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In February of 1965, a group of students from the University of Sydney organised a bus tour of western and coastal New South Wales towns. There were three reasons for them doing this. These students planned to draw public attention to the poor state of Aboriginal health, education and housing. They hoped to point out and help to minimise the socially discriminating barriers that existed between Aborigines and white Australians. They also wished to encourage and support Aboriginal people themselves to resist this discrimination. The students that organised the bus tour formed into a group called Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA) in 1964 to plan the trip and ensure that media coverage made the cause known to those all over the country.
Charles Perkins, an Arrernte Aboriginal man born in Alice Springs, who was a third-year arts student at the University of Sydney, was elected president of SAFA. The group comprised of Ann Curthoys (who would later write a history of the events), Jim Spigelman (who would later become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales) and Darce Cassidy (an arts student and part-time ABC reporter).
In 1964, a protest at the University of Sydney concerning racial segregation in the U.S.A. had brought about comments from the public urging students to look to their own backyard if they wanted to draw attention to the matter of racial discrimination. This led to the formation of a fact-finding trip to western New South Wales towns so that the students could, for themselves, see the conditions in which the Aborigines lived.
The Freedom Rides (the name was taken from the same events that occurred in the US a mere three years beforehand), as they became known, included visits to Walgett, Gulargambone, Kempsey, Bowraville and Moree. The students were shocked to see the conditions in which the Aboriginal residents of these towns lived. In these towns, Aborigines were routinely refused entry to various clubs, swimming pools, cafes and shops. They were even refused drinks in hotels. The students actively demonstrated against the racial discrimination practised at places like Walgett RSL, Moree Baths, Kempsey Baths and the Bowraville Picture theatre. Captured on tape during one of these protests was the vice-president of the Walgett RSL saying that he would never allow an Aboriginal to become a member. The evidence, which was shown on ABC News that night exposed an endemic racism. The footage shocked viewers and added mounting pressure to the government. The campaigners drew parallels with civil rights movements elsewhere in the world, especially the one that was in full-swing occurring in the United States. The news coverage also deflated the smugness, borne of ignorance, that racism in Australia was non-existent.
Charles Perkins, an Arrernte Aboriginal man born in Alice Springs, who was a third-year arts student at the University of Sydney, was elected president of SAFA. The group comprised of Ann Curthoys (who would later write a history of the events), Jim Spigelman (who would later become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales) and Darce Cassidy (an arts student and part-time ABC reporter).
In 1964, a protest at the University of Sydney concerning racial segregation in the U.S.A. had brought about comments from the public urging students to look to their own backyard if they wanted to draw attention to the matter of racial discrimination. This led to the formation of a fact-finding trip to western New South Wales towns so that the students could, for themselves, see the conditions in which the Aborigines lived.
The Freedom Rides (the name was taken from the same events that occurred in the US a mere three years beforehand), as they became known, included visits to Walgett, Gulargambone, Kempsey, Bowraville and Moree. The students were shocked to see the conditions in which the Aboriginal residents of these towns lived. In these towns, Aborigines were routinely refused entry to various clubs, swimming pools, cafes and shops. They were even refused drinks in hotels. The students actively demonstrated against the racial discrimination practised at places like Walgett RSL, Moree Baths, Kempsey Baths and the Bowraville Picture theatre. Captured on tape during one of these protests was the vice-president of the Walgett RSL saying that he would never allow an Aboriginal to become a member. The evidence, which was shown on ABC News that night exposed an endemic racism. The footage shocked viewers and added mounting pressure to the government. The campaigners drew parallels with civil rights movements elsewhere in the world, especially the one that was in full-swing occurring in the United States. The news coverage also deflated the smugness, borne of ignorance, that racism in Australia was non-existent.