On Beach's Review ofSexual Behavior in Western Arnhem Land

Exploring the Legacy of the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition

“…He corresponded with the Board for Anthropological Research cinematographer E. O. Stocker (who also directed a paint company in Sydney) to order a stock of red ochre, yellow ochre, graphite, kalsomine and binding agents and to seek advice on paint binders. 17 None of the Expedition publications or records so far examined offers clues as to whether these pigments were actually used during the Arnhem Land Expedition; ochre provenancing and other analytical projects might provide answers. 18 Mountford gained something else through his association with the Board for Anthropological Research.…”

“…In 1945-46, the government tried hard to talk the United States into a military bases deal involving reciprocal rights at each other's bases in the South and central Pacific. 17 The United States had no interest in this zone once the war ended and was not impressed with Australia's military strength. The Chifley government continued to try to draw the United States into a Pacific pact associated with an anti-Soviet direction but which was implicitly anti-Japanese.…”

“…Examination of Elkin's papers suggests that the idea of harnessing the ABC's technical resources was a direct result of him listening to the new genre of radio documentary, and discerning its ethnographic possibilities. 17 That is to say, Elkin did not directly emulate his despised rival. Nevertheless, Elkin's collaboration with Thompson in 1949 was very similar to that between Mountford and the ABC's Colin Simpson the previous year.…”

“…Indeed, the full-page advertisement referred to earlier uses of the image of a swagman as its logo. 17 The 'swaggie' is the white Australian on perpetual walkabout, an unkempt if generally benign itinerant, restlessly on the move, avoiding settlement, shy of regular work. As a symbol of intractable independence, the swagman is a peculiarly Australian figure, entering national mythology via a song that has him stealing a sheep and, to avoid punishment, drowning himself.…”

“…16 They also note that women's work effort in the production of utilitarian artefacts (such as mats, netted baskets and string bags) had declined owing to the availability of tins and cloth from the mission. 17 They emphasise that it is hard to tell how typical their groups might be, for nearly all participants had mission or other external contact, although people did return to bush living intermittently at that time, owing to lack of food at missions or because they were seeking refuge from social or political disputes in the larger settlements. But they emphasise that their findings are valid for the groups that they actually studied, which, given their thoughtful qualifications, seems indisputable.…”