Good Samaritans

Pillar 4: Shared Values

Media description: A man is found unconscious on the road in this early Broken Hill (Audience Alliance Pictures 2009) scene.

MEDIA CONTEXT
Conversation between the character Tommy McAlpine (Luke Arnold) and his dad (Timothy Hutton), and the vehicle, come to an abrupt halt in this scene from the movie Broken Hill (Audience Alliance Pictures 2009). Tommy spots something in the middle of the dark, country road. Close inspection reveals it is a man whom they do not recognise. A pulse check confirms the man is alive, though unconscious. At this point they have a number of possible options: put the man in the back of their Ute; call emergency services; drag him off to the side of the road out of harm’s way and carry on. Tommy and George McAlpine have no legal obligation to help this man who is clearly in trouble. But further scenes not shown in this clip reveal the pair did somehow aid the stranger, who turns out to be escaped convict, Kalai Takalua (Che Timmins).

MEDIA CRITIQUE
What exactly the McAlpines (Luke Arnold and Timothy Hutton) do after discovering Takalua (Che Timmins) on the road is a bit of mystery. The media broadcast in this clip from the movie Broken Hill (Audience Alliance Pictures 2009) clearly states he was “picked up” by police. Did Tommy and George call the police or an ambulance? Did they drive the mystery man to the hospital themselves? Did they recognise the prison uniform Takalua was wearing and go directly to the police? Does it matter to the story? Whatever happened, it is clear Tommy and his dad are good blokes and did what they thought was right. How realistic is the placement of the unconscious Kalai Takalua, being directly in the middle of the road? Was he passed out from alcohol? Was he hit by a car? The audience does not learn the answers to these questions.

ANALYSIS & REVIEW

1. What is the moral obligation to aid someone in need? Is it part of one’s civic duty to be a ‘Good Samaritan’?
2. If you were Tommy or his dad, and had you known Kalai’s circumstances, would you have rescued him from the road? Why? (Emergency first aid courses teach participants to look out for danger before proceeding with any first aid and to put their own safety first.)
3. In what ways can knowledge of basic first aid contribute to society?
4. Think of a time a stranger has helped you (it might have been something as simple as offering you a seat on the bus). How did it make you feel?

THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION & AUSTRALIA TODAY
There exists in Australia today some form of Good Samaritan legislation, which is intended to protect the persons giving aid against legal action by the victim. Learn what the law in your State says about “Good Samaritans”.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
As a family, class or individual, participate in a CPR or First Aid course. If you have already done so, remember to update your qualifications.

AUSCIVICS FILM & TV SERIES LINKED TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Learning areas and/or outcomes relating to the questions and issues above have been identified for each state and territory in the following links:*