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Source 7.28. “The first Australians and the First Fleeters” extract from Spanning
time (Power et al., 1985, p. 185-186).
This extract uses the given names of Indigenous Australians, rare for narratives covering this
time period. Doing so gives personal qualities to the three men that are included: Arabanoo,
Bennelong and Colbee. Indigenous Australians are included in this narrative, justified due to
their interactions with Phillip. Why these Indigenous Australians were “captured” (Power et
al., 1985, p. 185) and, in the case of Arabanoo, subsequently “released” (Power et al., 1985,
p. 185) is not made known to students. The extract is written in a way that creates empathy
with Phillip in how to deal with what would prove to be difficult and sometimes deadly
situations between convicts, free settlers and the local Indigenous population. This is evident
through the phrases, “...his well-meaning plans showed little respect for the Aborigines’ way
of life”; “...began to teach him English” (Power et al., 1985, p. 185); “at that time Phillip took
no action...”; and “violence was also done to the Aborigines. Sixteen convicts attacked a
group of them. Phillip had these convicts whipped in front of the Aborigines” (Power et al.,
1985, p. 185).
The overall perspective of this narrative is overtly stated, that even though it is indicated there
was no malice on Phillip’s part in trying to develop some sort of relationship with Indigenous
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