Questions for discussion
Episode 3
18 February 2014
th
Bushfire Investigation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What do bushfire investigators do?
What’s the first step to investigating a bushfire?
Name three things that can start a bushfire.
What do you think a piece of physical evidence could be in a bushfire investigation?
Why do you think physical evidence is important?
What is a witness?
Why is it important to use physical evidence as well as talk to witnesses?
Why do you think physical evidence could be hard to find after a bushfire?
Why is it important to investigate the cause of bushfires?
What was one change made as a result of investigations into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in
Victoria?
Check out BtN’s Bushfire Investigation teacher resource on the BtN Teachers page
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/teachers.htm
Proceeds of Crime
What does “proceeds of crime” mean?
Why do you think Australia has laws which stop you from earning money from crime?
What country does Schapelle Corby come from?
What country was she arrested in?
How many years did she spend in jail?
Why do you think television stations would pay someone for an interview?
What happened to the 128 thousand dollars Schapelle Corby made for her book?
Will Schapelle Corby get to keep any money she makes from interviews?
Do you think Schapelle Corby should get to keep money she makes from telling her story? Why/why
not?
10. Do you think it’s right to pay people for telling stories to the media?
1.
2.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Vote in the BtN Proceeds of Crime poll. Go to http://www.abc.net.au/btn/polls.htm
Banjo Birthday
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What song is known as Australia’s “unofficial national anthem”?
Where would you see Banjo Paterson’s face most often?
What was Banjo Paterson’s real name?
Where did his nickname come from?
Name two jobs that Banjo Paterson had in his lifetime.
What Banjo Paterson poem was made into a movie and a TV series?
What inspired a lot of Banjo Paterson’s poetry?
©ABC 2014
8. What famous person quoted Banjo Paterson when he visited Australia recently?
9. In “Waltzing Matilda” who camps by the Coolabah tree?
10. Why do you think Banjo Paterson’s poetry was so popular?
Check out BtN’s Banjo Paterson teacher resource on the BtN Teachers page
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/teachers.htm
Test your knowledge in the BtN Banjo Birthday quiz. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/quiz.htm
University Camp
1.
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9.
10.
What does the Yalari Indigenous Scholarship do?
What state do Kaleishia, K'tahni and Bradley come from?
What do the kids want to do after they finish high school?
What percentage of new university students in Australia are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders?
Indigenous Australians make up what percent of the Australian population?
What university does Brittney visit over the summer holidays?
What does Brittney want to be when she leaves school?
What are some suggestions the kids give for encouraging Indigenous kids to go to university?
Do you think going to university is important? Why/why not?
Why do you think people are trying to encourage more Indigenous kids to go to university?
Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the BtN University Camp story
page. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3895044.htm
Figure Skating
1.
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What qualities do you need to be a good figure skater?
Why do James and Guiseppe like figure skating?
Name a competition that James and Guiseppe have competed in.
What figure skating event do James and Giuseppe compete in?
What are some other figure skating events?
Why do figure skaters wear costumes?
Is figure skating an Olympic sport?
When are the next Winter Olympic Games?
In what year is James hoping to get to the Olympics?
Other than Australia, what country’s figure skating team does James go for?
Create a facts sheet about Olympic Figure Skating http://www.sochi2014.com/en/figure-skating-about
©ABC 2014
Activity
Fire Investigators
Key Learning
Students will develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics of fire and the causes of bushfires. They will
learn about types of evidence and how evidence is used to develop explanations of events.
The Australian Curriculum
Geography / Geographical Knowledge and
Understanding
The impact of bushfires or floods on environments and
