Nauru

From the Film Australia Collection. Made by The Commonwealth Film Unit 1962. Directed by Frank Bagnall. Life on the tiny island in the Central Pacific where Australia is preparing the people for life in the modern world. Nauru has a long association with Australia. From being a United Nations trust territory administered by Australia to becoming one of the worlds largest sources of phosphate mined by Australian companies to an Australian off-shore detention centre for asylum seekers. Nauru is now the world's smallest republic covering just 21 square kilometres. This film looks at Nauru in 1962 when it had the highest per-capita income in the world but when the depletion of the countries phosphate resources was already on the horizon meaning the only industry they had, and the only source of foreign investment, was coming to an end. Having become accustomed to the ways of the modern, industrialised world but with no way of supporting themselves how will the Nauruans maintain their lifestyle?

[@raeng92]

i know my grandma's sister Mrs May Cook sitting with a child just few moments before the wrestlers. She's alive and well I can't wait to tell her about this video.

[@NFSAFilms]

Zulas Demauna Hi thanks for letting us know. This has been a very popular film with ex-pat Nauruans from all around the world. I guess with a small population there is a good chance you recognise someone. Please say Hi to your Grandma from us and thank her for her participation in our film all those years ago.

[@NFSAFilms]

Wow, thanks for letting us know. Glad you liked the film.

[@viniciusbortoloso4678]

NFSA Films Beautiful choir, How is the name of the music?

[@oldtwinsna8347]

very sad sight to see knowing the outcome of this all. all that fraud, waste, and incompetence plundered all the money away. no small chunk of change, billions, and left the land completely destroyed. with proper financial management, Nauru would still be a prosperous country living off the investments it could have made.

[@NFSAFilms]

That's great. Thanks for letting us know. We hope you all enjoyed the flashback.

[@chrisfeik1502]

Congratulations for your national holiday on 26th October Nauru from your friends in Germany

[@davidanderson9664]

I remember Nauru House in Melbourne growing up and its big blue star - and your airline at the airport. Nauru still has the most beautiful flag on earth. Sad recent history though - bad financial decisions - but such nice people. Thx for putting the documentary up - it shows a very different time. Happy Angam Day! And good luck to Nauru. Your friend, David, NYC

[@NFSAFilms]

"Presidential Tour" made by the CFU in 1966 is the film you are referring to. We will look into it for you. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@jacobdoublex7023]

The good old days, the glory days, tomorrow did not take care of itself it turns out

[@prosiedebruyn1354]

My great great grandfather and great grandfather were chiefs of Nauru.

[@karfomachet7265]

what a difference time makes , all those nice new buildings and cars are now all wrecked and have the look of some 3rd world shanty town . So in the end most stayed and did not want to move to Ausie , slowly they are re claiming the destroyed top side - they cut down the coral pinnacles and level off the ground and then plant native plants .

[@paulkun3527]

That was my Dad & uncle Felix (both deceased) at Knox Grammar school. Very good quality video. Ahh the good old days. Very nice

[@26blanco]

Thanks for these vídeos.they are history

[@eratequo]

OMG, thats Sophie O.. as a teacher......papa's cousin. Im so curious as i just came back from a night out in Paris, pissed as any other Nauruan would be, missed home and just typed Nauru on my mac, rest is history.....

[@flordelizaflores1145]

No one can help them but themselves. ❤️🙏

[@shaminaahmed2534]

I would love to know what this Nauruan song is! It’s so nice I hope Nauru 🇳🇷 will do better in the future!!

[@NFSAFilms]

Wow that's great that you recognised some people in the film, thanks for letting us know. Is there any more you can tell us about it? Sounds like a great night in Paris, glad we could help top it off.

[@jferida8053]

Love this 💛

[@eriutauraoi567]

miss my paradise Nauru

[@terraawetei6077]

The frigate bird old man did a kungfu forward roll.

[@ThePentanator]

@17.21 I think thats my handsome grandpa. Great Video xx

[@mughug9616]

1989 - Nauru sues Australia in the International Court of Justice for additional phosphate royalties dating back to trusteeship period, and compensation for mining damage. 1993 - Australia agrees to pay out-of-court settlement of $73m over 20 years.

[@romancorey6796]

Nauru then: Growing economy, beautiful island, healthy people, prosperity, wealth. Nauru now: Failed economy, destroyed landscape, fattest people on the entire planet, poverty.

[@efrans2627]

🤣

[@eratequo]

MY ISLAND HOME......FROM DOHA, QATAR...

[@jawadsajad472]

R u from nauru???

[@VFatalis]

it's really sad to see what the pleasant island became... we're going to experience a similar destiny in a few years

[@Emsyaz]

Root cause: Laziness, abandoning their traditional way of living, abandoning their healthy traditional diet

[@ItsAllAboutContext]

Beautifully shot film. Another Pacific nation rorted by Australia.

[@kirijones3778]

Not at all, it was their own people that screwed them over...no plan B just meetings about nothing, not to mention the silly purchases they made, etc Melbourne House

[@mattyo30]

Hi FILMAUSTRALIA, you wouldn't be able to upload the offical LBJ visit to australia during the vietnam war video by the commonwealth film unit would you? thanks!!

[@jorologo]

I might go over there and open A Coffee Shop. I'd call it The Asylum Cafe. I'll even hang some dart Boards with the faces of Julia Gillard and Chris Bowen.

[@NFSAFilms]

No Nauru is a nation in its own right. Not part of Australia. Wikipedia....Nauru

[@eratequo]

yes i am living working there. i know the jacobs but vaguely.

[@jasonhudson739]

Nauru at the time when people were all slim! Sad now!

[@ankemwigaroa9866]

What's the background music? I swear it sounds familiar.

[@eratequo]

well not really but i do recognise family members and other persons who were around my age now. im memorized.

[@prosiedebruyn1354]

I am Nauruan.

[@davidcarr2649]

Do you still live there?

[@eratequo]

i mean i am from nauru but currently reside qatar.

[@ashsqx3246]

OK thanks for clearing that up lol

[@toddmaggio2032]

Hmm! The future of Nauru was not a bright as predicted. This lost paradise can be salvaged with proper management and good governance. Sadly, often those in government seek to enrich themselves first.

[@jusitke07]

Wait, what? Polynesian? Me thinks Nauru is actually Micronesian. Oh well, they're all Austronesians

[@danazgul6794]

does anyone know the song at the start?

[@kushaal596]

it has been 7 years nd looks like nobody knows

[@jferida8053]

Oh Bwio Eben Bwio (not sure if I spelled this right )

[@de-quartesaakua6745]

"KAUWE IUD" is the name of the song

[@santospaul8103]

The beginning is a Nauru hymn? Sounds like kosraen a little bit

[@de-quartesaakua6745]

Nauruan song 👍

[@efrans2627]

Micronesian 🤙🏝️

[@annpeerkat2020]

As an aussie... I find the film incredibly condescending, as if the western powers are doing something beneficial for nauru instead of plundering it. What a generous thing the australian government did...."the task of administering" a country that doesn't belong to them.

[@kungmana8254]

Nauru

[@eratequo]

i meant fathers parents of person who are around my age now

[@nickzam401]

They look like malays in 60's. we are great austronesia actually..

[@mughug9616]

Proud moments in Australian history. Raping the island of it's Phosphate and helping to gut it only to use it now as a dump for unwanted immigrants. “The land is my backbone… I only stand straight, happy, proud, and not ashamed about my color because I still have land… I think of land as the history of my nation.” - Galarrwuy Yunipingu.

[@MaoriMum]

I guess this didn't really work out did it?

[@now591]

hahaha YES!

[@melonhijau2530]

:) ;)

[@b0ys0l09]

once a rich nation has become the prison house for Australia