About

Synopsis

Brenda’s first memories are of growing up in a loving white foster family, before being suddenly taken away and returned to her Aboriginal family.

Decades later, she feels disconnected from both halves of her life. But the traumas of her past do not lie quietly buried. So, she goes searching for the foster family with whom she had lost all contact.

Along the way she uncovers long-buried secrets, government lies, and the possibility for deeper connections to family and culture. The Last Daughter is a documentary about Brenda’s journey to unearth the truth about her past, and to reconcile the two sides of her family.

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“I’ve had to go back, so I could move forward.”
– Brenda

Banaam Framework

The Last Daughter is brought to the screen through collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cast and crew.

At the heart of our collaboration is the Aboriginal cultural framework: the Banaam Framework.

All members of the team have been educated in and are operating within the framework. It’s a relational-based role and function framework, not a hierarchical one. The knowledge of this framework is held by Gudjingburra Bundjalung descendant Kyle Slabb (Executive Producer/Cultural Advisor).

A basic understanding of this framework recognises two key roles in any task.

Gogaun’ (literal meaning is ‘older brother’)

the person designated as the knowledge holder for that task.

Banaam’ (literal meaning is ‘strong brother’)

the person(s) who support a Gogaun to be able to achieve the task. This is also the default position when there may be doubt over who takes a Gogaun role in a situation.

The framework also recognises that the person who brings someone into the project is ultimately responsible for them.

Brenda is Gogaun for her story (author and owner of her story) and our team has a responsibility to be Banaam to her, doing everything in our power to support her in telling it.

Banaam Framework

The Last Daughter is brought to the screen through collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

At the heart of our collaboration is the Aboriginal cultural framework: the Banaam Framework.

All members of the team have been educated in and are operating within the framework. It’s a relational-based role and function framework, not a hierarchical one. The knowledge of this framework is held by Gudjingburra Bundjalung descendant Kyle Slabb (Executive Producer/Cultural Advisor).

A basic understanding of this framework recognises two key roles in any task.

Gogaun’ (literal meaning is ‘older brother’)

the person designated as the knowledge holder for that task.

Banaam’ (literal meaning is ‘strong brother’)

the person(s) who support a Gogaun to be able to achieve the task. This is also the default position when there may be doubt over who takes a Gogaun role in a situation.

The framework also recognises that the person who brings someone into the project is ultimately responsible for them.

Brenda is Gogaun for her story (author and owner of her story) and our team has a responsibility to be Banaam to her, doing everything in our power to support her in telling it.

The Making

The Last Daughter was shot all over Australia, primarily in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Brenda lives with her husband Mark, near the Gold Coast, in Bundjalung Country. They are closely connected with the Aboriginal community in Fingal Head, New South Wales.

In 2017, long-time friends Kyle Slabb and Mark Matthews brought Brenda’s story to the attention of Australians Together (AT) a non-profit organisation. AT were on the lookout for stories that would help people recognise where we’ve come from, where we are today and where we go from here.

On hearing Brenda’s story, Nathaniel Schmidt (working for Australians Together) began filming with Brenda, and documenting her journey. Having worked with Gravity Films on ICE BALL (2019), a short documentary, Nathaniel introduced Brenda to Simon Williams and Brendon Skinner, and they began consulting on film production.

A few years into documenting Brenda’s journey, Nathaniel saw Brenda’s extraordinary ability to see a bigger story, and asked Brenda to direct with him. Around the same time, Brenda requested that Brendon and Simon be the producers of the film.

Australians Together partnered with Gravity Films and became a principal funder and impact partner for the project.

Gravity Films then went on to gain additional finance and support from Screen Australia, Adelaide Film Festival , South Australian Film Corporation and Bonsai Films.

In early 2022, principal photography began. A small crew travelled the eastern coast of Australia, filming the hero interviews that underpin the film with Brenda, Mark, Brenda’s White foster parents (Mac and Connie), and Brenda’s Aboriginal mother (Nana Brenda).

Then, following a period of interview editing, a cast and crew was assembled in July 2022 to shoot the reconstructed scenes from Brenda’s past.

Brenda and Nathaniel worked through post production with editor David Scarborough, and composer James Henry (along with a host of other post production crew) to bring the story together.

The Last Daughter premiered to sold-out audiences at the Adelaide Film Festival on 29th October 2022, and subsequently won the Audience Award.

Each person and partner joining the circle has embraced the Banaam framework as the Aboriginal Cultural Framework to work within, allowing for healthy cross-cultural collaboration. Along the way, Brenda has been assisted in bringing her story to life in film by both Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal practitioners; a reflection of Brenda’s own story.

Awards

Film Team

Brenda Matthews

Goguan for Directing (Director)

Nathaniel Schmidt

Goguan for Directing (Director)

Kyle Slabb

Goguan for Banaam Framework (EP/Cultural Advisor)

Larissa Behrendt

Goguan for Directing Oversight (Director Mentor)

Mark Matthews

Banaam to Brenda

Simon Williams

Goguan for Film Producing (Producer)

Brendon Skinner

Goguan for Film Producing (Producer)

Michael Tear

Goguan for Producing Oversight (Executive Producer)

Taryn Brumfitt

Goguan for Impact (Executive Producer)