Cane | School and group talks

Next date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026 | 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM

In conjunction with current exhibition, Cane, schools and groups can book a talk facilitated by Raeleen Willie on behalf of ASSIUC (Australian South Sea Islander United Council) exploring Australian South Sea Islander history. 

"I will share my families’ stories and their connections to the two Australian South Sea Islander communities in the Central Queensland region, Kanaka Town in North Rockhampton and Joskeleigh on the Capricorn Coast. I will also speak about our lived experience as Australian South Sea Islanders today, and the steps we take to ensure our stories continue to be passed on to future generations and shared with the wider community." Raeleen Willie, ASSIUC Secretary and talk co-facilitator

• Connecting personal stories to history – sharing family and community links to Australian South Sea Islander people and places represented in Cane
• Understanding blackbirding through lived experience – discussing how the recruitment of South Sea Islanders to the cane fields affected real people, families and communities
• Learning from the past – exploring why these histories matter today and how the exhibition helps students better understand local, national and Pacific histories

 

• All ages
• Max 60 students per talk 
• 45-60 minutes
• Times and dates pending facilitator availability 
• FREE | Covered by RMOA x Haymans Electrical Bus Bursary 
• Cultural Advice 

 

Book now

1. Complete a school and group booking request form with up to three time and date preferences

2. Apply for RMOA x Haymans Electrical Bus Bursary to cover costs of talk facilitation and return transport

 

Learning outcomes

• Develop an understanding of who Australian South Sea Islanders are and their historical connection to the sugar cane industry in Australia.
• Gain insight into Australia’s shared history, including the impacts of colonisation, labour practices, and government policies on Australian South Sea Islander communities.
• Recognise the significance of the Cane Industry in shaping regional Queensland communities, including Rockhampton and surrounding areas.
• Develop respect for the identity, culture, and resilience of Australian South Sea Islander peoples.
• Understand the importance of truth-telling, commemoration, and education in promoting reconciliation and social cohesion.
• Recognise the role museums, exhibitions, and community storytelling play in preserving and sharing history.

 

Cane is a Hervey Bay Regional Gallery touring exhibition curated by Llewellyn Millhouse with Keely Eggmolesse.

Generously supported in partnership with Haymans Electrical. 

 

 

 

Image: installation view of Cane at RMOA. Foreground: Jon Vea Vea White Tip Reef Shark 2024, carved timber, courtesy the artist. Background: People Places and Portraits community photographs. Credit: Melissa Mills.

 

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