communities and how people can respond (ACHGK030)(year 5)
Science as Human Endeavour/Nature and
development of science
Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using
evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena
(ACSHE098) (year 6)
Science as Human Endeavour/Nature and
development of science
Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using
evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena
(ACSHE081) (year 5)
Science and Understanding/ Earth and Space
Science
Sudden geological changes of extreme weather conditions can
affect Earth’s surface (ACSSU096) (year 6)
Science as Human Endeavour/ Use and influence of
science
Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community
decisions (ACSHE220) (year 6)
Discussion Questions
1. What do bushfire investigators do?
2. What’s the first step to investigating a bushfire?
3. Name three things that can start a bushfire.
4. What do you think a piece of physical evidence could be in a bushfire investigation?
5. Why do you think physical evidence is important?
6. What is a witness?
7. Why is it important to use physical evidence as well as talk to witnesses?
8. Why do you think physical evidence could be hard to find after a bushfire?
9. Why is it important to investigate the cause of bushfires?
10. What was one change made as a result of investigations into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in
Victoria?
©ABC 2014
Activities
Fire Investigation Glossary
Discuss some of the fire investigation terms used in the story. As a class, ask students to share what they
know about each term and compile a glossary.
Witnesses
Physical Evidence
Clues
Ignition
Indicator
Process of Elimination
Trial and Error
Area of Origin
Suspiciously
The Fire Triangle
For a fire to thrive and spread it requires three things:
• fuel for the fire to burn
• air for the fire to breathe
• heat for the fire to continue burning.
The first two parts of the triangle are present whenever fuel is in open air. The amount of heat needed to
start the fire depends on the kind of fuel.
Remove any side of the Fire Triangle and the fire will go out.
©ABC 2014
The Fire Triangle
Discuss each of the different situations where fire is produced in reference to the fire triangle. In each case
two sides of the fire triangle are provided. Think about what the third side could be.
Fire
Oxygen
1. A match is struck on
the side of the box
2. A candle is lit with a
match
3. A haystack is struck
by lightning
4. A welding spark lands
in a pile of cleaning rags
5. A car drives through
long grass
6. Sun shines through a
magnifying glass onto
dry grass
7. A gas burning stove is
turned on
air
Fuel
Heat
friction of the match
against the box.
air
the candle’s wick
air
the hay
air
the rags, cleaning
chemicals on the rags
sparks from the car’s
exhaust
heat from the sun
focussed by the
magnifying glass
a spark
air
Air
Air
Answers: 1. Fuel = wood, chemicals on the end of the match, 2. Heat = fire on the match, 3. Heat = the
lighting, 4. Heat = the welding spark, 5. Fuel = the grass, 6. Fuel = the grass, 7. Fuel = gas
Bushfire causes mind map
As a class, brainstorm a list of possible bushfire causes. Consider working on a class mind map to visually
outline information – the words ‘bushfire causes” will be placed in the centre, to which associated ideas,
words and concepts are added. Some examples are given below:
Farm
Machinery
Bushfire
Causes
©ABC 2014
Arson
Assessing the evidence
Ask students to play the role of fire investigator for a made-up bushfire scenario by analysing the evidence
given below:
Be a Fire Investigator:
A bushfire has burned around 20 hectares of farmland in Victoria. Luckily CFA crews
managed to put it out before any homes were damaged but it was a close call! Now it’s
your job as a fire investigator to find out what caused the blaze. Look at each piece of
evidence carefully and see if you can figure out where and how the fire started.
©ABC 2014
Clue 1: Weather
You visit the Bureau of Meteorology to
find out what the weather was doing
before and during the fire.
You find out that there were some
storms and lightning the night before
the fire.
The next day it was very hot and windy.
The wind was blowing in a NorthWesterly direction
Clue 2: Interview with Farmer Jake
Farmer Jake lives to the north west of the fire zone.
Jake: “I remember seeing some people at the
campground the night before the fire. They might have
been cooking something on the fire”
Clue 3: Interview with Farmer Jan
Farmer Jan lives on the western side of the fire zone.
