SUMMER OF

THE

SEVENTEENTH

DOLL

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AUSTRALIA IN THE 1950’S

• Total population of Australia was about 9 million people

• Between 1947 and 1953 approximately 427,000 people migrated from Europe.

• 190,000 people from England, 170,000 from Displaced Refugee Program and the rest from mostly other European Countries.

• No Asian or African migrants allowed as the “White Australia Policy” was in effect.

• Aborigines were counted in the census but were not allowed to vote

AUSTRALIA IN THE 1950’S ECONOMICS• The average weekly wage for adult men was ₤14 and 7

shillings, the equivalent of about $30 (1955 ABS Australian Year Book)

• The average weekly wage for adult women was ₤9 and 8 shillings, the equivalent of $20 (1955 ABS Australian Year Book)

• Cane cutters earned about ₤31 pounds a fortnight for the season which lasted 7 months. Living costs were minimal as the cutters were housed and fed on the plantations. Income was supplemented by distilling illegal alcohol. At the layoff, the men were “flush”.

AUSTRALIA IN THE 1950’S ECONOMICS

CANE CUTTERS AND BARMAIDSThe world of itinerant cane-cutters in

Australia is now a thing of the past – together with the sort of hotel that catered for male drinkers only in the public bars, and relegated female customers to the side entrance marked ‘Ladies’ Parlour’. Indeed, so much has changed in terms of social attitudes and working practices since “Summer of the Seventeenth Doll”: was written in 1953, that I thought it might be interesting to take a backward glance.

CANE CUTTERS AND BARMAIDSCane-cutting, for instance. A team of itinerant

cane-cutters would come together at the beginning of the season, usually assembled by a recognised leader known as a ganger, on the understanding that the team would stay together for the seven-month season. The team would consist of eight or nine men, often young single males or older drifters, travelling by truck from cane farm to cane farm, cutting the harvest by hand at piece-work rates or for an agreed sum for the overall crop.

Cane Cutting Knife

CANE CUTTERS AND BARMAIDSThe success of a full season would depend

very much on the success and organisational ability of the ganger. He had to fulfil many functions, be able to bargain with the cane farmers on the team’s behalf, make sure that the pay and working conditions were satisfactory, and that the barracks supplied for the living quarters were of reasonable standard.

CANE CUTTERS AND BARMAIDS

On the team level, he would need to ensure the team was well-fed – a cook usually travelled as a member of the team – that they were kept as fit and well as possible, and that the morale of the team wasn’t undermined by the loneliness and circumstances of their nomadic life. Once a leader was known for these qualities, he would be a top ganger, and I saw Roo very much as this sort of man.

http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/62/ (archival film about cane cutting)

CANE CUTTERS AND BARMAIDS

• The Public Bar was “Men Only”. Ladies could drink in the Ladies Lounge.

• Generally it was frowned upon for women to drink in the Ladies Lounge unless they were accompanied by a man

• Pubs closed at 6pm and so Australia became famous for “the six-o’clock swill”. Customers would buy as many beers as they could just before closing time and line them up on the bar to consume after 6pm.

• Bar staff were under enormous pressure at that time.

A WOMAN’S LIFE

• Emma would have been on an Age Pension or Widows Pension depending on her age.

• Her benefits would be around ₤6 a fortnight ($12)

• Many women in her situation would take in lodgers to supplement their income.

SOCIAL LIFE

• Luna Park & St Kilda Pier• Dancing at the Palais• Home entertainment• Races

WHY IS “SUMMER” AN IMPORTANT PLAY?

• One of the first plays to use Australian slang.

• It’s about working class people• Broke away from our “Bush” image

as the action takes place in the inner city of Melbourne . In reality more people lived in cities around the coast than in the country

• The multi-cultural aspect of Australian life is spoken of – Australia no longer an “Anglo” country

WHY IS “SUMMER” IMPORTANT?

• Dealt with the concept of “marriage” without legality. Olive and Nancy basically live “de-facto” with Roo and Barney on the layoff. Women choosing not to marry and having the sexual freedom to engage in intimacy was if not unheard of, certainly not spoken about in 1950’s Australia.

• Challenges the concepts of “mateship”, critical to the concept of Australian identity.

THE TRILOGY• In the 1970’s Lawler was commissioned to

write two prequels to the play.

• “Kids Stakes” deals with Olive and Nancy meeting Roo and Barney in the late 1930’s and the establishment of their arrangement

• “Other Times” deals with Roo and Barney’s return from WWII and the changes that have occurred to all four, not only shaped by events but also as they age and mature.

YOUR TASK

• Read the play over the break

• Select a portion of dialogue – between 30 and 50 lines that reflects the themes you have been given.

• Write an explanation outlining the importance of this dialogue/scene in relation to your theme and Identity and Belonging.