Activity 1: Investigate the medal

Display the medal awarded to Aya-I-Ga (Neighbour). Ask your students:

• Does the object look familiar? How is it similar to or different from other medals?
• What is it made from?
• Do the colours have any meaning?
• What does the text on the front say?
• What might the monogram, "VA", and the crown represent?
• Who do you think made this medal?
• How might the medal have been used or awarded?
• Where do you think it came from?
• How old might it be?
• Does it have monetary value? Could it hold personal value instead?
• Has someone taken special care of the medal? Why?

Read the background to the awarding of the Albert Medal to Aya-I-Ga. You might provide students with a summary or an excerpt from the excerpt from the Royal Warrant that explains the significance of the award.

Activity 2: Mock press conference 

Students will conduct a mock press conference to explore the story’s key perspectives. Select 5 students to represent the following characters. Ask them to prepare short introductions explaining their character’s role and feelings about the events.

Character roles

• Filmmaker – You are researching stories of Indigenous heroes for a new film. Why does this story interest you?
• Constable Johns – You were saved from drowning by Aya-I-Ga and later became Commissioner of Police. How did the event affect you?
• King George V – This is the first time the Albert Medal has been awarded to an Aboriginal person. What does it mean for the Empire?
• Aya-I-Ga (Neighbour) – You are an Aboriginal man from the Roper River region. How did the rescue change your life and your family’s?
• Amy (Neighbour’s daughter) – Your father saved many lives. What does this mean to you? What does the medal symbolise?

Activity 3: Press gallery questions:

Prepare question cards for nine students in the audience. Each will ask one of the following questions to a nominated character:

1. To Amy – Do you think the medal encourages others to do the right thing, even when treated unfairly?
2. To Neighbour – You were pardoned after your act of bravery. How do you feel about that? Would you have preferred another form of recognition?
3. To Constable Johns – Why did you keep in touch with Neighbour after the rescue?
4. To Constable Johns – Is it usual police practice to cross dangerous rivers with prisoners? What could be done differently?
5. To Neighbour – You walked more than 250 kilometres in chains. What was that like?
6. To Neighbour – At the time of your arrest, had you heard of the Ten Commandments?
7. To King George V – Should the Albert Medal be awarded only to certain groups?
8. To the Filmmaker – Why is this story important for Australians to know? How might international audiences react?
9. To King George V – After saving many more lives, should Neighbour’s award be upgraded?

Encourage additional student questions as time permits.

Activity 4: Biographical writing

Students may notice there is no Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for Aya-I-Ga (Neighbour). Ask them to research and write a short biographical entry that honours his life and legacy, focusing on the values, bravery and impact of his actions.