Drawing on Aboriginal conceptions of time Second to None took audience on a spiral-like journey through four sites - to the central place of acknowledging the start of the story of this place, and back out to a celebration of the past, present and future of The Port - Yerta Bulti (the land of the sleeping).

Commencing  at Waterside Workers Hall, the audience found themselves at a sales pitch for the New Port Quays development. Boarding buses, for what is supposed to be a land sales tour, three local Aboriginal women soon take over the story, kicking the salespeople off and taking the passengers on a journey back in time and through the real history of the Port.

GLANVILLE HALL

Built in 1856 by Captain John Hart, Glanville Hall (also called ‘Hart’s Castle’) was a 14-room house with gatekeeper’s lodge, stables and spacious grounds which the Hart family occupied until 1882. In the 1940s, Glanville Hall was bought by the Australian Board of Missions (Anglican Church) and became a home for talented young Aboriginal boys from remote communities in the Northern Territory, and known as St Francis House. Boys who were to become house-hold names in Australian political and community life, came to live in St Francis House including Charlie Perkins, Peter Tilmouth, David Woodford, Vince Copley, Malcolm Cooper, Bill Espie, John Moriarty and John Palmer

The Glanville Hall performance event was about ‘being made white’, both the people and the land. It was about colonization, assimilation, white washing, over-laying, and covering up, alongside of resistance. Performance, dance, soundscape, image and installation, invited the audience to see Glanville Hall through the eyes of Aboriginal children and young people who once lived and worked there.

KAUWANGGA (PLACE OF FRESH WATER) also known as THE SNAKE PIT

Kauwannga (place of fresh water) holds the memory of spirit, old and new, and is a very important site on the Le Fevre Peninsula, known to Kaurna people as Yerta Bulti (the land of the sleeping). Kauwangga is situated at Largs North on the Esplanade, next to the Fort Largs Police Academy, and is currently managed by the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.

At Kauwangga, the story is in the land. The audience were asked to witness the Kaurna people’s continuing connection to ceremony, place, spirit, country. What occurred this site was about reviving cultural practice within the spiritual landscape. The audience was guided through cultural protocols, to respect and acknowledge the Kaurna people as the first people of this land.

WATERSIDE WORKERS HALL

Built in 1926, the Port Adelaide Waterside Workers’ Hall in Nile Street was built by and became the active hub of the political, industrial and cultural life of wharfies and their families. Carrying on this culturally active tradition inside the Hall and on its stage is Vitalstatistix Theatre Company who have leased this heritage building for the last 15 years.

The Second to None journey returned to Waterside Workers Hall. Performances by local identities, the Second to None choir and the Kurruru dancers offered audiences a requiem and celebration of the working life of the Port, and the solidarity between Maritime workers and Aboriginal people.

Second to None celebrated the important role that both Aboriginal people and Maritime workers have played in the development of the Port, and the unique solidarity that has existed between these two communities.

In showing the Aboriginal history of the Port the project was strongly guided by cultural protocol and processes. The Kauwangga site in particular gave audiences a unique insight into Kaurna cultural practices pre-colonisation. Second to None utilized both traditional and contemporary cultural forms to tell the story of Aboriginal people’s connection to this area.

The project promoted discussion in the Port community about the history of the area, and attracted media reportage that also highlighted the uniqueness of the area. Second to None would not have been successful without community engagement. As well as Kurruru’s young people, members of the local Aboriginal community including a team of Kaurna Elders, were involved in creating and performing in Second to None.

For Kurruru Second to None was two years in the making, through a long process of research, community consultation and engagement, creative development and finally creation and rehearsal from July to November 2007. As a co-production with Vitalstatistix Theatre Company, and a large scale cross-cultural community process, the project was very challenging however the generosity of the Aboriginal community, Kurruru staff and participants, and the Second to None team across Kurruru and Vitalstatistix, ensured its success.

For more information on Second to None - an Aboriginal and Maritime Journey including pictures of the show, comments from performers and reviews of the production, DOWNLOAD (PDF 1.3 MB) a complete report.

Second to None Cast:

