This guy was a legend and I learnt about him at University. Blew my tiny little mind that someone could not only quickly adapt to European ideas but master them at high levels while maintaining his cultural roots. A truly amazing first Australian. Things missed in this vid though was his scientific research, his un ending search for perpetual motion, his tireless advocacy for his people, recording of the local myths and legends of his culture and the fact he was a preacher that continued his ministry till the age of 87.

Thanks for these awesome historical reactions, Rob. Yesterday, Australia lost another very treasured Indigenous Aussie legend, Archie Roach. You should maybe check him out sometime. All the best x

@aileenbell2248

Жыл бұрын

🙏😥 RIP Archie Roach.

@macman1469

Жыл бұрын

Dr_KAP always see your moniker on sites I visit . Just want you to know your suggestions and information is always appreciated by a fellow subscriber. If I see your comment I know the sites worth watching . Thank you.

@BAAKA8

Жыл бұрын

RIP Unk Roach

@kristybaddins3251

Жыл бұрын

Another great man gone. RIP Archie Roach ❤️ Truly devastating news.💔

@roselovett8350

Жыл бұрын

Nicely said. What a beautiful voice Archie Roach had, and that love story between himself and his beloved Ruby is worthy of poetry and song. RIP Archie.

During covid, a task I gave my kid was to research all the different people and animals on our notes and coins and what was their significance, even the coat of arms. My then 10yr old was like they never taught us this in school. What a miss....

In addition to all the brilliant things David did in his lifetime, his pride in his heritage was evident. He was a staunch campaigner for Indigenous rights. He could also be seen giving boomerang throwing lessons to young indigenous children because he didn’t want this skill lost. He was a known authority on ballistics and was a popular speaker on lecture tours around Australia. Sadly, he was often denied accommodation when travelling around because of his race. A man ahead of his time, thank goodness.

I have to admit I didn't know anything about David Unaipon until you started this series. The man was way ahead of his time and he saw nothing from his invention, but what an inspiration, not only to his indigenous brothers and sisters but to all Australians.

Thank you Rob, here is some more info on David Ngunaitponi or David Unaipon. Unaipon spent five years trying to create a perpetual motion machine. In the course of his work he developed a number of devices.[6] He was still attempting to design such a device in his seventy-ninth year. Unaipon took out provisional patents for 19 inventions but was unable to afford to get any of his inventions fully patented, according to some sources. Muecke and Shoemaker say that between "1910 and 1944 he made ten ... applications for inventions as varied as an anti-gravitational device, a multi-radial wheel and a sheep-shearing handpiece". Provisional patent 15,624 which he ratified in 1910, is for an "Improved mechanical motion device" that converted rotary motion which "is applied, as for instance by an Eccentric into tangential reciprocating movement, an example application given being sheep shears. The invention, the basis of modern mechanical sheep shears, was introduced without Unaipon receiving any financial return and, apart from a 1910 newspaper report acknowledging him as the inventor, he received no contemporary credit.[6] Other inventions included a centrifugal motor, a multi-radial wheel and a mechanical propulsion device. He was also known as the Australian Leonardo da Vinci for his mechanical ideas, which included pre World War I drawings for a helicopter design based on the principle of the boomerang and his research into the polarisation of light; he also spent much of his life attempting to achieve perpetual motion. Was also writer/ lecturer. He was also a recognised authority on ballistics. This info is on wiki.

I'm Australian and I didn't know about David's marvellous invention. It wasn't taught in school when I was there, but then these notes came into being a long time after I completed school. What an amazing man he was.

Hi Rob, I love this series. Ive known about David Unaipon for some time. His contributions are exceptional even by todays standards. He was a very intelligent man who pursured his curiosity despite the social racist mores of the day. He wrote a book becoming the first Aboriginal person to have his work published. In Australia there is a annual national Aboriginal writers award called the David Unaipon Award which my Uncle won in 2001, he wrote about his experiences in his youth on the Aboriginal Mission. Im an Aboriginal writer myself and am writing a novel about the Stolen Generation (I am SG) as we speak which I plan to submit to this national writing competition. Many Aboriginal writers who have won this award have gone onto writing careers. It was for many years our only way to contribute to the literary world in Australia. David was one of a kind and a remarkable role model who has left many legacies that affected so many people.

