“He did more than just talk”
A long-forgotten story of Aboriginal activist Dexter Daniels was brought into public focus through a script reading hosted by the University of Newcastle's Purai Global Indigenous History Centre.
When playwright, Brian Joyce, first heard the Dexter Daniel’s story he decided that the legacy of this unknown but accomplished orator and activist who advocated for Aboriginal workers' rights and equal pay in the 60s and 70s, needed to be told and what better way than through a play.
Something Much More traverses the personal costs and intricacies of fighting for equal rights on national and international platforms through the voices of an old and young Dexter, a young outspoken Indigenous woman named Dawn and the historic figures of Vincent Lingiari and Frank Hardy.
The reading of the completed script debuted at the University of Newcastle’s Multi-Purpose Theatrette to a full house on August 21st.
Centering on Indigenous voices and leadership the play begins with the older Aboriginal activist and union organiser (now passed), Dexter Daniels meeting a contemporary young man, also called Dexter Daniels, who has been named after him but has limited knowledge of his namesake.
Young Dexter: I never knew all that... People forgot you back here.
The older Dexter Daniels was played by Bud Kelly Jr and a contemporary young Dexter Daniels by Kaiyu Maynard. A relative of the real Dexter, Dr Daphne Daniels flew from the Ngukurr community in Southeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory to play the role of Dawn and Angelina Joshua, a student at the University of Newcastle and also from Ngukurr with connections to the Daniel’s family, narrated the play.
Other characters in the script included Vincent Lingiari, portrayed by Dr Raymond Kelly, and Frank Hardy, writer and member of the communist party, played by Secretary of Hunter Workers, Leigh Shears.
When the older and younger Dexter meet the charismatic and outspoken Dawn, they discuss the future of their small community, Ngukurr in Northern Arnhem Land.
The yarn between characters reveals Dexter’s mob has little recollection of his contribution to significant events that shaped Aboriginal rights today whereas his reputation as a “troublemaker” clearly endured.
The ironic twist is that Daniels’ “troublemaker” behavior resulted in better pay and working conditions for Aboriginal people working on stations.
His friendship with Vincent Lingiari and his advocacy and support of the nine-year Gurindji Walk Off, beginning in 1966, is explored in depth during the first act.
The play continues to uncover forgotten chapters in Dexter Daniel’s life such as his role as the president of the Northern Territory Council for Aboriginal Rights and the work he undertook for the North Australian Workers’ Union.
Other little-known facts about Daniel’s life are bought to light during the play.
His travels to Bulgaria, for example, where he attended the 1968, 9th World Youth Festival in an attempt to bring global attention to the ongoing challenges faced by Aboriginal communities in Australia.
He was also wrongly accused and arrested for “vagrancy” – the criminalisation of poverty where people who do not have visible means of support are imprisoned – which was used by authorities to restrict his fast progression in improving the rights of Aboriginal people.
When the play concluded, Ngukurr to Newcastle Project’s Cultural Translations Coordinator, Brian Joyce, announced to the audience how the script will be translated into Kriol by Ngukurr linguist, Angelina Joshua, and shared with the Ngukurr community.
After the reading, the audience had many questions with one audience member asking, “How was such an influential man forgotten and not spoken about today?”.
Chief Investigator and Co-Director of Purai Professor Kate Senior responded saying:
His involvement with politics made him a less palatable story for mainstream media.
The audience agreed wholeheartedly that they would enjoy seeing Daniels' story shared more through a full professional stage performance or film.
Purai Global Indigenous History Centre invited the audience upstairs to share complementary food and wine and yarn more informally with the actors reading the story. Purai is the global Indigenous research hub within the University of Newcastle, providing insight, support and a welcoming space for students and staff.
An unexpected visitor attending the event surprised many by recounting her historical connection with Dexter on her visit to Roper River in 1968. Nona Harvey, a previous University of Newcastle linguistics student, told of meeting Dexter and having her life changed by the eloquence and vision of such a significant thinker and spokesperson for his people.
Dr Daphne Daniels was inspired by the audience's engagement sharing she was "very excited" for her uncle's story to be translated back to her community in Ngukurr so they know the true story of him and his role in fighting for equal rights for Aboriginal Australians.
An audio version of the play is now being recorded and will be available in the coming months with future plans for a full live production being explored for subsequent years in Ngukurr and Newcastle with the Darwin Festival’s Director expressing an interest in feature the play in the program.
We would like to thank Dr Daphne Daniels, Dr Raymond Kelly, Angelina Joshua, Raymond (Bud) Kelly Jr, Kaiyu Maynard and Leigh Shears for portraying the characters in the script reading.
The script reading contributes to the University of Newcastle’s key non-traditional research output (NTRO) goals.
NTRO’s are a method of sharing knowledge or new information that does not continue the cycle of academic colonisation. Previous examples of NTRO’s that Purai has shared are zines and performances such as the Bird Opera.
If you would like to see a clip of the play, please click HERE
Contact
- Ella Fisher
- Phone: + 61 2 4055 1082
- Email: purai@newcastle.edu.au
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.