1948: Jen
Jen’s father died in the war, and her mother is planning to marry Wal. Jen struggles to accept Wal, comparing him to her heroic dad. Through cinema outings, car rides, and quiet moments of realisation, Jen’s story explores grief, loyalty, and changing family dynamics in post-war Australia.
The 1940s were a time of recovery, resilience, and quiet transformation. Post-war grief, emerging national pride, and the rise of cinema and car ownership reshaped family life, gender roles, and civic aspiration. First Nations activism began challenging exclusion, laying foundations for future rights movements.
- 1939–1945: World War II reshapes Australian society; over one million Australians serve, including First Nations men and women, despite discriminatory enlistment policies
- 1942: Japanese forces bomb Darwin and Sydney Harbour; American troops arrive under General MacArthur to defend the Pacific
- 1945: War ends; Australia joins the British Occupation Forces in Japan and becomes a founding member of the United Nations
- 1946: Pilbara Strike; over 800 First Nations workers and families walk off pastoral stations in Western Australia, demanding fair pay and freedom
- 1947: Australia begins welcoming non-British migrants from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under the “populate or perish” policy
- 1948: Prime Minister Ben Chifley unveils the first Holden FX, symbolising post-war prosperity and aspiration
- 1940s: Women take on non-traditional roles during wartime, then face pressure to relinquish jobs post-war; gender roles begin to shift
Post-war years: The Baby Boom begins, reshaping family life and housing needs across Australia.
First Nations Focus: Despite military service, First Nations Australians face exclusion from jobs, housing, and civic recognition. Activists begin to challenge these injustices, laying the groundwork for future rights movements.
Provocation Questions
How do traditions and expectations shape our relationships, and what helps us accept change?
Clip 1: The Pictures
Jen and her friends are at the 'pictures' watching a newsreel that includes an announcement of the birth of Prince Charles. In the cinema foyer, the girls steal a movie poster of Prince Philip, the husband of Princess Elizabeth (who would later become Queen Elizabeth II). The girls discuss the importance of 'handsomeness' and Jen tells them the prince looks like her father, who died in the war. This introduces themes of media influence, grief, and admiration.
Tuning In
Watch the clip carefully. What do you notice about the way people dressed, spoke, and behaved in the 1940s?
As a class, discuss the following questions:
- Why does Jen say Prince Philip looks like her dad?
- What does this tell us about her feelings and memories?
- How do you think going to the pictures was different from watching movies today?
Finding Out & Sorting Out
In groups, investigate what going to “the pictures” was like in the 1940s and how it shaped people’s lives. Use these questions to guide your research:
- What was the cinema experience like at that time?
- How did stardom and celebrity culture begin, and why were movie stars and royalty admired so much?
Once you’ve gathered your information, create a mind map that shows how media influenced people’s dreams and expectations in the 1940s. Include examples of famous film stars or royal figures who captured the public’s imagination. Finally, compare this to how media influences us today – what has changed and what has stayed the same?
Making Connections
In pairs, create a movie guide like those used in the 1940s. Think about what would make people excited to see your film back then – dramatic headlines, glamorous star profiles, and bold visuals. Compare your guide to a modern movie guide or streaming platform description. How has the language, style, and way of attracting audiences changed over time? What does this tell us about traditions, expectations, and how media influences us today?
Share your guides with the class and then discuss:
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How do traditions and expectations (like admiring royalty or movie stars) shape relationships?
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What helps people accept changes in society, like new ideas about fame or family?
Clip 2: The Holdens, Clip 3: Courting Part 1 & Clip 4: Courting Part 2
Clip 2: The Holdens
In this clip, Wal visits Jen's mother to take her to the pictures in his new FJ Holden. Jen is unaware of the affections between her mother and Wal. When Wal gives Jen's mother a kiss goodnight, Jen notices her mother’s affection and begins to feel conflicted.
Clip 3: Courting Part 1
In this clip, Jen and her friends are fantasising about the attractiveness of movie stars and royalty and rating them between one and ten. The girls only rate Wal as a three or four, which makes Jen feel that her friends would not approve if she told them about her mother's affection for him.
Clip 4: Courting Part 2
In this clip, Jen sees her mother’s engagement ring, realises her mother’s decision to marry Wal and begins to accept the change.