I am ashamed to say and I am Australian I did not know about his history and his incredible invention

@billdaniel8310

Жыл бұрын

Me too

Hey mate, just letting you know how much I am enjoying your series on our bank notes. I thought my knowledge of Aussie history & our notables was pretty damn solid. But here I am learning so much, thanks heaps

Rob, thanks for this series on the people on the Australian banknotes. I knew some of the stories but have learned a lot. I never knew David Unaipon's story or his impact. There was an old saying about Australia's prosperity along the lines that it came from the sheep's back and I am sure a big part of this was due to this innovation.

He was also a musician, he was the first indigenous Australian to publish a book and was awarded the Coronation medal. He was an amazing inventor, he was an just an amazing human!

What a genius he was.. I’m loving these videos very informative. David was from the same tribe my grandma was from Ngurunderi .. I honestly thought he was a writer and a poet . Thank you for showing these videos. 🙏

So glad you have been doing this series. We Aussies thank you as it has been wonderful to be reminded or learn for the first time of the brilliance of some of our past Australians

I had never heard of David Unaipon until today. Thanks Rob for educating we Aussies. We hadn't heard of this man, probably due to his Aboriginality, but your video changed all that.

@skelly24o31

Жыл бұрын

he is on our currency so i doubt his background has anything to do with it

There is an old saying "necessity is the mother of invention" David saw a necessity & thought of an invitation to cover the necessity.. a clever man.

Thanks Rob. A really worthwhile series. Aussie born and bred and I've learnt more about our people and our history in these few short weeks than any other time or subject. You should be nominated for an award as an honorary Aussie.

I’m an Australian but not indigenous. However I am proud I do know about David and his invention. I’m sad that even though his face is seen daily by millions so many people don’t know his genius and legacy. I think that each year there should be an award in his name acknowledging an Australian invention or progression in technology.

I learned about David in school, but it was good to be reminded. Great series so far.

Didn't know what he did but now I do. I'm amazed what this man did and how smart he was. Look at that 50 differently now. 👍

I hope they are teaching about all of these Australians in our schools, we should all know who is displayed on our banknotes. I have learnt a lot, thanks to this series of videos, thanks so much.

I'm 60+ and I have never heard of David, thank you for your interest in Australia, it's helped me learn a bit more about my Country.

I learnt how to sheer sheep and hoof trim superfine Marion’s at high school. We learnt about David during the history portion of agriculture.

Not only is it incredible, but think back to the era and how the indigenous were treated. Aboriginals weren't even counted in the Census back then! And no, I didn't know who he was or why he is on the note. Sadly. So thank you for taking the interest that most people don't.

Unaipon was the first Aboriginal author to be published. 19 registered patents. He never made money out of his inventions. Definitely the Aussie Da Vinci.

Shearing is a hardcore job in Australia. Sheep only get shawn only once or twice a year, so its not something you can do just in one place all the time. Shearers tend to move around from property to property and there are often places for them to sleep that are fairly spartan in nature. There are songs about shearing and how every shearer was measured against the best, being the guy who could do the most number of sheep in a day without cutting them or missing bits. I'm not fully up to speed with conditions in the industry now, but shearers only used to be paid per sheep, so efficiency was paramount to making a good living and maintaining a decent reputation in the industry. It is quite a physically demanding job - the sheep fight and you have to turn them onto their back and then drag them while walking backwards, holding their front hooves. You then have to hold the animal and shear every part while leaning over to the ground. Many shearers have to retire early because of their backs and I don't think I've ever met a seasoned shearer without a back problem. The wool can also be quite dirty and it contains a lot of lanolin, so it is also quite hard to get your hands clean. I used to help sort wool as a child when they were shearing. Wool was a big deal for Australia back in the day - Charles Dickens even wrote it into Great Expectations. In the story, the convict that the boy helps early on gets wealthy off wool in Australia after being caught and transported to Australia. At the end of the novel he is discovered to be the boy's secret wealthy benefactor. It is still important but the wool price has at times been quite volatile and we've seen some pretty deep lows that have made other types of farming more profitable in the longer term to today. Mining and other exports have also changed the nature of our economy.

