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‘Living on the Reserve – Stories of Strength’ was developed as a result of research done by the Notre Dame University’s Nulungu Research Unit into the story of the Anne Street Reserve from the 1960’s to 1980’s. There was a real fear that this important part of Broome history would be dropped from the collective memory of the town. The songs performed at this event have been written and performed by the people who lived there. Many of whom have become professional musicians.
Writer/ Director /producer: Gwen Knox Big MAMA Productions
Musical Director co composer Lynn Hazelton
Performers: Ginger and Rohanee Cox, Mervyn Mulardy, Anna Dwyer, Maxine Charlie, Tania McKenna, Lynn Hazelton, Frank Shoveller, Lorna Kelly. Broome Time Singers. TBC Charlie Pedro
The Anne Street Commemoration Oral History project is series of
projects designed to tell the story of the Anne Street Aboriginal Reserve. It is the result of 2 years of research by
Notre Dame University. About 30 ex residents were consulted with as part of the
research and who now form the management committee, of this project. The committee have identified a number of
cultural outcomes that they would like to see delivered. This project is the
one they want to achieve first as it will feed into many of the other projects
that they have planned.
The committee have employed Gwen Knox, who has over 30 years’
experience with working in collaboration with Indigenous people in performing
arts events, through seed funding from Notre Dame University. She will project
manage the arts based aims. Gwen has close personal connection with Anne
Street.
ASCOH involves the collection of new oral histories to add to the
ones already collected by Indigenous researcher from Notre Dame Uni, Anna
Dwyer, who is also an ex-resident of the reserve, and turning them into songs
to be performed as part or NAIDOC week 2019 at Goolarri Media GMME Bar. it will
be a free event to ensure as many ex residents and family members are able to
attend.
Many of the ex-residents of the reserve are established musicians
and artists eg Mervyn Mulardi, Steven Baamba Albert and Franky Shoveller . We hope
that many of the performer who lived there will join us in the concert
Oral historian Dr Elaine Rabbit will facilitate the collection of oral
histories from people who lived on the reserve. Songwriter Lyn Hazelton and
Mervyn Mulardi will translate the oral histories into songs with the people who
own the stories. Individuals will have the opportunity to perform their own
work at the concert as supported by the accompanying band or have band members
perform them for them. Some of the stories will be given to music students of
Broome to create and perform songs that they write on the subject.
While significant in the history of policy making re Aboriginal
people in WA, and resulting town planning issues, the reserve has almost become
forgotten except by people who once lived there. The reserve was designed to be
a transitional accommodation for Aboriginal people who would go into state
controlled housing. When the reserve was
closed in 1982 state houses were built on the land and filled with families
following the model of “salt and pepper communities”. ie. Alternating Indigenous
families with non-Indigenous. As a result of this government experimentation,
Anne Street is now known as the Bronx of Broome. There is high incidence of
crime and family dysfunction.
ASCOHP fulfills some of the aims of the WA Department of Communities
who currently manage the government housing in the area, “People and
Home” as part of its Anne Street Urban Renewal project with the Shire of
Broome. Dept of communities have identified this and further projects as being
a key part of their redevelopment plans with potential for future funding. (See
LOS)
ASCOHP is considered very important both historically and
culturally by the WA Museum. Aspects of
the project, specifically songs and artworks, are being considered as part of
the Continuous Cultures (Working Title) exhibition in the New Museum for WA.
Supported by :
Goolarri Media, Department of Communities, West Australian Museum, Australia Council for the Arts, The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), WA Police, Notre Dame University.
Oral Histories collected by Dr Elaine Rabbit
Song writing facilitated by Mervyn Mulardy and Lyn Hazelton
Children’s visual art by children of Anne Street
Concert by the songwriters and support musicians during NAIDOC
Week 2019
