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TV show digs up old wounds

By Sophie Tedmanson

30 August 2004 - When SBS called for indigenous families to take part in a new reality-style television show where people live off the land as if it was the 1800s, the response was lacklustre.

The show's indigenous consultant and associate producer Darrin Ballingary told The Australian there was initial concern among the Aboriginal community about appearing on a show that focused on a tragic time for indigenous people.

"People were definitely wary of it," he said. "In Aboriginal terms there was initial shame about it."

The six-part series, The Colony, features a group of young Australians and modern-day families - including the Stephensons from England, the Hurleys from Ireland and the Hohnkes from Tasmania - who from next month will be filmed around the clock while living as early settlers and convicts and replicating the early colonial period from 1800 to 1815.

Joining them on the northern NSW shoot will be the Donovans from NSW and the Costelloes from Queensland's Stradbroke Island, who will represent the Darug and Dakinjung indigenous people who lived in the NSW Hawkesbury region. They agreed to take part after being approached by the producers of The Colony, a co-production between SBS and Irish and British television channels, who had received no inquiries from indigenous people. Sharon Costelloe, whose grandmother was one of the stolen generation, acknowledges it might be difficult for her family, and that they might encounter racism from people in or out of character, but says that is why she joined up.

"Yeah, it wasn't a very pretty time for our mob; I don't blame people for not wanting to be involved," Ms Costelloe said. "I want to see how it was, I want to retrace (my ancestors') steps."

The indigenous families will be given an "Aboriginal survival kit" along with boomerangs and spears to catch food.

While Ms Costelloe said it would be an emotional time for her family as they lived like their ancestors, she can see the light side. "I'm sure the kids will enjoy it," she said.

Source: The Australian

Family Wanted For Australia's First 'Living History' Series

Having just returned from the UK where he went to find the right English and Irish family to become part of the groundbreaking SBS living history series THE COLONY, Logie Award winning producer Chris Hilton is now finalising the search for the ideal Australian family to star in the series.

With filming due to start in August in an undisclosed Australian location, Hilton Cordell Productions and SBS are currently processing the enormous response since the original call for entries in March.

“The Colony is a once in a lifetime opportunity to escape the rat race and live close to nature for four months. We are looking for both a family, and couples, who work well as a team with a great sense of humour and adventure” says producer Chris Hilton.

“It is important that we find the right participants to retrace the steps of early Australians – to depart the modern world and live as the colonists did back in the early nineteenth century. The challenge will be living without any mod-cons - telephones, electricity, footie results - things modern families are used to having on a daily basis. They will have each other, their own resources and the rudimentary tools, clothes, food and livestock of the early colonists and that’s it,” he continued.

A study in living history, The Colony will explore a period of time which is at the heart of modern Australian culture and aims to illuminate the historical truth of life in Australia's early colonial days. Rigorously researched and developed over three years, THE COLONY will ensure the historical accuracy of the period 1795 to 1815 – in which, over four months, modern day families and individuals will experience the period of early European settlement.

Created by one of Australia's most respected Logie Award winning producers of quality factual programming, Chris Hilton (Dying to Leave, The Irish Empire and Shadow Play), Hilton Cordell has undergone a three year development period of intense research into the political, economic, religious, and social climate of the colony of New South Wales circa 1800.

Hilton Cordell and SBS are also looking for individuals to be part of the series.

To register your family for the series, please go to www.thecolony.com.au for an application form. The first episode of The Colony is due to be broadcast on Australian television on Australia Day 2005.

Produced by Hilton Cordell Productions THE COLONY is the first and only living history series where early colonial life in Australia will be put to the test. Broadcast partners are SBS Television, RTE Ireland and History Channel UK. The project is also being supported by the Film Finance Corporation Australia and the New South Wales Film and Television Office.

Source: SBS

related links :

• The Colony

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