Will admit I didn't know, or know much about those on our bank notes, so learning heaps. I hope kids are being taught about the people on the bank notes.

Honestly, I knew vaguely that he had something to do with the wool industry, but am ashamed to say I didn't know exactly what his achievements were. Thanks Rob. This whole series has been educational, even learned more about things I thought I already knew. ❤

@BWNSPTV

Жыл бұрын

I'm actually grew up in shearing all over Victoria during school holidays after having to leave our family farm when I was a young fella a f moving to the city well pretty young which was a very cool magic experience for someone who's growing up on a farm. My father had managed properties is entire life and after we had to move to the city he look up work as a shearer it was pretty tough back in the late 80s and my dad was in his mid fifties and agriculture was all he knew he was bloody good at it. You passed away a couple of years ago and I miss him dearly I've still got all these combs and cutters he's handpiece and he's grinding equipment in my shed. He was a very smart cocky who sings know everything you had a great passion for knowledge and I often find in reading about collection of Encyclopaedia Britannica something passed on to me. I'm virtually certain he would have known about how the shearing handpiece was better than who invented but never had I was far too young to remember or understand the significance of it. I miss him terribly and if I could ring him up right now I have more important things I want to say. I was never taught at school who invented the mechanical shearing handpiece which should be widely known is celebrated. For two days after learning that was invented by one of the first Australians and how the knows or gives a s*** enough to ensure that its part of the bloody school curriculum & so I've been absolutely f****** furious. Absolutely seething that took a Brit (no offence Rob if by chance you read this as I'm very good because I'm very grateful) posting a reaction video on f****** KZread and random chance to f****** learn. Yesterday, if someone had a pointed out a bloke and convinced me that it's all his fault, I would have rolled out my old man's stock whip and cracked it on his on the dick heads balls. Somewhat less angry about it today but I tell you what I am still Deadset pissed off.

I'm not happy to tell you that I didn't know anything about this great guy. Thank you so much Rob for these videos, I've learnt so much.

I had no idea of the achievements of this great man....this great Australian... somewhat embarrassed that I didn't! Learning so much from you series - thank you Rob :)

Great vid, Rob. I definitely did not know about his iconic contribution to the wool industry.

I am ashamed to say, no I did not know what David did. What a brilliant man he was and what a contribution he made to Australia

Yes, I did know. That is because I wiki every person on the Australian bank notes, even the paper notes. Howard Florey also helped change the would with aiding the research of penicillin. He was born in South Australia and also was on the $50 notes.

@RandomStuff-he7lu

Жыл бұрын

Aiding the research? He ran it.

@flamingfrancis

Жыл бұрын

South Australia can also lay claim to an outstanding First Australian that also appeared on the $50 note...Pastor Doug Nichols.

@kennethdodemaide8678

Жыл бұрын

Florey was responsible for creating penicillin. His co-recipient of the Nobel Prize only noticed by chance that the mould on bread killed bacteria. This was already known by the ancient Romans who used mouldy bread to apply to wounds on soldiers to heal them.

They are still used to this day to help some people get rid of unsightly and weird coloured beards. If you know of anybody with this sad afffliction, please pass the ' word ' Robbo.

Great video mate. Loved it. I did know about David Unaipon but enjoyed this presentation. It only focused on one of his achievements but there were many more.

No, I didn't know... and once again feel ashamed for not bothering to know. An absolutely incredible man. Thanks once again Rob for this amazing series... truly appreciated.

