down under

I am not sure whether I can call myself deltiologist. But back then, I collected lots of postcards just for myself. Here are a few from cards collect during my visit to National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

National Museum of Australia, Canberra
Photograph top right by George Serras.

The first one is Outlawed! collection. It is based on an exhibition from the Museum to discover the stories behind the world's rebels, revolutionaries and bushrangers.

Belle Starr has been called the female Jessie James, however was only ever a petty criminal. Films and books have embellished and glamorised her life in America’s Wild West.

By the age of 22, Billy the Kid had killed many men and escaped gaol three times. His legend has been perpetuated through dime newels, songs, films, even acting figure dolls.

Captain Thunderbolt was a notorious bushranger in northern New South Wales in the mid 19th century. He committed more than 50 crimes, including mail robbery,but never killed anyone.

The Kelly gang’s specially-made armour did not protect them in their final shoot-out with police at Glenrowan in 1880. Only Ned Kelly survived and was hung in Melbourne Gaol five months later.

Medieval England’s Robin Hood was the quintessential ‘noble robber’, who stole from the rich to give to the poor. His legend has inspired many outlaws from different eras.

Song Jiang lead a mythical band of 108 outlaws, known as the Water margin bandits, in 12th century China. They fought injustice in a corrupt political system.

Next on my collection are postcards with Aboriginal Arts.

“Badjigal Story”. The green, yellow and brown circles are the life force of the rainforest and the earth. The blue circles represent the life force of the water. Badjigal, the long-necked turtle lives in this environment and lays its eggs in the sand.
Artist: Colin Jones
Art available through Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cairns, Australia

 

“Irikanji Dreaming”. The circles are the life force and the colour of the coral. The Great Barrier Reef. Protected in the coral are the jelly fish, crabs and various tropical fish. The reef gives life to these creatures living in harmony with each other.
Artist: Colin Jones

Traditional Aboriginal art can be in many forms – bark painting, boomerangs, body painting and, as shown here, on didgeridoos.
Hand made and painted by Wayne ‘Turrong’ Peckam and Marnie Peckham
Art available – Wirrimbah Aboriginal Arts & Craft Gallery, Kuranda, Australia

“The Stolen Children”. The large circle is the mission to which Aboriginal people were removed. Many of the children were placed in the dormitories and sent out to work at a young age. Most of the young girls became pregnant to the Europeans and gave birth to children classed as half-cast, quarter-caste and octron. This is the breeding out and erosion of our culture.
Artist: Steven Bond
Art available through Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cairns, Australia

The face of Aboriginality of today combines all the hope of the future with a deep respect for the traditions of the past.
Photography: Peter Lik

Aboriginal children at one with the Earth, the Mother.
Photography: Peter Lik

And last but not least. I went to Eternity Gallery with stories from the Emotional Heart of Australia. It was one of five original permanent galleries at the National Museum of Australia. It closed on 1 June 2017. The Gallery examined the lives of Australians, famous and not famous, living and dead through ten emotional themes. I have nine themes, and don't have the 'hope' one. I guess most of the visitor consider 'hope' as the one they want to ponder the most. The gallery took its name from the story of Arthur Stace, who wrote the word ‘Eternity’ in chalk on the streets of Sydney.

The 'hope' stated that "To hope is to dream. Of what might or will be. Of the possible and the mere possible — hope against hope. To hope is to strive for the best. To build on glimmers of new beginnings. To hope is to never give up. To remain expectant, against hopes dashed, disappointments, falsities. To hope is to believe there is a way."