.  It's so rich,  so humourous, so deep.

As Frances says to Phillip Noyce in the doco..."remember when you said, don't humbug you for a part, Phillip?  I'm now humbugging you."

Please, don't wait for the humbug. Now is a time of action.