NITVs The Point explores the history of Australias Frontier Wars

Wednesday 18 April

News Release

This week NITV’s flagship news and current affairs program, The Point, uncovers the real history of Australia’s Frontier Wars in the lead up to ANZAC Day.

The Point’s co-hosts, Rachael Hocking and John Paul Janke will be joined on the panel by award-winning author Uncle Bruce Pascoe, as the special guest co-host to discuss this topic.

Uncle Bruce Pascoe is a widely published writer, editor and anthologist. He is the author of many books, including Dark Emu and Convincing Ground: Learning to Fall in Love with Your Country, which critiques Australia’s silence when it comes to dealing respectfully with the construction of the nation’s Indigenous past. 

Also on this week’s program — NITV reporter, Madeline Hayman-Reber investigates the Black War in Tasmania — one of the most intense frontier conflicts in Australia’s history, while journalist Ryan Liddle explores Australia’s involvement in the New Zealand Wars.

Presenter JP Janke speaks with Joe Flick, who is the grandson of First World War soldier Mick Flick, who enlisted at a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were not permitted or encouraged to enlist in war.

Finally, political correspondent Nakari Thorpe examines the efforts being made by the Australian War Memorial to recognise Australia’s Frontier Wars and to have the Desert Pea Flower acknowledged in the same way as the ANZAC Poppy.

Thursday 19 April at 8.30pm on NITV (Channel 34)