Truly awe inspiration, thank you, but you know there are many skills you need to live, off the land. Creativity like you mentioned a vital commodity, and nearly not enough nuture, and respect for it at school. I also would add patience, perseverance, adaptation. Thank again good subject loving the series. 🤗👏

Someone on Hard Quiz had David Unaipon as their expert subject. Got a bit of insight from that.

I did know about David Unaipon because I grew up in the Methodist church, but they never told us about his inventing, just his welfare work, writing and preaching

What an amazing Man, I didn't know what an incredible inventor he was. After watching an episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" I was impressed by the way He managed to retain his Language and Culture under pressure. Did you know he made recordings in his Language? Things have been improving in recent decades starting in at least the 80's. I went to High School with many Indigenous Students from The Cape York. I was always friendly with my fellow students. But I was always left out of their conversations when they'd start speaking their own Language. I didn't mind I liked knowing it was alive and well. I may have had 2 sets of Great Grandparents from Colonial Times including the British Explorer John Oxley who I've mentioned in recent comments. On My Maternal side, but Mum's Family certainly wasn't racist even when it wasn't common. To of Mum's Cousins married Aboriginal Ladies with whom she was friends with. We have Old Family Friends who are First Nations People that go back to the 1940's. Mum's Little Sister used to play with the son back then, even though it raised some eyebrows. I've been Close Friends with his daughter since we were Teenagers. I used to Sing Duets with Him, He played the guitar as well. Unfortunately He developed Alzheimers and couldn't Perform anymore. He passed away in His Sleep about a year ago. Personally I had an Aboriginal Boyfriend in High School.

Loving this series Rob , thankyou !

Yes mate I knew about the genius that was David Unaipon, but not from school I learned about him from an old shearer friend of my family. He told us young children about this wonderful aboriginal man who made the shearer's blades and how they worked and I was fascinated by the simplicity yet perfect design. He was sadly not able to pursue his inventions or who knows what he would have given to us and the world. Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🦘🐏🐏🐑🐑

As I mentioned in your previous video, I am loving this series of videos. I must say this is the best content you have produced so far Rob. Well done mate 😀

Thanks for another great video Rob, so glad he David Unaipon is on the $50 note well deserved

By the way, extreme conditions for shearers in shearing sheds, not unusual temperatures over 45 °C or 113°F, are quite normal. Imagine doing 8 to 12hr working days for several months each year. For the sheep it is in and back out in relatively short time, but for gun shearers doing from 250 to 300 sheep in a day that is very tough work. Most people would not last even an hour or two. Other than shearers there are workers moving the wool aside stacking, baling, cleaning mess, driving sheep out, others making sure incoming shutes are filled with new unshorn sheep, so shearers just grab the next sheep when ready, minimal breaks as pay is also benefiting on piece rates.

Fascinating article on one of our unsung identities. There's some dedications to his mark on the industry in the Shearer's Museum in Narrandera NSW. Well worth a visit, it seems really sad that today's lot do not find time to visit such establishments. There was a huge issue in the industry from the 60's when the cockeys wanted shearers to use newly introduced Kiwi wide comb. It eventully took around 20 years but was adopted. World record held by great gun shearer Jackie Howe was soon beaten and that record is now held by a bloody Pommie...how can this be?...self shearing sheep? Loved Mark Ella's contribution here, nothing but respect for him and his brothers. So fitting that he makes a contribution. I see the trophy awarded for England v Australia Rugby has been renamed after the Ellas.

Love this series you are doing, learning so much. Thank you.

Thanks Rob, fantastic! 👋 Yes, Australia really became a productive colony after sheep were imported and bred, and Shearer's who travelled from farm to farm and probably suffered RSI injuries had short working lives! Brilliant invention!! 🤗

I did notice in this series that you missed the reverse of the $5 note. I understand as your focus was on the people, and 'its just Parliament House', but the design of the new Parliament House is fascinating and worth learning about.

