The Justification of Joseph Tice Gellibrand: A Thesis

A return to the Frontier History of colonial Victoria, with a focus on cultural understanding and relationship.

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I am a 4th-to-6th generation Australian of Silesian (Prusso-Polish), Welsh, Schwabian-Württemberg German, yeoman English, Scots, & Cornish stock; all free settlers who emigrated between 1848-1893 as colonial pioneers. I am the 2nd of 7 brothers and a sister raised on the income off 23 acres. I therefore belong to an Australian Peasantry which historians claim doesn't exist. I began to have outbreaks of poetry in 1975 when training for a Diploma of Mission Theology in Melbourne. I've since done a BA in Literature and Professional Writing and Post-graduate Honours in Australian History. My poem chapbook 'Compost of Dreams' was published in 1994. I have built a house of trees and mud-bricks, worked forests, lived as a new-pioneer, fathered-n-raised two sons and a daughter, and am now a proud grandfather. I have worked as truck fresh-food farmer, a freelance foliage-provider, been a member of a travelling Christian Arts troupe, worked as duty officer and conflict resolutionist with homeless alcoholic men, been editor/publisher of a Journal of Literature for Christian Pilgrimage, a frontier researcher, done poetry in performance seminars in schools and public events.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Gellibrand: The Judicious Firebrand

Gellibrand: The Judicious Firebrand


‘The Gellibrands, father and son, were an independent pair - uncompromising, downright.’[1] Joseph Tice Gellibrand was a forthright Christian of courage and liberal moment radical for his time.[2] His views were outspoken and clear. Charles Swanston, who ‘was something of a trimmer, an adaptable and capable optimist, who contrived to be friendly both with the Gellibrands and with Arthur’ used to tell Joseph: ‘you are too stiff, you wont compound with the devil - with little George, whom he used to flatter.’[3] Gellibrand stood against the totalitarian sheer force of Arthur’s convict-prison regime.

He evinced a need to capture the common ground of men’s hearts and souls. He was convinced that violence and force did not work, quoting the poet: “He that’s convinced against his will / “Is of the same opinion still.”[4] He spoke his views of social benefit and need for wisdom and humanity for good politics.

‘Wise and liberal Governments will always lean to the side of a discussion, as generally tending to their own improvement, and the common good; and it is under the Government whose animating principle is liberty, that we look for the enjoyment of a spirit of free inquiry. Let the Government be free, and it will elevate and liberalize the public understanding; on the other hand, let the public mind be dignified, and it will liberalize the Government.’[5]

He was also was well aware that liberty required effort on the path of both the citizen and its leadership. ‘History and experience teach us the difficulty which attends efforts to attain and realize the blessings of liberty.’ [6] He showed a bent to the application of mercy towards reconciliation in dealing with wrongdoers.[7] ‘We may be allowed here to express our regret, that these misguided men (The Bushrangers) have not been enabled, since they left the Carlton, to form an opinion whether mercy would have been extended to them, upon their making an unconditional surrender of themselves.’

Not just mercy, but Gellibrand was also committed to non-violence as seen in the passage as it continues: “... as they have now been captured, most providentially, without the spilling of blood, we hope and trust the lives of some may be spared, especially those who have prevented any violence being committed.’


[1] P.L. Brown ~ Clyde Company Papers Vol.1 1941 pp 53

[2] Proceedings of the Meeting ~ The Tasmanian, May 28 1831, pp 164 ‘He concluded a most able and eloquent address, by disclaiming all reference to persons. It was the existing evils which he alone had in view; but he added, that it behoved him and every other man, in times like the present, to speak his mind openly, manfully, and fearlessly, and that he who shrank from doing so, when an occasion such as the present was afforded him, did not deserve to live in a colony calling itself British.’

[3] Brown ~ Clyde Co Papers Vol 2 pp 60

[4] J.T. Gellibrand’s Letter, Published in The Tasmanian July 12 1827

[5]Gellibrand. J.T. ‘POLITICS’ The Tasmanian August 30 1927 (Editorial)

[6] History and experience teach us the difficulty which attends efforts to attain and realize the blessings of liberty. This consideration greatly enhances the obligations of those who live under its benign influence, to value and cherish it. It is not from foes alone that liberty has cause for apprehension, since dangers assail her, on the side of false and pretended - of well meaning, but ignorant and injudicious friends. Wise and liberal Governments will always lean to the side of a discussion, as generally tending to their own improvement, and the common good; and it is under the Government whose animating principle is liberty, that we look for the enjoyment of a spirit of free inquiry. Let the Government be free, and it will elevate and liberalize the public understanding; on the other hand, let the public mind be dignified, and it will liberalize the Government. Hence it will appear, how much the happiness of society is connected with a just liberty of thinking, a liberty however, to be carefully distinguished from the rovings of wild imagination, which delights itself framing new systems and which a perverse opposition to what is already established, a spirit which often proves equally mischievous, to the public and the individual. Let him therefore who is ambitious of being of any real service to himself or the community learn to prefer plain and practical truth to the most plausible theories, and remember to temper his speculations with due regard to the authority of others, since, with this modesty and precaution, he may come to be seditious in politics, and need that control from his superiors, which he is unwilling to exercise upon himself. ~ The Tasmanian, Hobart Town, August 30 1827, Pp 2

[7] The Tasmanian July 12 1827 ~ After the capture of Bushrangers: Birmingham, Davies, Metcalfe, McCallum, Horsefield and, injured, Griffiths & Lee. And Macartey who died at the Hospital
‘We may be allowed here to express our regret, that these misguided men (The Bushrangers) have not been enabled, since they left the Carlton, to form an opinion whether mercy would have been extended to them, upon their making an unconditional surrender of themselves. - We are quite satisfied that it never was their intention to become bushrangers, but that, having failed in their attempt to seize the Emma Kemp, they had no alternative, We do not offer this in extenuation, but as they have now been captured, most providentially, without the spilling of blood, we hope and trust the lives of some may be spared, especially those who have prevented any violence being committed.’

2 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Hi Wayne, Tried before to contact you . Putting together section 2 of my presentation. Would like to talk before I do. My presentation will be "different".

David Harris

April 2, 2022 at 4:28 AM  
Blogger Wayne D Knoll said...

Hello David, Interesting. Sorry for the tardy reply, but I hardy ever look at this I have just reread my screed and find I still like for the most part.
I can be contacted best by email (waygoer@gmail.com> ref; Gellibrand

April 18, 2022 at 9:54 PM  

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