Film follows Banjima Elder's efforts to ease asbestos aftermath
A movement to cleanse Country is the focus of the award-winning film, to be shown in Warrawong during NAIDOC Week
Members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are respectfully advised that this article contains images and names of deceased people.
A pair of Coalcliff filmmakers will give Illawarra fans the chance to view their Walkley Award-winning documentary on the effects of Australia's worst industrial disaster this week.
The NAIDOC Week screening at Warrawong's Gala Cinemas of Yurlu Country, made by Yaara Bou Melhem and Tom Bannigan, offers a powerful look into the story of the Clean Up Wittenoom campaign.
The film follows Banjima Elder Maitland Parker in his final battle against the blue asbestos contamination poisoning his traditional lands.
“The documentary became more of a movement than just a film in and of itself,” Yaara says.
“This was a really challenging film to make.
“Our co-creator, protagonist, passed away while we were filming. So, really seeing how the community have taken this and run with it, and really used the film to advocate for what he wanted, which was a clean-up of his country, has been great.”
The couple is proud to offer the first hometown screening after touring their acclaimed film internationally. “We actually haven't really brought it down to the Illawarra... so it's nice to bring it home here,” Yaara says.
Wittenoom is an abandoned ghost town in Western Australia's Pilbara region that was the site of Australia's worst industrial disaster. From the 1940s to 1966, the Wittenoom mine was a primary global supplier of blue asbestos. Operating conditions were hazardous, and millions of tons of asbestos tailings were left exposed. Access to the town is now legally prohibited.
Blue Sky Mine, a 1990 hit by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, is a protest song about the tragedy.
Since its release at Sydney Film Festival in June last year, Yurlu Country has gathered support and accolades from environmentalists and film festivals alike. It won the award for best feature documentary at the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), as well as its Walkley. The momentum has backed the Banjima people’s plight to see their lands and communities restored.
The message of the film has had impact on the global stage, contributing to conversations around land conservation and communities affected by unsustainable processes.
“We went to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva with a Banjima traditional owner, who is the vice chair of the Aboriginal Corporation, Johnnell Parker,” Yaara explains.
“We did a UN side event there, and we also screened at a major human rights film festival in Geneva that's attached to the Human Rights Council, and won a human rights award... It really brought Banjima people's clean-up Wittenoom campaign to the global stage.”
The response to the documentary has extended far beyond the screen, aiding tangible community action and legal developments.
“This year, Banjima people launched litigation to force the remediation of their homelands,” Yaara says.
“So it's been a really big year. It's been a really big year, and a lot of that momentum came off the back of the film.”
A community screening program launched in February has already garnered more than 30 bookings from workplaces, schools and community groups hosting educational viewings.
The project is set to expand its reach even further this year, with educational resources currently in development for schools, a global broadcast scheduled on Al Jazeera English, and an upcoming release via an Australian public broadcaster.
Even though Maitland isn’t here to see his final wish come true, the filmmakers are grateful to see widespread support.
“All these awards, all of the successes of the film, it's really bitter-sweet,” Yaara says.
“Because Maitland is not here to see how his story has really touched people and galvanised people to act for his community. But, you know, this is what he wanted. So we're really happy to see that the film is achieving what he hoped.”
The screening is presented by The Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation, Gawura and Screen Illawarra. Learn about the project and community screenings at yurlucountry.com
Get tickets to see Yurlu Country on July 11 at The Gala Cinema.
