Truganini

1. Truganini By Alex Davey and Sarah Smith

2. a) Identification • Trugernanner (Truganini) was born in 1812 and died in 1876. She was a historical Aboriginal, born in Van Diemen’s Land and was in the south-eastern nation (tribe) in Tasmania, her father was the tribe leader. • Truganini’s mother had been killed by sealers, her uncle shot by soldiers, her sister abducted by sealers and her ‘fiancé’ murdered by timber-getters.

3. B) Resisting British Colonisation • Truganini worked hard in the early 1830s to unify what was left of the indigenous communities of Tasmania. As an intelligent woman, she worked with the white authorities to protect Aboriginalsurvivors of The Black Wars who had been forcibly removed from their home lands. • In 1830 George Augustus Robinson, was hired to collect the rest of the indigenous population and he was to settle them on Flinders Island. • Truganini and her husband, Woorrady, helped Robinson in the hope that removing them would protect them from further violence. The shock of resettlement, and unsanitary conditions, the people were forced to live in proved fatal. The result was lots of Aboriginal people dying - mainly due to malnutrition and diseases. • In 1856 there were only a few remaining indigenous survivors in Tasmania, Truganini among them, who were taken to Oyster Bay. By 1873, except for Truganini, all of the people taken there had died. Truganini was the only survivor.

4. Before the Aboriginals moved from Flinders Island to Oyster Bay, they were moved to Port Phillip and that was where the most of the Aboriginals died. When the surviving Aboriginals moved to Oyster Bay, there were only 45 Aboriginals left excluding Truganini.

5. c) What was Truganini resisting? • Truganini was trying to resist the deaths of many Aboriginal people.

6. d) How important she was for the Aboriginals • She worked very hard and that was important because she unified what was left of the Indigenous communities of Tasmania just after the loss of most of her family. • She worked to protect the other indigenous people who had survived The Black Wars so they wouldn't be forced out of their home lands and no more deaths of the Indigenous people would occur resulting in the rising population of Aboriginal peoples. • She went with her husband and all of the Aboriginals who she fought for, to Flinders' Island with G. A. Robinson (a European who had been hired to start a settlement within Australia, of the rest Aboriginal people), hoping to gain a better and protected life and not be victimised to further violence.

7. She was important because to the rest of the surviving Aboriginals, she was someone to look up to and keep them determined to fight for a better life without discrimination and belittling of the Indigenous people of Australia. • She was important to the rest of the Tasmanian Aboriginals because she was sacrificing things of her own for them, the remaining Aboriginals.

8. E)Timeline of her life 1812-Born in Bruny Island to a tribal elder. 1830-The fighting between the ‘invaders’ and Aboriginals had become The Black War. The colonial authorities told George Augustus Robinson to move the Aboriginals to an Island. Truganini went with Robinson hoping it would stop the killings of the Aboriginal people. 1835-By now, she was used to violent acts committed towards her people. Her mother, fiancé, and uncle were murdered and her sisters abducted. She herself was raped. Between 1830-1834-Truganini met her new husband Wooraddyand they travelled with Robinson on his “missions”. She acted as a guide and interpreter and she actually saved Robinson’s life a few times. Between 1834-1847-The new settlement on Flinders Island was actually a prison and death trap. Aboriginals started to die because of influenza and other diseases. When this was happening, Truganini was warning other Aboriginals not to come and advising them to keep away. 1847-The remaining 45 Aboriginals and herself moved to Oyster Cove. The conditions were worse. 1873-Truganini was the only one alive now. She managed to find peace within herself and stay content because she was close to her tribal territory. 1876-She died at the age of 64. She had been living in Hobart in care of a friend. 1976-Her dying wish was granted-after her remains were cremated, her ashes were scattered in the waters of her traditional land.

9. F) Pictures, visuals and maps Flinders Island- the new settlement where the Aboriginals were moved Where Truganini and the 45 other remaining Aboriginals were moved to Truganini’s nation (birthplace)

10. George Augustus Robinson

11. This is a painting of Truganini from Benjamin Duterrau (a friend of Robinson). He is known for painting many Aboriginal scenes in Tasmania. This painting was done in the late 1820’s.

12. Her legacy….. “This special Tasmanian will always be remembered for her courage and strength in the face of harsh and brutal times” (1)

13. Bibliography • (1)Truganini, a significant person in Aboriginal history. [internet]Available at:http://www.tasmania-attractions.com/truganini.html. [Accessed 13 November, 2011] • Truganini (1812-1876).[internet] Available at: http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1098b.htm.[Accessed 13 November,2011] • Trugernana (Truganini). [internet] Available at:http://www.brunyislandferry.com/truganini.html . [Accessed 13 November, 2011]