Jan: “The day before the fire I lent my welding
equipment to my friend Farmer Dave down the road. He
said he was going to fix the shed.”
Clue 4: Interview with Farmer Phil
Farmer Phil lives on the north eastern side of the fire
zone.
Dave: “I did borrow some welding gear from Jan. I was
going to fix the shed but then I saw that it was a
catastrophic fire day. You should never weld when it’s
hot and windy!”
©ABC 2014
Clue 5: Interview with Farmer Dave
Farmer Dave lives at the South Eastern side of the fire
zone.
Dave: “I remember hearing a really loud bang, like an
explosion, in the middle of the night before the fire. It
was pretty early in the morning when I smelt the smoke”
Clue 6: Campfire remains:
At the camping ground you find remains of a campfire.
The fire is in a patch of sand with no trees or grass
nearby. The area around it doesn’t seem to be burnt.
Clue 6: Damaged tree:
Inside the fire zone at the South Eastern end you find a
tree that seems to have been split down the middle.
The trees to the North West are burnt but the ones in the
forest to the South East aren’t.
After examining the evidence carefully, what do you think the best explanation is for how
the fire started? Give reasons for your answer.
Share your ideas with the class and discuss how you used the evidence to reach a
conclusion.
 Related Research Links
ABC Emergency – Current ABC Emergency Coverage
http://www.abc.net.au/news/emergency/
ABC Emergency – Get Ready & Survive: Plan for an Emergency
http://www.abc.net.au/news/emergency/plan-for-an-emergency/
Government of South Australia – Emergency plans and kits
http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Emergency,+safety+and+infrastructure/Emergency/Earthquakes/Before+an+ea
rthquake/Emergency+plans+and+kits
CFS – Fun Stuff
http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/prepare_act_survive_2012/reference/fun_stuff.jsp
©ABC 2014
CFA Kids and Schools
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/kids-schools/
Geoscience Australia – Bushfire Basics
http://www.ga.gov.au/hazards/bushfire/bushfire-basics.html
Australian Attorney General’s Office – Emergency Management for Schools
http://www.em.gov.au/sites/schools/Getthefacts/Bushfires/Pages/default.aspx
ABC Splash – Climate and Bushfires in Australia
http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/30033/climate-and-bushfires-in-australia
Behind the News – Bushfire Plan
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3880224.htm
Behind the News – Spring Fires
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3875965.htm
Behind the News – Bushfire Disaster
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2488554.htm
Behind the News – Disaster Response
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s1655134.htm
Behind the News – Forensic Science
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3576831.htm
©ABC 2014
Activity
Banjo Birthday
Key Learning
Students will develop a deeper understanding of the life and work of Banjo Paterson.
The Australian Curriculum
English / Language / Language variation and change
Understand that the pronunciation, spelling and meanings of
words have histories and change over time. (ACELA1500)
Year 5
History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding /
The Colonies
The role that a significant individual or group played in shaping
a colony: for example, explorers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists,
writers, humanitarians, religious and political leaders, and
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. (ACHHK097)
Year 5
English / Literacy / Interacting with others
Participate in and contribute to discussions, clarifying and
interrogating ideas, developing and supporting arguments,
sharing and evaluating information, experiences and
opinions(ACELY1709) Year 6
Discussion Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What song is known as Australia’s “unofficial national anthem”?
Where would you see Banjo Paterson’s face most often?
What was Banjo Paterson’s real name?
Where did his nickname come from?
Name two jobs that Banjo Paterson had in his lifetime.
What Banjo Paterson poem was made into a movie and a TV series?
What inspired a lot of Banjo Paterson’s poetry?
What famous person quoted Banjo Paterson when he visited Australia recently?
In “Waltzing Matilda” who camps by the Coolibah tree?
Why do you think Banjo Paterson’s poetry was so popular?
Activities
Banjo Paterson
Using the information from the BtN story and their own research, students will create a summary of Banjo
Paterson’s life.
©ABC 2014
Research questions

