We are happy to have another blogger join our by esther team! Join us as we welcome her!
"They might be dark on the outside, but they are the same as us on the inside... Aboriginal people have good hearts... respect them as you would respect your brother.”- Giuseppe (Joseph) Brambilla.
These words were instilled in my Mum at an early age by my Nonno Joseph and then recounted to me by my Mum.
In the 1920’s, there was an influx of European migrants and Joseph was one of them arriving in 1924. My Nonno Joseph worked in central Australia, driving 16 horses which carried massive tree trunks, where they were taken to a saw mill and cut to size and used to mend fences. His home was a tent and he lived off the land, learning to improvise and survive, along with his Aboriginal friend called Billy, who lived in a nearby camp. Billy was tall, skinny with sun bleached hair. Joseph and Billy forged a unique friendship.
Out of respect Billy called Joseph, “Mr Joe.” Mr Joe became well known amongst Billy’s community because of his kind and generous nature. Joseph would share his supply of tea, sugar and flour. He also gave portions of meat from a lamb often given freely by farmers. One occasion Billy arrived at Joseph’s tent and presented him with a kangaroo tail. (An offering of a kangaroo given to a white person meant acceptance.) Joseph also had the privilege of being invited to a Corroboree. I can imagine the powerful tradition of men scantily dressed, paint over their body, feet pounding the dirt in rhythm with the clap sticks, played by semi naked women and the haunting sound of the didgeridoo droning though the outback. In the eyes of Billy, Joseph was a valued and respected man.
My Nonno was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back! But, not just his shirt, he will give you his trousers too! And that is what he did. Joseph gave Billy his trousers because he admired how they were tailored, and held up with a brown leather belt. Joseph apologised and explained that he could not give him his belt because it was the only belt he had.
“Mr Joe, Mr Joe.” Billy shouted out, proud to show off his trousers, and the enginuity of crafting a belt made out of bark. I reckon my Nonno would have been impressed. I can imagine the bark tight and stringent around his waif thin waist, with clumps gathered together and the trousers swinging gently in the breeze like a flag.
Nonno taught my Mum to never turn her back on anyone who is in need of help, regardless of race and sex. It was the 60’s, a new girl arrived in my Mum’s class. Her name was Margaret and she was Aboriginal. People stared at her because it was unusual for an Aboriginal to be integrated into the community. She was belittled in class with disrespectful attitude from her teacher. My Mum was mortified when the teacher yelled out, “sit down blackie.” My Mum befriended her and saw beyond her skin colour.
The very first friend I ever made was in reception. She was Aboriginal and her name was Kylie. Kylie showed very little facial expressions or emotion and was withdrawn. Somehow Kylie and I clicked. I think it was my spontaneity and inquisitiveness that drew Kylie out, and also our sporting abilities. That was what congealed us throughout primary school. Kylie did face discrimination from ignorant, uneducated kids. I couldn’t understand why? I had one peer come to me and told me not to play with Kylie! Why? My Mum would always ask about my day and who I played with. My response was always, “Kylie.” My Mum encouraged me to play with her and to treat her no differently than anyone else. My year one teacher informed my Mum that she has seen a transformation in Kylie’s personality and commended her for instilling values about acceptance and considering Kylie to be of great value regardless of race.
Yes, Kylie was dark in appearance, but, she was the same as me on the inside. We both excelled at sport, we were both competitive and had the same humor, so I guess we are the same inside! She taught me a lot about her customs, traditions along with words and phrases. Kylie was always in accordance with high standards. Her manners were impeccable and when she greeted an elder, she used a title- Miss/Mrs/Mr...
The injustices Joseph saw later in his life, had a great impact on him. He saw the unfairness directed towards the Aboriginal people and he believed they should be integrated into society and not live in their sheltered community life. Joseph was a sympathetic man, self- sacrificing, loyal to an ideal, a person and his job. He felt deeply for the unfortunate and those who were subjected to unfair prejudicial discrimination.
My Nonno played a fundamental role as a father to guide my mum in becoming the feminine genius she is today. From childhood, adolescence, adulthood and today. I now take the baton from my Mum, light the flame, and carry this forth to my daughter Gabrielle and repeat the cycle of respect and love towards others despite their backgrounds, knowing that each and every one of us are sons/daughters of God who are all abundantly loved by Him.
MARK 12:31
“The second is this: ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other Commandment greater than these.”
ernie.
Comentarios