Private Project

Adelaide City Mosque Open Day 2022

This documentary shares the celebrations of Open Day Australia 2022 at the Adelaide City Mosque. In Australia, First Nations people have a complex relationship with Australia Day, otherwise known as Invasion Day. In this documentary, we explore the early historical relationship between Afghan Cameleers and First Nations people and how that relationship continues today.

  • Alison Rogers
    Director
  • Alison Rogers
    Producer
  • Azmiri Mian
    Producer
  • Sasha Krieg
    Producer
  • Rodney Bolton
    Director of Photography
  • Renee Diprose
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    history, documentary
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    5,700 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Alison Rogers

Alison Rogers has been telling stories for more than 30 years as a journalist, broadcaster, author and film maker. In a previous life she was chief media advisor to Natasha Stott Despoja when Stott Despoja was leader of the Australian Democrats (2001-2002). In 2010, Alison established Living Stories, a film company specialising in unscripted documentary. Based in Port Adelaide, Living Stories has created more than 200 films in the past 12 years for institutions, organisations and families.

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Director Statement

In Australia one of the most contentious days on our calendar is Australia Day. Many see it as a day to celebrate our way of life, but for many people it is Invasion Day, marking the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. A date when life changed irrevocably for our First Nations people.

The Adelaide City Mosque wanted to commemorate Australia Day in a way that highlighted that the Australian value of mateship by sharing the extraordinary relationship between our First Nations people and the Afghan Cameleers who opened up the interior of Australia in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Both groups had experience firsthand of British colonialism and there were many cultural similarities including tolerance and acceptance.

One of the most powerful ways to increase understanding and empathy is to hear the personal stories of individuals highlighting their experiences. It is hard to stereotype and be prejudiced about a group of people when you hear their stories firsthand.

I wanted to tell the story of this historic relationship and show the healing that took place on Australia Day 2022 at the Adelaide City Mosque by sharing the stories of the direct descendants of the First Nations people and the Muslim Cameleers, as well as First Nations people and members of the Adelaide City Mosque. This is a story of tolerance, respect and living together.