My Place - 1928 Bridie

Bridie and her sister Kath are expected to care for baby Colum and complete household chores while their parents’ work. Bridie feels excluded as Kath and her friend Lorna sneak away for a picnic. When tragedy strikes, Bridie must navigate grief, guilt, and the emotional weight of responsibility.

Watch Clip 1: Children's Chores

In this clip, Bridie's family is having breakfast and discussing what they will do that day. Her father and brother are going to work at the brickworks, her mother will be cleaning floors for neighbours, and Bridie and her older sister Kath are expected to look after baby Colum and do chores around the house. Bridie spies on Kath and her friend Lorna as they plan to sneak away from their responsibilities and have a picnic by the river.

Class Prompts: As a class, discuss the following questions:

• What chores are the girls responsible for?
• How do these compare with chores today?
• What does this tell us about family roles and expectations?

Student Task: In small groups cComplete a “Chores Then and Now” table and debate: Should children have to do chores?

Historical Inquiry Integration:

• Develop inquiry questions: “How did children contribute to family life in the past?”
• Contextualise: Explore 1920s gender roles and economic pressures
• Locate sources: Use oral histories, photographs, and family interviews

Times were tough in 1928. The economy was on the brink of depression, and soon Australia would see job losses and a housing crisis. Children were given a lot of responsibility and in many cases had little or no time for play. Episode 9This episode highlights the quest of the children to escape their daily routine in order to have some fun. 

Research what childhood responsibilities were like in different times and compare Bridie’s experiences with those of other characters from My Place.Student Tasks:

•  Interview a grandparent about childhood responsibilities
• Compare Bridie’s experience with other My Place characters

Historical Inquiry Integration:

• Analyse sources: Diaries, oral accounts, and family trees
• Identify evidence: What do these stories reveal about childhood and work?

Watch Clip 2: The Funeral

In this clip, it is the day of Lorna's funeral and the procession to the cemetery is commencing. It is a tradition to celebrate the life of the deceased person by holding a 'wake'. During this sombre celebration, Bridie tries to console her sister with the help of Miss Miller. 
Bridie and Kath attend Lorna’s funeral, grappleing with grief and guilt.

Choose one of the following tasks to complete:

Option 1: Choose two or three different cultures and find out how they honour and remember people who have passed away. Look for details such as ceremonies, clothing, music, foo  and symbols used in funerals. Think about what these customs tell us about the values and beliefs of each culture. Take notes and be ready to share what you learn with the class

Option 2: :
Imagine you are writing a sympathy card to Bridie and Kath. Your card should show kindness and understanding. Use respectful language and include a message that offers comfort and support. You can decorate the card with simple, thoughtful designs or symbols that represent care and hope. • Research funeral customs across cultures

• Create a sympathy letter or condolence card
• Compare the funeral scene with traditions in students’ families

Historical Inquiry Integration:

• Develop a hypothesis: “Funerals help communities cope with loss”
• Organise evidence: Use visual clues, oral stories, and cultural comparisons

As a class, rewatch Clip 2: The Funeral and discuss what you noticed. What do you notice about the hearse?

This clip shows a very simple horse-and-cart hearse used to carry Lorna's coffin from her house to the cemetery. In 1928 working-class people could not afford to have a motorised vehicle. 

Research the symbolism of the horse-drawn hearse and mourning rituals.

Reflect on Bridie’s Emotional Journey and Mourning Traditions.Think about Bridie’s feelings and the cultural practices shown in the story. Use these prompts to guide your personal reflection:

• Have I ever felt responsible for something that went wrong?
• What helps me feel connected to my family’s traditions?
• How do rituals help us express grief?

Choose one of the following options:

Option 1: Interview a Community Elder
Choose someone in your family or community who knows about your families traditions. Prepare a few questions about how your family remembers loved ones.

Option 2: Create a “Memory Scrapbook”
Design a scrapbook that shows how families keep memories alive. Compare old ways of keeping memories (like printed albums) with modern ways (like digital photos or social media). Write a short reflection about why these traditions matter and how they help us feel connected.

Show what you’ve learned by designing a creative project that honours cultural memory and emotional resilience. Design a museum display that explores mourning customs from different cultures. Include images, short descriptions, and objects or symbols that represent these traditions. Explain what each custom tells us about how people cope with loss and remember loved ones.

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