The current notes have new faces on them, I use to know about the old notes and the faces on them. Thank you for this series most informative and entertaining.

Rob I thank you very much you are educating myself and a lot of Australians on our own history ( LOVE YOUR WORK)

Working in Wools sheds . I never knew who invested the shearing hand piece. It (Shearing hand piece) really has not changed for 150 years.

@robertmurray8763

Жыл бұрын

Correction: David Unaipon is mechanism is still used today (after 100+ years) in nearly all Australian and New Zealand Shearing sheds. Hand prices nearly 150 years ago

I didn't know, thanks for the history lesson 👍

Wow, this entire series has been great, but this one has been a real eye opener. I handle these notes every day and never knew the importance of this guy.

@RobReacts1

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks Rob for showing us our great Australians there is a great Australian movie called Sunday to far away. It's a movie about sheep sheering that is set in the 50s

This guys story is amazing:) before watching I think he was a priest and inventor from memory. Very smart and gifted person

Rob, you could do a series on Australian Indigenous history, talent, culture and leadership. A unique 40,000-60,000 year culture, the oldest continuous culture on Earth. It is a story of survival and achievement despite the Colonial untruth of “Terra Nullius”.

Good for you Rob I think you're actually teaching us a thing or two about ourselves. By the way, with that touch of sun on your skin makes you look a bit like us Aussies.

Of all the notes, David is the one I did know.. (that and Banjo), thank you for your series.. I waited until this one to watch them all..

Mate I'm loving this series .. well done

Sad to say it, but I didn’t know anything about his story. Thanks again for this series. At some point you should have a look at Mark Ella (the first indigenous Wallabies captain) and his brothers. As wel as his Rugby League equivalent, Arthur Beetson - the first indigenous captain of the Kangaroos and the first Indigenous captain of any Australian sporting team.

Australian kids are not taught about indigenous Australia or the accomplishments of indigenous people like David Uniapon. I wanted to get my teaching qualifications in the 1980s and was told I couldn’t because I didn’t have any teaching subjects in my degree - I majored in Australian prehistory and aboriginal studies through flexible history units. There is so much more that ordinary Australians do not know because our school curriculums were ‘whitewashed’ for generations.

@flamingfrancis

Жыл бұрын

Indeed Joe and I am always amazed that these people were never recognised for their ability to transverse this nation without compass or sextant. No calculations just skills and knowledge.

@roselovett8350

Жыл бұрын

It's appalling to know that until 1967 First Nations people were not included in the population....they were counted in with the flora and fauna. Gee I hope that Statement From The Heart Referendum gets up....I really feel the people of Australia are truly ready to be so much more inclusive and do the right thing. Makarata...Treaty...Recognition of the past and what is needed to do to heal.

Hi, i am part of the last descendant of the Uniapon family. My grandmother was the great niece of Uncle David. That makes my mother the second and that makes me the third, among the rest of our big family. The church on the note is also still standing. So if you are interested in knowing more, feel free to visit the Point MacLeay Mission in South Australia.

@RobReacts1

Ай бұрын

Oh fascinating!

Did not know anything about this man before, thank you for educating me.

Another great one... I heard of him but not what he did for us and the industry.

As an Australian, I have very little knowledge of most of the people on our banknotes so this is quite a good little series you're doing. My ignorance astonishes me.

Mark Ella, for info Robbo, check out the Ella Brothers mate. Rugby Union and League.

Good old Burrowa NSW, a good old rustic town. Spent may a day helping to move and rob bees in this area. If you can get a chance Rob, spend some time in towns like this. This is the true Australia.

Reminds me, A must See Aussie Movie based around Sheering Shed and True Aussie Characters, is Sunday Too Far Away, should be able to find for Free on SBS Movies On Demand.

