Presented below is the first of what we hope to be a series of courses on Australia’s history that explore the area and people of the Commonwealth of Australia and its preceding Indigenous and colonial societies.
The history you were never taught
by Jim Poulter
(with thanks to Jim and U3A Ringwood for allowing us to share this information)
The readings presented in this course have been produced by Jim Poulter over several years. During this time, Jim has tutored U3A classes in Australian History and given innumerable talks to schools and community groups, in order that we might better share and take pride in our rich Australian Aboriginal history and heritage.
Over the last few years Jim has also written a popular monthly column ‘Birrarung Stories’ for the Warrandyte Diary Community Newspaper.
A retired Social Worker, Jim’s close knowledge of our rich Aboriginal history and heritage does not come from abstract academic study, it comes from lived experience.
Jim Poulter’s family first settled on the Yarra River at Templestowe in 1840. Close relationships were established with the local Aboriginal community, and these have endured through the generations. Jim has therefore been privy to the oral history both of his own family and Aboriginal families. He has known and worked with many iconic Aboriginal Elders and tribal people who have trusted him with their knowledge. Many of his thirty books on our Australian Aboriginal history and heritage have been in collaboration with or the endorsement of Aboriginal Elders.
The nearly sixty articles in this course have been grouped within eight themes, in order to guide your learning about what has previously been a much neglected aspect of our Australian history.
To aid student reflection about the content and issues raised in each of eight themes, questions will be posed for consideration and as a stimulus for discussion with others.
The eight themes in this course are: