Thoughts Raised by Herbert's "Evening"

Abstract

The A.B.C's 'Evening with Xavier Herbert' promised to be at least an interesting half hour, but it devIoped, in my opinion, into a talk which raised fundamental questions about Australian Society of today and the future.

During this talk Herbert asks: Who are W& What happened to the ideals and the optimism of our forefathes'? What happened to the belief that in this new land a better society could be created Resides these questions relating to the maturation of Australian Society, Herbert makes other observations. These I am sure most Australians either do not know anything about, or else have forgotten. He points out the meaning of the word Commonwealth. It means commonweal - the common good. It is the removal of this word from everyday usage that Herbert regrets.

He reminds us of some of the weaknesses that have been present and that are still present in Australian society: our treatment, or rather our ill-treatment of the aborigines; our insecurity; our materialistic outlook: and what Herbert calls Australian supineness. 

Whatever our reaction to all of this, one thing we cannot deny is the truth in what Herbert says. However, it is in the realization that there are problems within Australian society, and, in the understanding of them, that Australians can set about trying to rectify the situation. The following discussion, therefore, looks at some of these problems and suggests some aspects of Australian society which should be altered.