What was Banjo Paterson’s full name?

When and where was he born?

What was his cultural heritage?

What jobs did he have?

What are his most well-known works?

What is an interesting fact about Banjo Paterson?
Encourage students to present their research in an interesting way, for example using:

Prezi http://prezi.com/index/

Glogster http://www.glogster.com/

Bio Cube Creator http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/cube_creator/
The words of Waltzing Matilda
Students will investigate one of Banjo Paterson’s most well-known pieces of work Waltzing Matilda
Read through or listen to Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson.
http://www.imagesaustralia.com/waltzingmatilda.htm
http://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/sound/sounds-australia/waltzing-matilda/
Swagman
Billabong
Billy
Waltzing
Matilda
Jumbuck
Squatter
Thoroughbred
Troopers
Coolabah tree
Tucker-bag
Shoved
Ask students to write what they think is the meaning of each word. Swap definitions with a partner and ask
them to add to or change the definition. Check these against the dictionary definition or website.
Researching Waltzing Matilda
Working in pairs, students research and prepare a double-page spread as though for a history magazine
aimed at the general public about the Banjo Paterson’s song Waltzing Matilda. Encourage students to come
up with their own questions to research. Here are some to get them started:
©ABC 2014
Research questions

What story does the song tell?

How did Banjo Paterson come to write the lyrics of the song?

Who wrote the music?

What events were happening in Australia around the time Waltzing Matilda
was written?

What do you think Waltzing Matilda tells us about Australia? Do you think it’s
accurate? Explain your answer.

What role did bush poets like Banjo Paterson play in helping to shape a
colony?
Should Waltzing Matilda be Australia’s national anthem?
Waltzing Matilda has been referred to as Australia’s unofficial national anthem. Students will develop an
argument for or against the song replacing Advance Australia Fair as Australia’s national anthem. Encourage
students to share their persuasive texts with the class.
Structure of a persuasive text
Introduction
 What is the point you are trying to argue? Construct an
introductory paragraph which states the issue or topic.
 Introduce the arguments that will be developed in the
body of the text.
Body
 Construct arguments that support your point of view.
 Each paragraph starts with a topic sentence which
introduces each point.
 The rest of the paragraph gives more reasons.
 Arguments can be ordered from strongest to weakest.
Conclusion
 Restate your position on the argument
 Construct a concluding paragraph that provides a
summary of your arguments and a call to action.
Tips for persuasive text
writing
 Who is your audience? For example
are you directing your argument at kids,
teachers or politicians?
 Provide facts and evidence to support
your argument.
 Be creative with your word choice to
enhance your argument. Convey
emotion using thinking and feeling
words.
 Write in the present tense
 Check your spelling and punctuation.
Use the read, write, think persuasion map to plan your
exposition text.
Further Investigation
Create a portrait of Banjo Paterson or an artwork that shows a scene from Waltzing Matilda. Encourage
students to explore and experiment with different techniques and media to produce their artwork. These
could include painting, drawing, photography, collage or mixed media.
©ABC 2014
 Related Research Links
Australian Dictionary of Biography –Banjo Paterson
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/paterson-andrew-barton-banjo-7972
National Film and Sound Archives – Waltzing Matilda recordings
http://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/sound/sounds-australia/waltzing-matilda/
Australian Geographic – Banjo Paterson
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2012/02/on-this-day-in-history-banjo-patersonwas-born/
ABC Splash - The story behind Waltzing Matilda
http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/104760/the-story-of-waltzing-matilda-and-winton
Civics and Citizenship - Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson
http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/paterson,34824.html
National Film and Sound Archive – Biography Banjo Paterson
http://www.nfsa.gov.au/site_media/uploads/file/2011/01/17/biograph_patterson.pdf
©ABC 2014
BtN: Episode 3 Transcript 18/2/14
On this week's Behind the News

A big crime goes down in the classroom would it be wrong to cash in?

We celebrate the 150th birthday of an Aussie icon.

