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PDF (Whole Thesis) - USQ ePrints - University of Southern ...

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Newton. The lyrics portray a multicultural perspective <strong>of</strong> Australia, underpinned by a<br />

sentiment that regardless <strong>of</strong> how individuals came to live in Australia, everyone is equally as<br />

‘Australian’ as each other; with a strong discourse <strong>of</strong> harmony throughout the lyrics evident<br />

through key terms such as: “we are one, but we are many...We share a dream and sing with<br />

one voice”. Sample verses and the chorus to the song that include discourses <strong>of</strong> British<br />

heritages and Indigenous representations read:<br />

I came from the dream-time, from the dusty red soil plains<br />

I am the ancient heart, the keeper <strong>of</strong> the flame.<br />

I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come.<br />

For forty thousand years I've been the first Australian.<br />

We are one, but we are many<br />

And from all the lands on earth we come<br />

We share a dream and sing with one voice:<br />

I am, you are, we are Australian<br />

I came upon the prison ship, bowed down by iron chains.<br />

I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.<br />

I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run<br />

A convict then a free man, I became Australian.<br />

I'm a teller <strong>of</strong> stories, I'm a singer <strong>of</strong> songs<br />

I am Albert Namatjira, I paint the ghostly gums<br />

I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run<br />

I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian (Woodley & Newton, 2009, n.p.)<br />

7.1.1 Dichotomy <strong>of</strong> British heritages and Indigenous representations in<br />

Bicentennial discourses.<br />

Even though the focus <strong>of</strong> government-funded advertisements and programs was on<br />

multiculturalism as the prevailing, and sanctioned, discourse <strong>of</strong> national identity, the<br />

dichotomy between British heritages and Indigenous representations cannot be overlooked. In<br />

particular, Augoustinos highlights the dissention <strong>of</strong> the time:<br />

In 1985, the ABA experiences a barrage <strong>of</strong> public and media criticism which<br />

subsequently led to further government intervention. It began with an article written<br />

296

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