THE BOWRAVILLE MURDERS

2021, 86 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Allan Clark.

The title sounds most factual and sensational – and the film is both. This is a significant Australian documentary, a reminder that in Australian Black Lives Should Matter.

There is quite an appetite in filmgoers and television watchers in recent times for Crime Investigation programs. Here are crimes that have been investigated over a period of 30 years, from 1990. This film takes us through the ensuing years, investigations, police inadequacies, child protection visits, re-examinations, the move towards justice issues in the New South Wales police department and the New South Wales government. Those familiar with the story will know the outcomes, or lack of outcomes. Those not familiar with the story will be amazed at how this process has played out over the three decades and be dismayed with the ending. It can be said that justice has not been done or seen to be done – but, in terms of action, solidarity, protest, the Bowraville murders, their victims, have become a significant cause.

Bowraville is a small town in northern New South Wales. We enter the film into with two young aborigines driving in, down the main street, pass the cinema (where there were two entries, aborigines having to come in by a side door and sit on the ground in the front of the cinema), and to The Mission, an aboriginal settlement. We see the locations, a lot of natural beauty, and the homes of the families.

One of the dramatic advantages for this documentary is that there is quite a lot of footage from the 1990s as well as the processes during the decades, pictures of members of the family, parents, siblings, aunties, their reactions and then, seeing them over the years, getting older, up to the 2010s, hearing them, sharing their feelings, sadness, frustrations, being both encouraged and discouraged.

Throughout the film, journalist Stan Grant sits in the cinema, watches scenes of aboriginal history, listens to townspeople interviewed about the aborigines, little girls at school saying they don’t mix with them. Grant, as always, offers a perspective on long aboriginal history, of the presence of white settlers, invasion, killings – “the killings never stop”.

The police were not particularly interested, generally dismissing the aborigines, their lifestyle. Investigation was highly inadequate. A local man was accused, tried, acquitted – and is seen at various times throughout the film. An official was sent but he was a child protection officer. Later, enter Gary Jubilan, something of a hero, initially unwelcome, but learning from the people, championing them, furthering the investigations. (There is some amusement as later we see Gary Jubilan as a fighter, nicknamed The Gatekeeper, involved in a bout with the Bowraville community cheering him on.) New South Wales politician David Shoebridge takes up the cause, moves the investigation towards changing double jeopardy legislation. This is achieved. But the consequences for the murder trials take years, hearings, visits to Parliament, judicial inquiries, months to provide final statements.

The Bowraville Murders, earlier the subject of documentaries as well as television explorations, serves as a documentation of a sorry experience of Australian justice, of racism, of courage of spirit – a film which all Australians should see.

1. Crime investigation? 30 years? Issues of justice? Racism?
2. Australia, 2020, Black Lives Matter, impact from the US, the Australian situation? “I can’t breathe”.?
3. Bowraville, the introduction by driving into the town, the description by the young men, one main street, shops, cinema, the Mission area out of the way? The beauty of the surrounding countryside? The mountains?
4. The aboriginal perspective, the Mission, the families, close-knit community? The racism in the town – and the entry into the cinema by different doors? The on-screen clips of discussion about the aborigines, the reaction of the children, entering the cinema, not mixing at school?
5. The crimes, the facts, names and dates?
6. Audience interest in crime investigation, the nature of the crimes, the context, the three children as victims, the different ages, their families, the main suspect, linked with the women in the families, the nature of the investigation, lack of interest by the police? The inadequacy of the investigation?
7. 30 years, endurance for the families? The initial investigations and interrogations? Lack of detail? The court case? The acquittal? The family reactions? The investigator sent, his being from child protection, his presuppositions, questions, inadequate?
8. The eventual sending of Gary Jubilan? Initially unwelcome, his listening, learning, new situation to him, some sympathy, the locals siding with him? The further investigations? Further trial? Further acquittal?
9. The value of the talking heads component of the documentary? From the time of the crimes at initial investigations? From the time of the making of the film, parent ageing, siblings in middle age, nephews not born at the time? The strong point of view from the women? The comparatively few from the men, the father, the brother, the nephews…? Yet the passion of all concerned?
10. The various processes, the passing of the years, investigations, trials, the issue of double jeopardy, the processes of bringing it to the New South Wales government? The intervention of David Shoebridge, his continued support? Jubilation at the change in legislation? Possibilities?
11. The continued delays, the visit of the police Commissioner to the town and his apology, smoke ceremony, laying of the wreath? Lack of follow-up? The various hearings, the judge in the final dismissal of the appeal? Leading to vigorous protests? And the perseverance of so many of the family and friends over 30 years?
12. The accused, the situation, the plausibility of his being responsible, the truck and the body on the road, the connection with the women in the family? His appearances, being interviewed, his rejection of the accusations?
13. Issues of justice, justice or not? The importance of the Bowraville murders creating a contribution to protest, the cause, Black Lives Matter?
14. And these issues seen in the context of Royal commission of aboriginal deaths in custody?