And meet the kids spinning their way towards the Winter Olympics.
Hey I'm Nathan and this is BtN. We'll have those stories and more coming up but first let's
get the news just in. Here's Emma.
The Wire
There's been a bit of trouble at the Manus Island detention centre. Immigration Minister
Scott Morrison says 35 asylum seekers escaped last night but they were quickly caught. A
refugee action group says the asylum seekers got upset after they were told there wasn't
much chance of them being resettled in another country
***
Corporal Cameron Baird has been awarded Australia's 100th Victoria Cross which is our
top military honour. The corporal died in Afghanistan in June last year after a battle in
which he acted courageously. The Corporal was awarded the cross posthumously which
means he received it after he died. His family will hold onto the award.
***
And finally, one brave kid from Brisbane's about to depart on a big adventure! Coen has
Cystic Fibrosis. It's a disorder that affects the lungs and it got so bad that Coen needed a
new set!
COEN: It took me 18 months to get a transplant and i was on my deathbed by the end of
that.
But now that he's got his replacements, he's feeling better than ever.
COEN: 100 percent better, I've never felt like this in my wildest dreams.
Now he wants to tell everyone how important being an organ donor is, so he's going to jet
ski 2000ks along the Murray River to raise awareness!
COEN: It's really important, only two percent of people who die can actually be organ
donors, so more people on the list means creates more hope for people like me.
©ABC 2014
Bushfire Investigation
Reporter: James Bartold
INTRO: As you just heard there, bushfires have caused a lot of damage in Victoria. Now
they're finally looking to be under control, the next task is to find out how they started.
But how can they work that out after everything's been burnt? We sent James out with a
fire detective for the day to find out.
JAMES BARTOLD, REPORTER: I'm on a hunt for clues. I've got my trusty magnifying
glass and my eyes peeled. I'm looking for anything to help me figure out the mystery cause
of a 'bushfire'. Ok, well I don't really have any idea how you look for bushfire clues, so let's
go meet someone who does.
REPORTER: Hi, I'm James.
PHIL: How are you James? Phil.
REPORTER: Phil, so you're the man in the know when it comes to investigating bushfires?
PHIL: Yes, I'm a qualified bushfire investigator.
REPORTER: Brilliant! Do you think you could show me how it's done?
PHIL: Sure, I can show you some of the moves.
Phil's job is to figure out how bushfires start. Even though my magnifying glass isn't
needed, it's still a bit like detective work. And I'm his trusty sidekick.
REPORTER: Alright Phil, so what's this here?
PHIL: That's a piece of grass, James.
REPORTER: So it's not a clue?
PHIL: It's not a clue.
REPORTER: Alright, we'll keep looking.
Phil tells me the first step is to find where the fire started. And if you look hard enough,
there are clues hidden after a fire.
PHIL: OK James, this is a good little indicator here. We can tell that the fire has actually
travelled up this way, because it's burnt this side of the log, but this side of the logs
unburnt.
PHIL: You can see that the fires actually come through here, and its frozen the leaves in a
particular direction, so we can see that the fires actually travelled up and through, so the
leaf freeze will point towards the area of origin.
JAMES: So should we follow that direction then?
©ABC 2014
PHIL: I think we should.
A bit like a real detective, Phil's got a whole bunch of nifty tools to help him. These special
markers map out where the fire went. Pink for the front of the fire, blue for the back,
yellow for the sides, and white for evidence.
His real pride and joy, though, is this thing called a range finder, which measures distances
and the angle of the ground.
PHIL: It helps me document what's been happening with the fire at the time.
REPORTER: It's amazing, it’s pretty flash, isn't it?
Once we've worked out where the fire started, then we can figure out step 2: How it started.
All kinds of things can start fires; machinery, power lines, the weather, and sometimes
even people lighting them. Phil has to work through all the possible options, and pick
which ones he thinks are most likely.
PHIL: Through the process of elimination we'd figure out what was in the area, rarely do
we get it wrong,
REPORTER: Has there ever been a silly one someone's told you that something had
happened and it was a little bit different to that?"
PHIL: Absolutely. People think they're going to get in trouble, people will tell different
stories to get you off the track, and just using the physical evidence we can get to the truth.
That's why fire investigators are so important. Once the cause of a fire is known, changes
can be made to try to stop it happening again. For example, after the Black Saturday
bushfires, investigators found one of the worst fires was started by an electrical fault. So
the Victorian government put heaps of cash in to start fixing their system!
Back at our bushfire site, Phil's got a fair idea that our fire was started by lightning.
