Embedded Files
Lesson 1 - the 1965 freedom rides
Lesson 1 - the 1965 freedom rides
to know - the 1965 freedom rides
to know - the 1965 freedom rides
to be able to - understand the purpose and impact of the freedom rides
to be able to - understand the purpose and impact of the freedom rides
task 1 - introduction to the 1965 freedom rides
task 1 - introduction to the 1965 freedom rides
Write down three facts from this video introducing you to Charlie Perkins and the 1965 Freedom Rides. This video was made in 2020.
Write down three facts from this video introducing you to Charlie Perkins and the 1965 Freedom Rides. This video was made in 2020.
origin of the 1965 freedom rides
origin of the 1965 freedom rides
The 1965 Freedom Rides in NSW, Australia were inspired by the racial prejudice exposed and the awareness created by the US Freedom Riders.
The 1965 Freedom Rides in NSW, Australia were inspired by the racial prejudice exposed and the awareness created by the US Freedom Riders.
Charlie Perkins
Charlie Perkins
Charlie Perkins (16 June 1936 – 19 October 2000), was an Aboriginal Australian activist.
Charlie Perkins (16 June 1936 – 19 October 2000), was an Aboriginal Australian activist.
He was the first Indigenous Australian man to graduate from university (University of Sydney), and is known for organisating of the 1965 Freedom Ride and his key role in advocating for a "yes" vote in the 1967 referendum.
He was the first Indigenous Australian man to graduate from university (University of Sydney), and is known for organisating of the 1965 Freedom Ride and his key role in advocating for a "yes" vote in the 1967 referendum.
He was also a notable soccer player. Perkins played for Everton and Fiorentina, trained with Liverpool and was trialling with Manchester United before returning to Australia.
He was also a notable soccer player. Perkins played for Everton and Fiorentina, trained with Liverpool and was trialling with Manchester United before returning to Australia.
Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA)
Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA)
While attending the University of Sydney, Charlie Perkins founded Student Action for Aborigines group with university students in 1964.
While attending the University of Sydney, Charlie Perkins founded Student Action for Aborigines group with university students in 1964.
This was their purpose, as found in notes from their meetings.
This was their purpose, as found in notes from their meetings.
Source - Student Action for Aborigines
Photograph of SAFA protesters standing alongside bus [Left to right:] Gerry Mason, Pat Healy, Sue Reeves, Charles Perkins, Ray Leppik, Bob Gallagher, Ann Curthoys, John Butterworth, Norm McKay, Alan Outhred, [unidentified], Colin Bradford, Louise Higham, Source - State Library of New South Wales (Public Domain)
The 1965 freedom rides
The 1965 freedom rides
The 1965 Freedom Rides, lead by Perkins and SAFA, was a mission to visit towns in NSW to challenge the treatment and segragation of First Nations people.
The 1965 Freedom Rides, lead by Perkins and SAFA, was a mission to visit towns in NSW to challenge the treatment and segragation of First Nations people.
During their fifteen day journey through regional New South Wales, the group would directly challenge a ban against Aboriginal ex-servicemen at the Walgett RSL and local laws barring Aboriginal children from the Moree and Kempsey swimming pools.
During their fifteen day journey through regional New South Wales, the group would directly challenge a ban against Aboriginal ex-servicemen at the Walgett RSL and local laws barring Aboriginal children from the Moree and Kempsey swimming pools.
Source - State Library of New South Wales (Public Domain)
participants of the 1965 freedom rides
participants of the 1965 freedom rides
Gerry Mason, Pat Healy, Sue Reeves, Charles Perkins, Ray Leppik, Bob Gallagher, Ann Curthoys, John Butterworth, Norm McKay, Alan Outhred, [unidentified], Colin Bradford, Louise Higham
Gerry Mason, Pat Healy, Sue Reeves, Charles Perkins, Ray Leppik, Bob Gallagher, Ann Curthoys, John Butterworth, Norm McKay, Alan Outhred, [unidentified], Colin Bradford, Louise Higham
the locations of towns visited by safa
the locations of towns visited by safa
Orange, Wellington, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Coonamble, Walgett, Collarenebri, Boogabilla, Goondowindi, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Tenterfield, Moree, Inverell, Glen Innes, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bowraville, Kempsey, Port Maquarie, Taree, Newcastle
Orange, Wellington, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Coonamble, Walgett, Collarenebri, Boogabilla, Goondowindi, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Tenterfield, Moree, Inverell, Glen Innes, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bowraville, Kempsey, Port Maquarie, Taree, Newcastle
Key Events of the 1965 Freedom Rides
Key Events of the 1965 Freedom Rides
walgett
walgett
The Freedom Riders protested outside the Walgett RSL Club on 15 February 1965 because they had been told the club was not permitting entry for Indigenous ex-servicemen.
