A History Talks Issue 6 Volume 1 by John Tognolini

Tony Robinson

Inspired by The History Channel's The People Speak. I’ve decided to make a regular weekly selection of quotations. Quotes are primary sources of history. The selection below are from the The People Speak. This series was inspired by the production of The American The People Speak. My future selections of quotes will not just be on Australia but internationally too.

John Tognolini 26-12-12

“So, 240 years after Cook landed, what is an Australian? Statistically it’s a 38-year-old living in either New South Wales or Victoria. She has 1.9 children and is married. She jogs or does some sort of routine exercise, and thinks she’s in okay shape but may actually be a bit overweight. She works in a service industry and earns around $750 a week. She was born in Australia, but at least one of her grandparents wasn’t. She has sex 1.84 times a week, which she thinks isn’t enough, and she’ll probably die of heart disease. “

Page 229 Tony Robinson’s History of Australia from New Holland to Neighbours

On the Eureka Stockade

“….A digger who had been shot in the legs was set on by three policeman; one knelt on him, another tried to strangle him, and the third went through his pockets. Dozens of diggers were killed; many were summarily executed.

Carboni, who was easily recognisable by his shock of red hair, was beaten up, stripped of his clothes and thrown naked into gaol. The rebel leaders were arrested and faced the death penalty for high treason…”

Pages 158-159 Tony Robinson’s History of Australia from New Holland to Neighbours

"Only the poor will help the poor."

FRANK HARDY 1917-94, Legends from Benson's Valley

"No man is so gullible when it comes to a bit of bulldust sprinkled on the old national ethos than the Australian, who really believes the sun shines nowhere else except out of his arse and his beer is really the best."

FRANK HARDY, The Outcasts of Foolgarah

"If Australia is The Lucky Country, the Aborigines must be the unluckiest people in the world."

FRANK HARDY, The Unlucky Australians

"Power without Glory"

FRANK HARDY, title of book

"The truth is impossible to comprehend even when one is willing to tell it. For the truth resides in memory and memory is clouded with repression and a desire to embellish. The recollections of any individual are conditioned by the general truths to which he or she has tried to live. To recall an event is to interpret it, so the truth is altered by the very act of remembering. Therefore the truth, like God, does not exist - only the search for it."

FRANK HARDY, Who Shot George Kirkland?

"I have outlived that care that curries public favour or dreads the public frown…let the hand of law strike me down if it will, but I ask that my story be heard and considered. "

NED KELLY 1855-1880

"We shall never be understood or respected by the English until we carry our individuality to extremes, and by asserting our independence, become of sufficient consequence in their eyes to merit a closer study than they have hitherto accorded us. "

HENRY LAWSON 1867-1922

"I’ve never seen anyone rehabilitated by punishment. "

HENRY LAWSON

"Nationalism is both a vital medicine and a dangerous drug. "

GEOFFREY BLAINEY 1930-

"Australians should not boast of the virtues they haven't got, when there are so many they have."

ERNEST GORDON BIAGGINI 1889-1978, You Can't Say That

"When you play test cricket, you don’t give the Englishmen an inch. Play it tough, all the way. Grind them into the dust. "

DON BRADMAN 1908-2001

"I'll tell you where the dead heart of Australia is. It's right back there in the cities. Not out in the sand and the mulga and the stones burning hot under the sun."

DAVID IRELAND 1927-    , Burn

"The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy. "

ALEX CAREY 1922-1987

"Fear can do terrible things to a man."

A. B. (Albert) FACEY, A Fortunate Life 1892-1982

"Despite the fear the men mostly took everything that was thrown at them. I saw some brave things at Gallipoli. One thing that made a big impression on us was the actions of a man we called 'The Man with a Donkey'. He was a stretcher-bearer and he used to carry the wounded men down to the clearing station on the beach... This man, Simpson his name was, was exposed to enemy fire constantly all the days I was there, and when I left Shrapnel Gully he was still going strong. I considered, and so did my mates, that he should be given the Victoria Cross."

A. B. (Albert) FACEY, A Fortunate Life

"I know this beach like the back of my hand."

HAROLD HOLT 1908-1967, Last words.