PHIL: Because of the remoteness, and access issues here lightning is looking pretty good.
But he'll need to take some snaps of the area, pack up all his evidence and take it back to
the lab to make sure once and for all. In the meantime, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled
for any more clues. After all, I've learnt there's a lot more to bushfire investigating than
meets the eye!
Quiz 1
Presenter: Thanks Sherlock.
Let's stick with bushfires for our first quiz of the day
The question is:
©ABC 2014
What happens to the speed of a bushfire when it travels uphill?
Does it
Speed up?
Slow down?
or not change?
Answer:
It speeds up.
In fact, a fire will move about 4 times faster burning up an average hill.
Crime Cash
Reporter: Matthew Holbrook
INTRO: Okay, if you do something wrong do you think it's fair to be rewarded for it?
That's the debate going round this week after an Aussie woman named Schapelle Corby
was released from a prison in Bali after doing nine years for drug smuggling. Rumour is
she's been offered millions to tell her story. But as Matt found out there's an Australian
law designed to stop that happening.
TEACHER: You're in serious trouble, mister. You've cheated. I'm going to have to fail you.
What have you got to say for yourself?
NICK: Well...
TEACHER: Your test begins now.
NICK: Finished!
TEACHER: Your answers are all correct! But wait up, what's this?
MATTHEW HOLBROOK, REPORTER: When you do something you know is wrong,
you've got to be prepared to face the music.
TEACHER: You could be expelled for this. You're ruining our testing system and setting a
bad example for the younger children! Off to the Principal, Nick. Outside!
But what if, aside from the whole punishment thing, doing something wrong actually
worked in your favour?
GROUP OF STUDENTS: Nick, Nick, Come on, tell us what happened! Tell us everything!
NICK: Okay, okay, I'll tell you for a price!
©ABC 2014
Here in Australia, there are laws designed to stop people making money from situations
like this (although you have to do something worse than cheating on a test).
It's called the Proceeds of Crime Act. Basically, if someone commits a serious crime, they're
not allowed to earn money from it in any way...at all...ever. They can't be paid for
interviews or for writing books about their experiences or cash in on the fame breaking the
law has given them.
That's why everyone's talking about this woman, Schapelle Corby. She spent nine years in
an Indonesian jail after trying to smuggle drugs into the country. And now she's out, it's
rumoured she's getting the big bucks for an exclusive interview. Somewhere in the order of
two million dollars!
That's a fair chunk of change and a lot of people don't want her to have it. They say it's
against Australian law because it would mean she's profiting from her crime. So any money
she makes should be taken away.
That might be a bit tough, because she's in Indonesia. Still, critics say everything that can
be done should be to stop her cashing in.
But there are people in her corner. They argue that everyone has the right to tell their story
and to earn money from it. After all, she's done her time, why should she still be punished?
It's not the first time Schapelle's had to deal with this issue either. When she wrote a book
about her life a few years ago she had to hand over her share of the money.
That's what Aussie authorities want to happen again. And they're sure to fight hard to stop
her from getting her hands on the cash. In the classroom it's a bit easier.
PRINCIPAL: NICK! Come with me
The old saying still seems to be true: crime doesn't pay.
Online Poll
Let's go to a poll on that one.
The question is:
Should Schapelle Corby be allowed to sell her story?
To vote just head to our website.
Last week we asked if you feel confident riding your bike on the road and it looks like most
of you do.
65% said you're all good pedalling on the street.
©ABC 2014
Banjo Birthday
Reporter: Matthew Holbrook
INTRO: This week marks 150 years since the birth of one of Australia's most famous
writers. There's no doubt you've heard of the stuff he wrote even though it was done so
long ago. Matt reveals who we're talking about and why he's such a big deal.
KIDS: Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled,
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
MATTHEW HOLBROOK, REPORTER: You could call it our unofficial national anthem.
And, in fact, there are more recordings of it, than any other Australian song. But do you
know who it was written by? The answer is Banjo Patterson.
MATT: That's this guy on our ten dollar note. You've got to be pretty important to get
yourself on one of these. So what's so special about him?
Well, to begin with, Banjo isn't really his name. It's Andrew Barton Paterson. He called
himself Banjo because it was the name of his favourite horse. He was born back in 1864
near Orange in New South Wales. He grew up on a farm and rode a pony to the nearby
town of Binalong for school. After finishing school, he did a lot of things. He became a
