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Episode four of Redfern Now “Stand Up” explores how the Australian National Anthem doesn’t represent Indigenous Australians. Certain scenes within the episode highlight how the anthem isn’t fulfilling its purpose as a symbolisation of the whole country and its people, nor that is encourages pride for it.
Eddie Shields (played by Marley Sharp) details the misrepresentation that lyrics within the anthem bring, reading aloud the line “We’ve boundless plains to share” from his son Joel’s homework task on the Australian National Anthem. Derived from acknowledgement of the past historical acts of dispossession and invasion from white settlers, Eddie with a sarcastic tone asks Joel “What’d they share?” The camera switches to Joel shrugging in response to the statement, with no liable answer to the rhetorical question. This scene stresses the deception within the anthems lyrics, twisting the depiction of Australia’s not-so-giving past and historical deprivation that affected the Indigenous Aboriginal communities.
The anthem that is supposed to be for all Australians rather excludes the traditional landowners, leaving Indigenous people with a lack of belonging and connection for the song. Eddie stating “I have never stood up for that song, not even for the State of Origin. It’s not our song. It doesn’t belong to us. You don’t need that stuff to have pride” to his son. The camera focusing on Eddies face as he says these words captures a clear understanding for the lack of sense of belonging within the anthem.
