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(p. 115)
Passage 9:
(p. 159)
511
Themes emerging:
Federation (including
leading up to)
Primarily, issues of Federation are only to
describe the mechanics of the workings of
the constitution and Parliament.
Also, topics described are removed from
GB’s involvement, therefore analysis of
these passages not necessary. This could
be a point to make in the final analysis
when looking at other textbook
representations of federation from earlier
times.
From WWI section of the textbook, pp. 105-128.
Themes emerging: WWI
Discourse: Australian involvement as soldiers/raw power, not strategists or decision makers.
Australia is regarded as valuable due to the raw power of its soldiers, rather than for any involvement in
decision making. This is made obvious through the statement: “The Germans broke through and once more
reached the Marne within forty miles of Paris; further north they almost captured Amiens. If it had been taken
the British and French armies would have been separated, but a brilliant attack by the Australians who had
rushed up to the danger point, stopped their progress.” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 104, emphasis added) . Here, the perspective that Australians are involved in this battle of WWI only in a support
role capacity is made clear. Australians providing assistance to GB is also clear in other sections of this wider
narrative. For example, the following description is provided of The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
(Anzac) soldiers: “The Turks...made an attempt to capture the Suez Canal in order to cut Britain’s
communication...For the remainder of the war the Australian and New Zealand troops played an important part
in the destruction of Turkish power in the Sinai Peninsula, Palestine and Syria” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p.
108). So Australian national history is represented mediated through their participation with GB in major events.
Discourse: Australia as part of GB by agreeing to participate in WWI
Even though this is a Queensland History textbook for Australian students, that closely follows the syllabus,
Australia’s involvement in WWI is portrayed more as a footnote to the entire conflict. Whilst it is important not
to overstate Australia’s contribution to this conflict, which in comparison to other nations, was quite small,
given the audience, the expectation was that there would be more Australia-centric content. In one way it is