lawyer and a journalist, even a war correspondent! He was an ambulance driver in the First
World War and, most famously, he was a bush poet!
Banjo wrote about the bush and Aussie life as he saw it - and a lot of it! He was inspired by
his experiences growing up. He wrote throughout his life even when he was busy with
other jobs. By 1895 he had a whole book's worth of poetry. It featured one of his most
famous poems – The Man from Snowy River.
TIM ELIOT READING OF MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER: But the man from Snowy River
let the pony have his head, and he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer, and he
raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed.
Over the years, it's been made into a movie and a TV series. But Banjo didn't just write
poetry, he also wrote short stories and novels. Banjo Patterson died in 1941 at the age of 76.
Now, one hundred and fifty years on from his birth, his legacy as a poet and author is still
strong even outside of Australia! When US President Barack Obama visited a couple of
years ago, he quoted something Banjo had written.
BARACK OBAMA: Of Australia he wrote: "Hath she the strength for the burden laid on
her, has she the power to protect and guard her own."
Today, people recite his poems, remember his stories, and sing his songs - helping to
celebrate an important part of Australia's history.
©ABC 2014
KIDS: And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong, who'll come a-waltzing
Matilda with me.
Quiz 2
Happy birthday Banjo!
Let's do a quiz.
The question is:
What does ‘Waltzing Matilda’ actually mean?
To dance with a girl?
To jump into a waterhole?
To travel with a swag?
ANSWER: To travel with a swag.
Back in the day 'Waltzing' was slang for going for a walk and it's thought 'Matilda' was one
of the names given to a travellers' swag, or sleeping bag.
Uni Camp
Reporter: Peter Ah Sam
INTRO: Right, as you'd know University is a goal for many kids after high school. But
one group is there in fewer numbers than they should be. Indigenous kids only make up
one percent of enrolments. Peter took a look at one program trying to fix that.
K'TAHNI: Hey, my name is K'tahni and I am from Darwin.
BRADLEY: Hey my name is Bradley and I am from Halls Creek.
KALEISHIA: Hey my name is Kaleishia and I am from Katherine.
PETER AH SAM, REPORTER: These guys might be from small towns but they have big
dreams.
All three are on an Indigenous scholarship, called Yalari, which offers free private
schooling to Indigenous students from rural and remote communities.
I thought I'd break them out of class to ask them about their next big step.
REPORTER: Hey Bradley, Kaleishia and K'tahni do you want to come out and have a chat?
©ABC 2014
REPORTER: So what are your plans for next year?
K'TAHNI: I'm hoping to maybe get into a uni course next year and hopefully be able to
pursue filming, film making.
KALEISHIA: Well, I want to be a sport psychologist but I don’t know yet something to do
with sport really.
Bradley: I think I'll come back and do psychologist or something like that cause yeah it's
real good.
All three are keen to go to university, which puts them in a pretty small minority.
You see, only one percent of uni enrolments in Australia are Indigenous kids, despite the
fact that they make up 3 percent of Australia's population.
REPORTER: Why do you think that is?
Bradley: I think that cause like I know people back at home that have finished school and
didn't want to go because they'll be homesick you know. They don't want to miss out on
like spending time with their all their people.
KALEISHIA: I think some think it's going to be too hard for them to cope.
It's a problem heaps of people want to fix.
But how?
Well, up in Darwin, Brittney is taking part in one program that's aiming to help.
BRITTNEY: I'm nervous about meeting new people and going away without somebody I
know, but I am looking forward to making new friends and getting a better experience on
everything.
Brittney is part of a group of 250 Indigenous students who were invited to check out the
University of Sydney over their summer holidays.
BRITTNEY: It kind of reminded me of the Harry Potter buildings and everyone else keeps
saying that, but it's really big and old, but it's beautiful.
She loved getting the chance to experiment with her future career.
BRITTNEY: I want to be a forensic scientist or maybe a midwife, but definitely a forensic
scientist.
And she says this program has certainly encouraged her to aim for uni entrance.
BRITTNEY: I've always wanted to come to university, but now I, like, really, really want to
come and it doesn't look that hard to do.
©ABC 2014
Back with me at high school, these guys say there are some other simple ways more
Indigenous kids could be encouraged to give uni a shot.
KALEISHIA: Advertisement of more Indigenous students, like, succeeding in the areas;
promoting more indigenous students graduating and going to uni and graduating from
uni.
K'TAHNI: Inspiration is probably the biggest thing because it hits home for them and then
they'll probably be inspired to achieve for themselves and for other people.