Actors: Jada Alberts, Helen Bock, Maureen Campain, Maude Davey, Nazaree Dickerson, Jenny English, Lisa Flanagan, Uraine Mastrosavas, Sam McMahon, Rex Munn, Stephen Noonan, David Pidd, Alice Pidd-Davey, Stephen Sheehan, Les Sparrow, Ashley Turner & Natasha Wanganeen, Kurruru Dance Ensemble: Rachel Agius, Kaeshan Khan, Damien Ralphs, Tjimarri Sanderson-Milera, Taree Sansbury, Caleena Sansbury, Misty Sparrow, Kirsty Williams, Shae Williams & Rikki Wilson, Traditional Kaurna Dancers: Kevin Agius, Dylan Clarke, Cameron Ellis, Tyson Henley-Schultz, Dennis Johnson, Damien Ralphs, Tjimarri Sanderson-Milera, Karl Telfer, Desmond Williams & Robert Young, Elders and Community performers: Aunty Josie Agius, Aunty May Graham, Aunty Joan Lamont, Uncle Lewis O’Brien, Uncle Kevin (Dookie) O’Loughlin, Katrina Power, Darren Wanganeen, Frank Wanganeen, Aunty Pat Waria-Read & Aunty Georgina Williams, Kurruru Children: Kyran Agius, Emma Bovoro, Emori Bovoro, Salote Bovoro, Rhonda Brown, Darren Carter, Chelsea Clarke, Anthony Cook, Tahlisha Daniels, Iesha Flanagan, Shaqana Flanagan, Damon Koolmatrie, Robert Koolmatrie, Sasheem Parkin, Essie Rigney, Iteka Sanderson-Bromley, Cecilia Taylor, Jasmine Taylor, Joseph Williams, Kakirra Williams, Louisa Wilton & Nathan Wilton, Born on Monday By The River Choir: Carmel Barrera, Lee Claypan, Liz Dodd, Kylie Eddy, Tracy Grime, Brenda Hepenstall, Katrina Hope, Bridgette Minuzzo, Wendy Pugsley, Janette Riggs, Caren Siegfriedt, Lucy Thurley, Michelle Toland, Alana Zerjal Mellor

Second to None Crew:

Original Concept/Research: Janine Peacock, Second to None Reference Committee: Auntie Veronica Brodie, Auntie Josie Agius, Diat Alferink - Kurruru Youth Performing Arts, Maude Davey - Vitalstatistix Theatre Company, Stuart Gifford, Heather Hartshorne, Jane Marr - Port Adelaide Enfield Council, Catherine Murphy, Janine Peacock, Bill Seager - SA Maritime Museum, Kaurna Cultural Advisors: Aunty Josie Agius, Uncle Lewis O’Brien, Uncle Kevin (Dookie) O’Loughlin, Aunty Georgina Williams, Karl Telfer, Directors: Diat Alferink - Cultural Director: Kurruru, Maud Davey - Artistic Director: Vitalstatistix, Karl Telfer - Cultural Programs: Kurruru, Sasha Zahra - Artistic Director, Kurruru, Management Team: Diat Alferink - Cultural Director: Kurruru, Maggie Armstrong - General Manager: Vitalstatistix, Maude Davey - Artistic Director: Vitalstatistix, Janine Peacock, Emma Webb - Company Manager: Kurruru, Sasha Zahra, Artistic Director: Kurruru, Composer/Sound Design: Lou Bennett, Contemporary Choreography: Gina Rings, Traditional Choreography: Karl Telfer, Design: Kathryn Sproul, Assistant Design: Chantal Tremaine Henley, Costume Makers: Tsubi Du, Mary Partis, Kathryn Sproul, Chantal Tremaine-Henley, Lighting Design & Production Management: Kerry Ireland, Production Assistant: Nathan Parker, Production Crew: Clare de Bruin, Celena Hayward, Mathew Johnson , Freddy May, Evan Megaw, Ben Morris, Ian Moorhead, Roland Partis, Martin Sawtell & Tom Sutton,Projection Mentor/Advisor: Carl Kuddell - Tall Storeez, Projection/Video Production: Ian Moorhead, Nathan Parker, Martin Sawtell & Karl Telfer, Video and Images: Kristen Khan, Nathan Parker, Martin Sawtell & Karl Telfer, Projection Video Editing: Karl Telfer, Fire Sculpture Mentor/Advisor: Tony Hannon - kneeHIGH Puppeteers, Fire Sculpture Construction and Operators: Kevin Agius, Dylan Clarke, Les Giles, Dennis Johnson, Nick Leidig, Daniel Shaw, Karl Telfer, Desmond Williams & James Williams, Oral History Interviewees: Aunty Josie Agius, Uncle Vince Copley, Rex Munn, Uncle Lewis O’Brien, Keith Ridgeway, Janine Peacock, Aunty Val Power & Aunty Muriel Van Der Byl, Oral History Interviewers: Diat Alferink, Ali Baker & Kristen Khan, Oral History Editors: Denys Finney & Diat Alferink, Batkivshchyna Crew: Alan Davidson, Susan Davidson, Tony Everett, Keith Jenkins, Dave McLean & Brett Taylor (Skipper), Transport and Logistics: Les Sparrow, Bus Volunteers: Georgie Davill, Fulvia Mantelli & Samantha Ryan, Ushers: Bethany Ashley, Georgie Davil & Ruth Weldon, Published Resource and Research: Catherine Murphy, Publicity: Donna Abdulla, Maggie Armstrong , Jean Matthews& Martin Sawtell, Front of House: Maggie Armstrong, Felix Kerry & Jean Mathews, Bar Manager: Minnie Ryan Murray, Catering: Jacqui Clarke, Narissa Clarke, Julienne Gallagher & Sam Nona, Production Photography: Sama Reid & Shane Reid, Production Video Documentation: Denys Finney & Kristen Khan