Freedom Ride (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Freedom Ride of 1964 and 1965 was a significant event in the history of civil rights
for Indigenous Australians
.
Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement, students from Sydney University formed a group called the Student Action for Aboriginals, led by Charles Perkins (the first Australian Aborigine
to graduate tertiary education
) among others, and traveled into New South Wales
country towns on what some of them considered a fact-finding mission. What they encountered was de facto segregation
; the students protested, picketed, and faced violence, raising the issue of indigenous rights. They commonly stood protesting for hours at segregated areas such as pools, parks and pubs which raised a mixed reception in the country towns. Australia overwhelmingly passed a 1967 referendum
removing discriminatory sections from the Australian Constitution and enabling the federal government to take direct action in Aboriginal affairs.
At the time of the Freedom Ride in 1965, the Aboriginal people of Australia were not counted in the census and their rights as citizens were regularly ignored. They were often considered lesser human beings because of the colour of their skin, and treated that way.
was the site of a violent conflict during the Freedom Ride. After a protest at Walgett
an unidentified driver rammed the bus forcing it off the road. Because cadet reporter Bruce Maxwell had come along, the incident made headlines in the Sydney Morning Herald, attracting the attention of international media. Some reports compared the treatment of Aboriginals to the racism
and segregation in the Deep South
of the United States
.
The first two towns they went to were Wellington
and Gulargambone
. Protests were not conducted there. Instead the locals were asked questions which affirmed perceptions of how bad discrimination
against indigenous Australians was in rural areas. Other towns that were visited include Lismore
, Bowraville
and Kempsey
.
However, the only aboriginals being kept out of the public pools and baths in Moree happened to have ulcerated sores on their limbs and it was very unhygenic to have them swimming in the public baths and pools. This rule applied to anyone wanting to use the public baths and pools, whether they were of Anglo-Saxon origin or otherwise. Anyone with a similar condition or unhygienic circumstances (such as ulcerated sores, open, festering wounds, disease, etc) was not allowed to swim in the water.
was presented with the findings of the 2005 ride which visited more than 13 communities.
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
.
Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement, students from Sydney University formed a group called the Student Action for Aboriginals, led by Charles Perkins (the first Australian Aborigine
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
to graduate tertiary education
Tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
) among others, and traveled into New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
country towns on what some of them considered a fact-finding mission. What they encountered was de facto segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
; the students protested, picketed, and faced violence, raising the issue of indigenous rights. They commonly stood protesting for hours at segregated areas such as pools, parks and pubs which raised a mixed reception in the country towns. Australia overwhelmingly passed a 1967 referendum
Australian referendum, 1967 (Aboriginals)
The referendum of 27 May 1967 approved two amendments to the Australian constitution relating to Indigenous Australians. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration 1967, which became law on 10 August 1967 following the results of the referendum...
removing discriminatory sections from the Australian Constitution and enabling the federal government to take direct action in Aboriginal affairs.
At the time of the Freedom Ride in 1965, the Aboriginal people of Australia were not counted in the census and their rights as citizens were regularly ignored. They were often considered lesser human beings because of the colour of their skin, and treated that way.
Participants
The original Freedom Riders were: Charles Perkins, Gary Williams, Aidan Foy, Alan Outhred, Alex Mills, Ann Curthoys, Barry Corr, Beth Hansen, Bob Gallagher, Brian Aarons, Chris Page, Colin Bradford, Darce Cassidy, David Pepper, Derek Molloy, Hall Greenland, Helen Gray, Jim Spigelman, John Butterworth, John Gowdie, John Powles, Judith Rich, Louise Higham, Machteld Hali, Norm Mackay, Paddy Dawson, Pat Healy, Ray Leppik, Rick Collins, Robyn Iredale, Sue Johnston, Sue Reeves, Warwick Richards and Wendy Golding.Communities visited
MoreeMoree, New South Wales
Moree is a large town in Moree Plains Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Mehi River in the centre of the rich black-soil plains....
was the site of a violent conflict during the Freedom Ride. After a protest at Walgett
Walgett, New South Wales
Walgett is a town in North-West New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Walgett Shire. It is at the junction of the Barwon and Namoi rivers and near the junction of the Kamilaroi and Castlereagh Highways...
an unidentified driver rammed the bus forcing it off the road. Because cadet reporter Bruce Maxwell had come along, the incident made headlines in the Sydney Morning Herald, attracting the attention of international media. Some reports compared the treatment of Aboriginals to the racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and segregation in the Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The first two towns they went to were Wellington
Wellington, New South Wales
Wellington is a town in inland New South Wales, Australia located at the junction of the Macquarie and Bell Rivers. The town is the administrative centre of the Wellington Shire Local Government Area. The town is 362 kilometres from Sydney on the Great Western Highway and Mitchell Highway...
and Gulargambone
Gulargambone, New South Wales
Gulargambone is a village in the central west plains of New South Wales, Australia, on the banks of the Castlereagh River, in Coonamble Shire. It is 526 kilometres north west of Sydney. At the 2006 census, Gulargambone had a population of 395....
. Protests were not conducted there. Instead the locals were asked questions which affirmed perceptions of how bad discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
against indigenous Australians was in rural areas. Other towns that were visited include Lismore
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
, Bowraville
Bowraville, New South Wales
Bowraville is a small town in the Mid North Coast hinterland of New South Wales, Australia in Nambucca Shire.The town invites some tourists with such things as a folk museum, a war museum, a historic theatre, and other historic features. It also invites new residents with its scenic beauty and...
and Kempsey
Kempsey, New South Wales
Kempsey is a town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia and is the council seat for Kempsey Shire. It is located 15 kilometres inland from the coast of the Pacific Ocean where the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line cross the Macleay River...
.
However, the only aboriginals being kept out of the public pools and baths in Moree happened to have ulcerated sores on their limbs and it was very unhygenic to have them swimming in the public baths and pools. This rule applied to anyone wanting to use the public baths and pools, whether they were of Anglo-Saxon origin or otherwise. Anyone with a similar condition or unhygienic circumstances (such as ulcerated sores, open, festering wounds, disease, etc) was not allowed to swim in the water.
2005 re-enactment
In 2005 another ride travelled through New South Wales. The aim was to determine how much had changed in 40 years and foster debate on reconciliation. Although the 2005 event focussed on reconciliation, experiences of discrimination were reported and the poor housing conditions for some Aboriginal people were noted. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Andrew RefshaugeAndrew Refshauge
Andrew John Refshauge was an Australian politician and Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 1995 to 2005.Refshauge was born in Melbourne, the son of Major-General Sir William Refshauge AC CBE ED , who later became Honorary Physician to Queen Elizabeth II 1955–64 and Director-General of the...
was presented with the findings of the 2005 ride which visited more than 13 communities.
External links
- The Australian Freedom Rides
- Collaborating for Indigenous Rights: Freedom Ride, 1965, National Museum of AustraliaNational Museum of AustraliaThe National Museum of Australia was formally established by the National Museum of Australia Act 1980. The National Museum preserves and interprets Australia's social history, exploring the key issues, people and events that have shaped the nation....