No More Boomerang - Oodgeroo Noonuccal - Worksheet

In this poem Noonuccal challenges the supposed benefits of white culture in the lives of Aboriginal people. This four-page worksheet helps students analyse the poem, helping them understand its biting irony and clever plays on language, as well as providing an Aboriginal perspective on the clash between indigenous and white Australian cultures.

The resource begins with a focus on comprehension, with a glossary of key terms from the poem and some general comprehension, before moving through a range of activities addressing language features like tone, juxtaposition, allusion, repetition and more. This resource will help support a detailed analysis of the poem and contains lots of supporting information in questions (see example below).

The resource is included in both Word and pdf format to ensure flexibility and compatibility.

Sample question: “In stanza eleven, Noonuccal presents a complex image of religious influence on Aboriginal people. Remember that many Aboriginal missions were run by the churches and under the control of ministers of religion. What point is Noonuccal making when she says “White fella witch-doctor / Wear dog-collar?” (tip: try to use techniques like allusion or symbolism in your response)”

While you’re here, why not check out these other resources on Noonuccal’s poetry?
The Past | Son of Mine | We Are Going