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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-03 Daily Xml
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BARWELL BOYS EXHIBITION

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question regarding the Barwell Boys exhibition.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I understand that the minister recently attended an event marking the centenary of the first arrivals in South Australia under the British farm apprentices scheme, known as the Barwell Boys scheme. Can the minister tell the chamber more about this significant event?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:18): I was delighted to be able to attend an event at the Migration Museum recently. It is a great museum; if members have not been there, or have not been there recently, I urge them to go. It was the launch of the Barwell Boys exhibition, which was fascinating. It is a really important part of our history, and a very interesting part of our state's history as well. The launch of the exhibition was an opportunity to remember the journeys, contribution and legacy of the apprentices to South Australia.

The farm apprentices scheme began at a significant time in the economic history of both Britain, which despatched these young boy migrants, and of course South Australia, which was their destination. Both Britain and Australia were attempting to rebuild and reconstruct industry and community following the horrors of World War I, an event so devastating that it was called The Great War, or the war to end all wars.

The loss of thousands of our young, healthy men in that conflict changed society, our communities and many families. It had a profound effect on a country with an economy based at the time in agriculture—and agriculture which was reliant on people power rather than machines. So, manpower shortages and the need for youth, energy, hard work and support were paramount.

South Australia looked to Britain. Britain in those post-war years suffered high unemployment and, as the economy adjusted from wartime demands to peace, it was a very difficult time for many. It allowed young, mostly teenage, boys to migrate to assist with the shortage and become young apprentice farm workers in one of its colonies.

A daring plan to bring thousands of young men to Australia as farm apprentices first began in 1913-14 but was interrupted by World War I. The 28th premier of South Australia, the Hon. Henry Barwell, supported this plan as a way to help our agriculture-based economy to strive and to help farmers and soldier settlers. The scheme afterwards took his name, and those young migrants became know as the Barwell Boys.

Some of those young men in the early scheme showed the same sort of mettle as I think our early pioneers did: they were strong, daring and brave. At least five of these young men were mentioned in dispatches during the war; one in particular, Charles William Stoerkel (later known as Charles Tanner) was decorated with the Military Cross and Bar and recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal. His medals are on display at the Australian War Memorial, and they and others lay claim to the notion that our farmers were indeed our heroes.

Such heroism was needed in those early years of taking steps on a long journey to the unknown. The brave boys of the Barwell scheme who took the first steps towards migration in South Australia were amongst those who dared travel to the other side of the world. I cannot imagine what it must have been like—foreign and remote, away from their families and their friends, in heat, where the insects bit; they were located in very remote places.

The contribution of the Barwell Boys is significant, as their commitment to work and learn in remote and rural South Australia helped to continue the establishment of excellence in food production and ongoing development in primary industry. Often they travelled hundreds of miles to places which were vasty different to their native Britain. The Barwell Boys were lured originally with advertisements offering endless sunshine and good working conditions and pay, plus room and board.

Over several years, many thousands of applicants flooded to take part in the exodus Down Under. For many of them, although the conditions were very tough here, they were still better than the conditions they faced at home. This migration was supervised by the SA department of immigration, which had responsibility for their placement, employment and welfare. I understand that it was the only Australian scheme administered by a government.

An apprenticeship agreement, setting out working and living conditions and wages, was signed by each boy so that each was assigned to a farmer for three years. The director of the time, Victor Ryan, continued correspondence with the boys and their families abroad. The conditions they met were obviously varied, and in 2001 an apology to child migrants attests to the abuse that unfortunately some of these young boys had to face.

The boys worked for both established farmers and pioneers in many of South Australia's districts, and they were instrumental in ensuring that the state's land was used to its full potential. I am advised that about 89 per cent of the state's arable land was used for growing wheat at the time, and there were boasts about the Barwell Boys' ability to drive particularly large horse teams to cultivate that land.

South Australia has prospered because of the daring and determination of these young pioneers. Their decision to travel to the other side of the world, to try something new, to learn, and to contribute to our ongoing great agricultural and primary industries has had a profound effect on this state. Along with their spirited endeavours, they helped to secure this significant and important part of our ongoing commitment to fine food, farming and primary industries and production. I commend the exhibition to honourable members; I recommend they go and see it. It was a great opportunity. There were many family members there who are direct descendants of the Barwell Boys and they were able to share the most extraordinary stories. I do not have time here today but they were truly remarkable stories, often told with great passion and humour.

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