11.2 1965 Freedom Ride

***

Enter Verity Paddon’s exhibition display.

Freedom Rides are a form of protest seen worldwide throughout the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century. A notable example in Australian history is the 1965 Freedom Ride organised by a group of students at the University of Sydney. With growing awareness of the injustices, prejudice and racism that Indigenous Australians experience combined with changing political views, the students formed a club called ‘Student Action For Aborigines’ or SAFA for short. It is through these students’ perspectives combined with newspaper articles and images that this exhibition has provided insight into the ongoings of the 1965 Freedom Ride.

It should be noted by all viewers that there is a crucial voice missing in these historical records. That is the voice of the Indigenous Australians themselves. While learning about the past, we must remember who we were fighting alongside and why.  While Ann Curthoys does mention some interviews and specifics, her diary (which was likely not written with the intention of becoming a historical artefact) does not supply a comprehensive and unbiased view of the lives of the Indigenous peoples she met along the way. As there are no written records preserved of the Indigenous peoples’ views and opinions, we must make do with the sources the ‘Freedom Riders’ as well as those who both supported and abhorred their cause have given us in the historical record.

Viewers must remember that the 1960s was 60 years ago and many social justice movements were just beginning, particularly in the outback of New South Wales. Therefore, there is language in Ann Curthoys’ diary and throughout other sources as well as a general approach that would not be accepted in today’s society. Let that be a reminder of how far the social justice movement for equality has come, and how far we have yet to go as even today individuals, including scholars, continue to ignore Australia’s long history of segregation.

This exhibit contains images taken during the ‘Freedom Riders’ travels taken by The Tribune newspaper. The Tribune was the Communist Party of Australia newspaper and closely followed the ‘Freedom Riders’ during their tour. These images are only a part of the media frenzy around these protests as it is likely the Freedom Ride is the largest form of protest these communities had ever seen at the time. While the 1965 Freedom Ride was not the first ‘Freedom Ride’ (for example, the American group ‘The Freedom Riders’ held a similar protest in 1961 and inspired the 1965 protests in Australia), the 1965 ‘Freedom Ride’ had not only the attention of New South Wales but of the whole country. It has even been referenced in international communities and has inspired protests to this day.

Also included in this display is an excerpt of Ann Curthoys’ journal that she kept throughout the ‘Freedom Ride’. This journal not only provides details of their route as well as insights into the group’s decision-making, but it also names key players in and against the protests such as the Mayor of Moree who had not supported the protest and the suggestion that segregation should no longer be practised. This journal also shared experiences of what would now be considered assault that the ‘Freedom Riders’ faced while peacefully protesting such as having produce thrown at them and being spat on. This journal highlights the rage of those who hold the challenged ideals and at times offers disconcerting parallels to the protests of modern times. Can you perhaps think of an example?

That is the purpose of this exhibit. To not only recount history but to remember its importance today. The ‘Freedom Riders’ are an example of a group of young adults who used their privilege to fight for what they believed to be the moral thing, facing down those who are practised in hate to ally with those who are discriminated against.

This image was taken in February 1965 and shows the ‘Student Action for Aborigines’ (SAFA) group protesting outside the Moree Artesian Baths.

The Moree Baths and Swimming Pool located in Moree, New South Wales, Australia was originally opened in 1895. For the next 70 years, Indigenous peoples were not allowed entry and instead had their own swimming pool located on the local reserve. Indigenous people were prohibited from using many council-provided community facilities as segregation was usual in the area until the early 1970s.

The ‘Freedom Riders’ arrived at Moree on the 19th of February 1965. On the 20th of February 1965, the ‘Freedom Riders’ first protested outside the council chambers and then out front of the baths themselves challenging what Ann Curthoys called their “discriminatory clause”. The ‘Freedom Riders’ then broke council ordinance and brought 6 Indigenous children into the baths with them, proving that including Indigenous people would not affect the hygiene of the pool facilities as the council had previously claimed to justify their racism.

As of 6th of September 2013 the Moree Baths and Swimming Pool is listed on the National Heritage Register, ensuring that the bravery of the ‘Freedom Riders’ and the Indigenous children who challenged the ideals of an entire community is remembered.

With little written evidence of the living conditions experienced by the Indigenous people of rural Australia by Indigenous people, this summary mostly draws on the observations of ‘Freedom Rider’ Ann Curthoys. It should be kept in mind that these are the musings of an outsider.

This house shows the poor living conditions that Indigenous people were forced to live in.

In her diary, Ann Curthoys describes her perspective of these abhorrent living conditions as “weatherboard and very overcrowded” and continues to mention that there was no gas, no electricity, no water, and often no doors or windows. Her summations don’t stop there. Ann Curthoys also mentions that the police would often enter the houses without knocking, and “did what they liked with the women” and very few of the children continued their schooling past grade 6. This journal entry from Ann highlights and yet only shows a slither of the subpar conditions Indigenous people were forced to live in and the unjust treatment they were forced to receive by non-Indigenous Australians.

This image depicts Charles Perkins, the leader of the Freedom Rides alongside Indigenous residents of Moree.

Looking at the photo closely, it provides another example of the poor housing conditions that the Indigenous people of Moree had to endure. The tin roof appears to need repairing and there seems to be a bed in the yard. While there is no way to know for sure if all the people in the photo lived in this house, it is likely that there was overcrowding in residence as well.

Charles Perkins holds a clipboard, likely to record the things he sees and the conversations he has while interacting with people throughout the duration of the Freedom Ride.

There is little information to be found on Sandy Fernando or Paddy Daley beyond their interactions with the Freedom Riders in 1965, despite that, this image continues to be used in news articles around Indigenous rights, such as The Guardian article discussing the 2023 referendum.