I knew David Uniapon had something to do with sheep. I didn’t know the rest. Loving the history lessons. I haven’t really handled any money for 2 years but next time I do I will definitely take more notice. Good job again Rob 👍

You made me look at one of my $50 notes.. I never realised that it was a shearing hand piece depicted on the note. 😁

TRUE...I knew nothing about him except that he was an important person in aussie history. The man was a genius, most inventors are. They look at something & think how can this be improved. Can you imagine the blisters using pre mechanical shearers 😳 Great video 😊

They didn’t really mention how I know him best - I covered him in a university level Australian literature class because he was the first indigenous person to be published in English - including a book of Aboriginal myths and legends. He was interested in how aboriginal spirituality and Christian theology had equivalence.

12:47 yeah nylon and polyester have hit the industry hard. Wool is still better for the environment than cotton. Everything eats cotton and it needs lots of pesticides. Hemp should make a comeback.

I didn't know and even in many videos which feature top Aussie inventions, they fail to mention him.

I had no idea about this man. I was taught very little about the aboriginals in school and honestly, it's a massive shame.

I did not know but now I do

I never knew any of that. Rob can you believe you are teaching some of us Aussies our own history and Aboriginal history? My sons best friend is Aboriginal, he’s great, was talking to my son about him, he’s still learning things about his culture and heritage he didn’t know. My son said, anything you find, send to him, he may or may not know it. He’s a real funny man, he told my son he was white lol, he lifted his foot, said, see it’s white like the palms of my hand, then he cracked up laughing. I told the 2 of them to go bush together for a break, son’s friend said, “I am the bush, it’s inside me, I’m not going anywhere, then he laughed - a great bloke with a great sense of humour. They’ve been friends for 20 years.

I knew the mechanicak shearer was an Aussie invention, but didn't realise who was the inventor... wow

Wow! I didn't know this and I'm a south aussie and my dad was a shearer - I doubt he knew either. My nephew is a wool classer - only one to follow in my dads footsteps

Well I'll put my hand up and say that I had no clue about this amazing man. Thanks

I had no idea

Wow, that was a really enlightening video Rob, and I am ashamed to admit that I had no idea...but possibly because it's so rarely do I have $50 (pineapple...$50's are called pineapples and $20 are called crayfish...it's the colours ha!) in my hand long enough to look. I really enjoy seeing your genuine interest and reactions...and honesty. Thanks. Have you checked out the coins yet? I love our coins with all our native animals depicted on them.

There was a rare $10 note that had an indigenous person it for the bicentennial year

What an amazing person. I was so ignorant.

@anitachopping

Жыл бұрын

Wonderful history lessons

This I think was a great idea of yours ,I think a lot of aussies will or are learning alot thanks to you. THIS man was ingreable I have heard the name but I did not know about this man I will value the $50 alot more now.

I have no idea about him. Wow. Amazing. I really wish they’d taught this stuff at school. Maybe they do now, but when I was there it was all about dates, nothing about people.

G'day mate, see if you can get hold of Gary Flynn winning wheelie bin Gold at the Olympics.

Well I’ve learnt a lot this week ….amazing

@RobReacts1

Жыл бұрын

Still 2 more to come!

Now I know something about david

Thank you for this series, I did not know about David and l am very disappointed in my self. I am so glad to know more about our history. Thank you

I knew he was a preacher, but not the rest of his story. When you mentioned the shearer needing a bit of a shave, you missed an opportunity for a great segue into your manscaper... 🙂

3:32 Their beliefs are a lot like Shinto.

9:53 He'd make some money as a hairdresser at 300 people a day.

I have to admit that until I sitting here one day looking at a 50 and decided to check him out I was totally unaware. That is a major flaw in our history education.

Rob is obsessed with Australia

He also designed the motor for tattoo guns

Yeah , Rob it's touched, it's handled, and covered in covid 😀🇦🇺🇦🇺 lol

His name is pronounced Ewe-nigh-upon. He preached at the church my Mum's family attended.

Nah didn't know what he did but I do realise you have to be good to get on our money, she's a flash one ey.