Inspiration for more Indigenous kids to turn their big dreams into a reality.
The Score
Presenter: I think it's sport time now.
Here Emma with the score.
It's been a great week for the Aussie cricket team in South Africa! They were up against the
best test team in the world and not a lot of people thought they'd win. But thanks to some
dynamite bowling from Mitchell Johnson and some big centuries from Warner, Marsh and
Smith, the Aussies smashed South Africa by 281 runs!
***
In W league soccer Melbourne Victory have pulled off a big upset, knocking out Sydney FC
in a blockbuster semi final! Melbourne started with an early lead but Sydney clawed their
way back into the game. It wasn't enough though - a late penalty gave Melbourne the win.
The Victory will now take on Brisbane in the grand final this Sunday.
***
To Sochi, and the Aussies have picked up a couple of medals! Snowboarder Torah Bright
won Australia's first, grabbing Silver in the Women's Halfpipe.
Lydia Lassila chipped in with a Bronze for aerial skiing. She tried pulling off a super tricky
quadruple twist but slipped at the end and just missed out on the gold.
***
And finally, Australia's largest Indigenous cricket carnival's just wrapped up. It's been
running for 21 years in Alice Springs and grown from two teams to forty! But one of the
biggest changes this year is the focus on kids. The aim is to find Australia's next Indigenous
cricketer.
YOUNG CRICKETER: I've just dreamt of it all my life, just playing cricket, I've always
wanted to play for Australia.
It looks like they've got plenty of options!
©ABC 2014
Figure Skating
Reporter: Emma Davis
INTRO: Now as you saw there the Winter Olympics are well underway. And one of the
events that always draws some attention is figure skating. Emma went to meet some
champion junior figure skaters to find out how the sport works and why they love it.
EMMA DAVIS, REPORTER: This is what figure skating is supposed to look like. This is
what figure skating isn't supposed to look like. I tried backwards skating, some turns, even
a tiny jump! But mostly I just ended up landing on the ice. So if anyone needs some help
from two young experts, it's me.
James and Giuseppe are 13 years old and as you can probably tell, they're a lot better on
the ice than I am!
REPORTER: "You guys look awesome and I look ridiculous, How did you get into ice
skating?"
JAMES MIN: "I was really interested in the sport and one day my Auntie offered to take
me to the ice rink just for a public session and I just fell in love with the sport and I love the
speed and the feel of the ice."
GIUSEPPE TRIULCIO: "My sister skated before me and then one day my mum brang me
in and I was watching and I liked what I saw."
REPORTER: "OK so what made you keep going? You did classes but why did you like it so
much?"
GIUSEPPE: "Just the jumps and spins and stuff."
It's just as well they kept with it, because they're achieving awesome things. This is James
and Giuseppe competing at the state championships. Soon after, both went to the
nationals, where James took home gold and a spot on the international team.
JAMES: "At the end of the day, like once you reach the high levels it’s not more like a
physical competition anymore it's more like a mental so if you can handle the nerves you'll
do it on the day."
So what do you need to be a star on the ice? Well figure skating needs a combination of
both grace and strength. You also need some wicked moves.
Once you've got that, you need to work out which discipline you want to compete in.
There's men's and ladies singles; ice dancing, where the couple can't ever be more than 2m
apart; and pair skating, where the couple can dance where ever they want.
James and Giuseppe both compete in the men's singles and they're already mastering
some pretty wicked tricks. It's amazing they don't get dizzy!
©ABC 2014
REPORTER: "I'm terrified of falling over on the ice, aren't you guys scared?"
JAMES: "Well we fall over but we keep trying and trying until we master it. It's all about
having the confidence inside of you."
REPORTER: "Now your costume is super sparkly, do you have to wear a fancy costume?"
JAMES: You don't have to but it's better because your program has to tell a story and your
costume helps with that."
EMMA: "The winter Olympics are on right now so the next ones are 20-18? Are you going
to go?
GIUSEPPE: "Hopefully, yes, that's the goal."
JAMES: "It's my goal but we'll see how I go, we'll just take every step as it comes. Maybe
even 20-22 is more likely."
But in the meantime these two guys will be sitting down in front of the TV like the rest of
us, watching their heroes compete in Sochi.
REPORTER: "And during these Winter Olympics will you be watching it on tv?"
JAME: "Yes, Japanese and Australia."
EMMA: "You have to go for Australia!"
JAMES: "Yeah, Australia definitely, but Japanese."
Closer
PRESENTER: That's us done for today but there's plenty to keep you busy until next week.
Just go to our website, where you can vote in our poll, do some quizzes and tell us what you
thought about today's stories. You can also tweet about today's ep anytime using
#BehindtheNews.
See you next week.
©ABC 2014