Tuning In
Watch the three clips carefully. What do you notice about family relationships and expectations in the 1940s and 1950s?
As a class, discuss the following:
As a class, discuss the following:
- Why does Jen feel conflicted about her mother and Wal?
- How do her friends’ opinions influence her feelings?
- What traditions or expectations about family and marriage are shown in these clips?
Finding Out & Sorting Out
In pairs, role-play a conversation between Jen and her mother about the themes of change and loyalty. Imagine how each character might feel and what they would say. After the role-play, choose either Jen or her mother’s perspective and write a journal entry that explains what they have learned about change. Include thoughts, feelings and any realisations that came from the conversation.
Making Connections
Reflect on Jen’s emotional journey and the cultural dynamics of post-war Australia by making personal connections. Use the following prompts to guide your thinking:
- Have I ever struggled to accept change in my family?
- What helps me feel proud of my family’s story?
- How do media and traditions shape how I see myself?
Write your reflections in a short paragraph, linking your own experiences to the themes to the provocation question: How do traditions and expectations shape our relationships, and what helps us accept change?
Australian Curriculum Links
Explore how post-war change, civic aspiration, and family traditions shaped identity and belonging in 1940s Australia.
|
Year |
Content Description |
Inquiry Sprint Link |
CCP Integration |
|
Year 3 |
AC9HS3K01 Causes and effects of changes to the local community |
Tuning In: Explore Jen’s home life and cinema rituals |
Investigate how post-war grief and media shaped daily life |
|
Year 4 |
AC9HS4K01 Role of individuals, events and groups in shaping communities |
Sorting Out: Compare Jen’s family and marriage customs |
Explore gender roles and cultural expectations across generations |
|
Year 5 |
AC9HS5K02 Causes and effects of change in Australian society |
Finding Out: Investigate Holden FX, car production, and civic pride |
Examine changing views on prosperity, family, and tradition |
|
Year 6 |
AC9HS6K01 Democratic values and processes in Australia |
Taking Action: Design a radio segment or community article |
Link Jen’s story to civic voice, resilience, and respectful relationships |
Explore how identity, tradition, and representation are expressed through narrative voice and emotional tension in 1950s Australia.
|
Year |
Content Description |
Inquiry Sprint Link |
CCP Integration |
|
Year 3 |
AC9E3LE01 Personal responses to texts and characters | Tuning In: Create a character collage showing Jen’s feelings about her father, Wal, and the Holden FX | Explore how visual and emotional cues reveal character relationships |
|
Year 4 |
AC9E4LY06 Create imaginative and persuasive texts | Going Further: Write a radio script or dialogue between Jen and her mother about change and loyalty | Promote empathy and respectful communication across generations |
|
Year 5 |
AC9E5LE01 Analyse character motivations and emotional depth | Sorting Out: Write a reflective blog post titled “What I Didn’t Understand About Wal” | Explore emotional growth and the impact of grief on decision-making |
|
Year 6 |
AC9E6LE01 Respond to texts shaped by historical and cultural contexts | Making Connections: Compare Jen’s story with a post-war memory from research or an older family member, through an interview or a podcast | Connect storytelling to civic aspiration, gender roles, and emotional resilience |
Explore how cultural heritage, civic aspiration, and intergenerational wisdom deepen empathy, belonging, and respectful representation.
Country/Place: Compare Jen’s backyard and family rituals with First Nations relationships to Country
Culture: Explore storytelling, grief, and cultural pride across communities
People: Highlight the role of grandparents and Elders in shaping values and emotional guidance
Asia and its Diversity: Use post-war migration and marriage customs to explore cultural contribution to Australia’s evolving identity.
Achievements and Contributions: Celebrate migrant communities in civic life, car manufacturing, and media
Asia–Australia Connections: Reflect on how storytelling and tradition foster belonging and resilience
Culture: Explore bilingualism, storytelling, and cultural pride across communities
People: Highlight the role of Yaya and Elders in shaping values and emotional guidance
Additional Resources
Episode Stills
Jen With Her Friends In The Picture Theatre
Jen hiding in the old house
Wal opening the door of his Holden for Jen's mother
Jen enjoying tea, sandwiches and cake
Jen enjoying a picnic with her mother and Wal
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