Whether or not the individuals in the image knew it, this precise moment in history would not only be remembered but used to continually push for progress.

This image depicts the Freedom Riders at Bowraville NSW, more than halfway through their journey. This photo was taken after the Freedom Riders headed back to Moree to continue their protesting and support the Indigenous children who had taken to protesting outside of the baths, after hearing that the Mayor would enforce the segregationist statute and continue not to allow Indigenous people into the Baths.

This is an excerpt from the Tribune newspaper dated the 24th of February, 1965. The article discusses the Freedom Ride and suggests that the protesting of these university students will reveal the “shameful treatment” of Indigenous Australians. It provides information that cannot be found in other sources like Ann Curthoys’ diary. The article claims that 900 of the 3,000 inhabitants of Walgett in 1965 were Indigenous Australians. And out of those 3,000, hundreds of people Indigenous and not, banded together to discuss and protest the unjust treatment of Indigenous Australians. This article is both a call to action and a shaming for those reading it. The former is for people who support the protests and believe in equality. The latter is for those who themselves have “worked hard to cover up their own racism”. However, since The Tribune was the official newspaper for the Communist Party of Australia, it is unlikely that the people who it intended to shame would have been reading.

Despite that, this article represents how important media, and in today’s age, social media can be when supporting a cause. Much like the Instagram posts that share information on protests, this newspaper article was written by a journalist who believed that change was necessary and who spoke to the students themselves. These newspaper articles were an integral part of raising awareness and combatting injustice and racism in Australia.

Excerpt from Ann Curthoys’ diary. It reads:

Saturday
12.30 Depart University
6.00 Arrive Orange
8.00 Breakfast – Orange Presbyterian Fellowship, TV interview
9.30 Leave Orange
12.30 Arrive Wellington

Went to settlement outside reserve. Police warned us not to go into reserve. Interviewed about ten tin shacks of people. Most of us found the questionnaires unsuitable. Houses of tin, mud floors, very overcrowded, kids had eye diseases, had to cart water (very unhealthy) from river. People fairly easy to talk to, kids quite friendly. General picture of extreme poverty but not a great deal of social discrimination.

Lunch 1.30. Apparently Jim S and a few others came across some discrimination in a pub. An aboriginal was allowed in only because he was with us. The publican said he only prevented aborigines from coming in “if they were disorderly”. Charlie went in and there was some discussion between the barmaid and the publican before they served him. Some aborigines [sic] told us they had been kicked out of this pub, the “Courthouse”.

This except from the first page of Ann Curthoys’ diary provides her view as she describes what she sees around her as she visits local communities during the Freedom Ride. This page highlights both the abysmal standard of living in the Indigenous communities as well as the discrimination and racism experienced as Indigenous peoples tried to do basic things such as go down to the local pub. It is important to note that Curthoys uses language that was common at the time, such as ‘Aborigines’ and did not intend to be offensive. First Nations people have shown a preference for more specific terms that we use today including the name of the nation, Koorie people in and around Victoria and Murri people in parts of NSW and Queensland. 

This image is a map of the path that the ‘Freedom Riders’ took throughout New South Wales.

For use in the background, its opacity, brightness, highlights and saturation have been edited (see display visual).

This visual representation not only assists people who don’t know the area or have a hard time with distance to understand the scope of this undertaking. Not only that but those viewing the exhibit can match up the location of some of the photos to their location on the map which provides an interactive aspect. Images, especially black and white ones from bygone eras can seem distant and separated from modern times, being able to match the images up with the map may remind people of the realness of these events and their importance to this day. It also allows people to connect personally with the story as they might recognise some of the locations as places they might have visited themselves, adding an extra layer to their own personal history and directly connecting with the history of the ‘Freedom Rides’.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies; Ann Curthoy’s Diary 1965

‘Heroic Story of ‘Freedom Ride’’, The Tribune, 24 Feb. 1965, 1, in Trove [online database] accessed 10 May. 2024.

Negatives from the Tribune (Communist Party of Australia newspaper) featuring the Freedom Rides SAFA (Student Action For Aboriginals) at Moree 17- 26 February, 1965 FL449161 [image], https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/remembering-freedom-ride, 10 Apr. 2024.

Negatives from the Tribune (Communist Party of Australia newspaper) featuring the Freedom Rides SAFA (Student Action For Aboriginals) Trip 17- 26 February, 1965 FL465077 [image], https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/remembering-freedom-ride, 10 Apr. 2024.

Sandy Fernando (left), Paddy Daley and Charles Perkins (far right). [image], (21 Feb. 2020), https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2020/feb/21/freedom-ride-1965-protesters-challenge-ban-on-aboriginal-people-at-moree-pool-in-pictures, 11 Apr. 2024.

Shirley Murray with three children outside a house in south Moree. People had to build their own houses with whatever they could find.[image],(21 Feb. 2020), https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2020/feb/21/freedom-ride-1965-protesters-challenge-ban-on-aboriginal-people-at-moree-pool-in-pictures, 11 Apr. 2024.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 1965 Freedom Ride (2022), https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/1965-freedom-ride, 15 Apr. 2024. 

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Heritage Database Places for Decision, Class: Indigenous (Australian Heritage Database, 2012)

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Heritage Places – Moree Baths and Swimming Pool Complex (2021),  https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/places/national/moree-baths, 20 Apr. 2024.

Kellie Scott, ‘Remembering the day the Australian Freedom Ride made history at Moree pool’ ABC, 27 Sep. 2019, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-27/remembering-the-day-the-moree-pool-became-a-part-of-history/11531506 19 May. 2024.

‘We’ll vote yes for a voice – in honour of Charlie Perkins and the 1965 Freedom Ride’, The Guardian, 14 Oct. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/14/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-charlie-perkins-freedom-ride, 30 Apr. 2024.