Australia~Drover

“Australia”-a Baz Lurhmann's film is told through the eyes of a half-white, half-aboriginal boy named Nullah (Brandon Walters). Nullah's story tells of Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and her love affair with Drover (Hugh Jackman) against the backdrop of cattle rustlers attempting to swindle Ashley out of her land and her profits, following by the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in 1941.

The character in the story which I would like to discuss about is Drover (Hugh Jackman). Drover, in the story is narrated as a muscular and handsome drover, with unshaved beard making him look fierce. His job is clearly as stated through his name-droving throughout the whole Australia, moving cattle along the land of Australia to a certain destination by order.

Drover is an experienced drover, which we can see it through his master’s skills in riding horses and managing a herd of cattle which consists 1500 of cows. On the way herding the cattle to the port, Drover, Lady Sarah Ashley and his other partner face a lot of hurdlers which almost all caused by the main antagonist in the story, Neil Fletcher (David Wenham), the evil station manager of Faraway Downs which betrayed and murdered Ashley’s husband. Drover uses his experience to help in solving the problems and protecting their lives.

Although Drover seems to be harsh, unapproachable and bad-tempered, he has a heart of gold instead of a heart of stone. He likes to help and defense the socially underprivileged group especially the aborigines. His high-moral characteristic is obviously performed in his willingness to befriend the indigenous guy and take them as his trusted partners whenever he goes for droving. The close relationship between Drover and the aborigines is fully described when Drover’s aboriginal partner willing to sacrifice his life to make sure Drover and the kids succesfully escape from the japanese in their attempt to rescue the kids on the “Missionary Island”.

Furthermore, Drover is a loving person. He loves Lady Ashley and Nullah, the “half-caste” child very much. we can see clearly when Drover rushes back to Darwin without thinking much to search for his beloved after he get the news that Lady Ashley has died in the booming of Darwin by japanese. His love to Nullah is shown when he risks his life and makes the attempt to “Missionary Island” in rescuing the aboriginal kids with just two partners.

Facing difficulties all the time during his job on droving, Drover has developed a determined characteristic. He is not the type that gives up easily; instead he will keep fighting until his entire mission is completed. For a good example, when he and his partners face the problem where all the water supply has been sabotaged by Fletcher’s men, Drover still stays calm and leads them cross through the Never Never desert which they finally succeed in droving the cattle to Darwin.