SAMPLE PLAN 1:

Topic: ‘Family, protest and identity are crucial for the survival of the individuals.’ How does No Sugar show this to be true?

In this plan below, include references to the problems, the discrimination, the misuse of power, the humiliating and degrading treatment.

In Davis’ play, family plays a vital role in the survival of Aboriginal people, their traditions and their values.

  • Gran is the backbone of Millimurra’s family. She is a strong traditional matriarchal figure whose humour, good will and courage help the family endure difficult times.
  • When Millimurra’s family is forcibly removed to Moore River Settlement, Sergeant Carrol asks Gran to take the train rather than walking to the new Settlement. However, Gran doesn’t want to be separated from her family and says ‘ Iain’tgoin’ on no train. You can put me in gaol if you want to’.
  • Also when Gran delivers Mary’s baby, she relies on traditional medical techniques that ensure survival. Gran has the natural skills of a midwife who helps Mary give birth to her baby and protect her from infection. She uses a “live” and burning firestick and “clean ashes” to deal with the afterbirth. In many ways, Davis suggests that these natural techniques are more “civilised”, and superior than the use of Johnson’s baby powder in the natural Australian bush setting.
  • When Joe and Mary decide to return to Northam, the Millimurra family provides support, gives them “a bit of Merrang” and tells them to “…jump to rattler’bout half a mile”. Even Billy helps.

Furthermore, Davis depicts the fierce determination of the First Australians to resist the unreasonable and often violent treatment they suffer by white officials. They protest , he suggests, because they are treated unjustly and exploited on a daily basis. Jimmy’s forthright activism is critical to the survival of the Indigenous Australians. During the Australia Day celebrations, Jimmy argues with Mr.Neal and exposes the truth about their forced removal. It is “nothin’n to do with bloody scabies. And that’s why we got dragged’ere, so themwetjalas”.

  • Symbolically, Davis honours Jimmy’s voice of protest which he believes is critical for the First Australians in their fight for justice. This voice is evident in descendants such as Joe Millimurra.
  • Mary Dargurru’s defiance is also significant. She resists Mr Neal’s orders. When Mr.Neal asks Mary to work in the hospital at Moore River Settlement, Mary says, “you can belt me if you like, I’m not workin’ in the hospital.” She is is beaten shamefully, but refuses to give in. Neal belts her with the “cat-o-nine tails”. The scene ends in a “blackout” and “a scream”, which represents Mary’s suffering, but she does not yield. She leaves with Joe, full of hope as symbolised by the birth of the baby. So, protest is a significant way for Aboriginal to stand up for themselves and fight with the racism from the whites.

Furthermore, Davis suggests that the First Australians must fiercely protect their cultural and indigenous identity if they are to survive.

  • Jimmy is angry at the very violent act of dispossession which makes it difficult for his family to gain a living. He is angry also at the Indigenous Australians who are helping the white people in positions of authority. He tries to remain fiercely independent and resists the attempts to control him.
  • Davis depicts how the two families are determined to remain true to their cultural identity and practice their language and cultural customs.
  • Culturally, Davis also suggests that the First Australians must remember the sacrifices made by their own ancestors. (Hence the use of the North West Aboriginal language.)

SAMPLE PLAN 2:

Topic: Overall the play is about the strength of family, not the power of racism

Main contention: No Sugar is about the strength of the family, which is critical to survival of the First Australians, precisely because of institutionalised racism. The First Australians suffer from discrimination and Davis suggests that those who do have strong family and cultural links are more likely to survive.

Paragraph 1: strength of the family and daily struggle for survival because of racist policies of government institutions and discrimination. (The good will of the family stands them in good stead as they struggle to cope with injustice.)

Paragraph 2: strength of family and community with regards to cultural pride/history/ stories and survival of culture (despite racist attempts to denigrate the culture).

Paragraph 3: strength of family provides hope and the courage to resist. Despite policies that seek to dispossess and exploit the aborigines, Mary and Jim become a symbol of survival.

The play concerns both the strength of the family and racism. Davis suggests that the family needs to be strong and resilient to withstand the racist and patronising policies of those in power.

  • The family is stoic, proud and resilient in their attempt to withstand the racist policies that discriminate against the Aborigines on a daily basis.
  • Constant fight to maintain and preserve their dignity and fight against the unjust official attitudes that perpetuate the stereotypes of the unclean savage.
  • Struggles of daily life; ration system
  • Have to be resourceful and inventive; rely on their own bush skills and innovation and warmth and generosity to succeed
  • They constantly have to deal with the humiliation of a ration system that seeks to control them, undermine their rights and freedoms and make life difficult

As a family group, the aborigines must also be strong and resilient to maintain their cultural pride in the face of policies that lead to dispossession and forced dispersal.

  • Their cultural stories are ignored
  • Instead – the historical narrative relating to the pioneers / Christian songs of the

Ultimately Davis critiques the racist system that undermines the aborigines’ independence and seeks to dispossess and eradicate them. The strength of the family also emerges in their proud and rebellious spirit against the injustices of those in a position of power.

  • Mary and her resistance to rape/exploitation
  • Jimmy – comments against the policemen and the lawyers…
  • Also degradation for those who are complicit in the system that works against them, Billy

Davis suggests that with strong reliance on family ties, however; one can manage to withstand adversity and survive.

The strength of a family is best captured in the incredible love and courage of Gran who serves as an admirable role model. It is her job to maintain peace within the household and to pass on traditional values. She takes pride in their ancestry. Gran’s capacity to survive, endure and thrive provides enormous strength and support for her family. Gran’s strong links to the family’s past allows her to pass on her knowledge of and, take pride in, Indigenous culture and traditions. This is evident in the attitudes of the Millimura and Munday families, where no one ever complained about being an Aborigine.

Gran comforts Mary by ensuring her that “nobody’s goin’ to take Baby” and then helps Mary give birth because she is terrified of the missionary hospital. Gran’s use of ashes instead of “Johnson’s baby powder” is a symbol of keeping the Indigenous culture alive despite of the racist society they live in. Similarly, Joe’s act of returning “back to Northam” shows a strong sense of family and place. Davis suggests that not even the constant threats by Neal can stop him from breaking the restriction order and returning.

Also, Frank Brown shows close family ties, despite the hardships that he has to endure. He is struggling with the depression but still sends whatever he can earn home to his “wife and two kids staying in … Leederville”. Although family ties enable individuals to survive hardships, losing it can have its repercussions.

Billy’s help: Billy’s tribe was massacred by “big mob gudeeah…big mob politjmans, and big mob from stations”, forcing him to work for the white people in order to survive. Although Billy works for Neal, Neal is still racist towards him by “[throwing] a stick of tobacco onto the floor” for him to pick up, treating him as a slave. Billy is also hated by other Aborigines, such as the children who call him “black crow” – a traitor. However, Billy tells Joe to “back sit down” in his country and gives Joe his whip as a parting gift to help him catch rabbits, snakes and “bungarra”. This symbolizes his connection to his race – his “family”, which even the power of racism cannot break.