The Freedom Riders protested outside the Walgett RSL Club on 15 February 1965 because they had been told the club was not permitting entry for Indigenous ex-servicemen.
They also protested a womenswear store forbidding Indigenous women from trying on dresses. Their presence was felt by the community and attempts were made to run the bus off the road as they left Walgett.
They also protested a womenswear store forbidding Indigenous women from trying on dresses. Their presence was felt by the community and attempts were made to run the bus off the road as they left Walgett.
A photograph of the four of the Freedom Riders protesting outside the Walgett RSL.
Source - Cassidy
A photograph of the Student Action for Aborigines protest outside Moree Artesian Baths, February 1965
Source - The Tribune (Public Domain)
moree
moree
The Freedom Riders arrived in Moree on 19 February 1965.
The Freedom Riders arrived in Moree on 19 February 1965.
The Moree Council prevented Indigenous people from swimming in the Moree Baths and Pool.
The Moree Council prevented Indigenous people from swimming in the Moree Baths and Pool.
Charles Perkins and the Freedom Riders collected a number of children from the mission and attempted to gain entry into the pool. This led to three hours of heated negotiations and during this time, a large and hostile crowd gathered. Fights broke out, people were knocked over, punches and eggs were thrown at the protesters and several arrests were made.
Charles Perkins and the Freedom Riders collected a number of children from the mission and attempted to gain entry into the pool. This led to three hours of heated negotiations and during this time, a large and hostile crowd gathered. Fights broke out, people were knocked over, punches and eggs were thrown at the protesters and several arrests were made.
The protest ended when Moree Council rescinded the 1955 by-law.
The protest ended when Moree Council rescinded the 1955 by-law.
Bowraville
Bowraville
The group stopped in Bowraville because they wanted to draw attention to segregation practiced by management at the Bowraville Picture Theatre.
The group stopped in Bowraville because they wanted to draw attention to segregation practiced by management at the Bowraville Picture Theatre.
The theatre made Indigenous people buy their tickets separately from non-Indigenous people, enter the theatre through a side entrance after a show had begun, and sit in secondary seating.
The theatre made Indigenous people buy their tickets separately from non-Indigenous people, enter the theatre through a side entrance after a show had begun, and sit in secondary seating.
Photograph of the Bowraville Theatre today
Source - University of Sydney
visual sources of these events
visual sources of these events
This video is part of the 50th anniversary re-enactment of the 1965 Freedom Rides, where some of the original Freedom Riders visited the same towns they did in 1965.
This video is part of the 50th anniversary re-enactment of the 1965 Freedom Rides, where some of the original Freedom Riders visited the same towns they did in 1965.
Task 2 - Source Analysis of the 1965 Freedom Rides
Task 2 - Source Analysis of the 1965 Freedom Rides
There is a bit of reading in these sources. However, to fully understand the racism that was rife in regional Australia and those people who challenged it, you must engage in this reading.
There is a bit of reading in these sources. However, to fully understand the racism that was rife in regional Australia and those people who challenged it, you must engage in this reading.
Source 1 - Extracts from SAFA's 8th Annual Conference Meeting Notes that were written by Charlie Perkins and published on the 18th of April 1965 after the Freedom Rides (which were in February)
Source 1 - Extracts from SAFA's 8th Annual Conference Meeting Notes that were written by Charlie Perkins and published on the 18th of April 1965 after the Freedom Rides (which were in February)
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - Summarise the three aims of SARA.
1 - Summarise the three aims of SARA.
2 - What type of protests did they conduct?
2 - What type of protests did they conduct?
3 - Why did Perkins describe some events from the Freedom Rides as "creative tension?"
3 - Why did Perkins describe some events from the Freedom Rides as "creative tension?"
4 - How did Perkins describe racism in these towns after the Freedom Rides?
4 - How did Perkins describe racism in these towns after the Freedom Rides?
5 - What was the attitude towards First Nations people in the towns the Freedom Riders visited?
5 - What was the attitude towards First Nations people in the towns the Freedom Riders visited?
Source 2 - An extract from A Bastard Like Me written by Charlie Perkins. In this part of his book, Perkins describes the protest at the Walgett RSL
Source 2 - An extract from A Bastard Like Me written by Charlie Perkins. In this part of his book, Perkins describes the protest at the Walgett RSL
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - What happened to First Nations soldiers who tried to enter RSL's in Walgett?
1 - What happened to First Nations soldiers who tried to enter RSL's in Walgett?
2 - How did they get their beer?
2 - How did they get their beer?
3 - How long did Perkins and his protestors stand outside the Walgett RSL?
3 - How long did Perkins and his protestors stand outside the Walgett RSL?
4 - How did Perkins describe the town's reaction to the protest?
4 - How did Perkins describe the town's reaction to the protest?
5 - How did the members of the RSL react to the protestors when they walked past them to enter the RSL?
5 - How did the members of the RSL react to the protestors when they walked past them to enter the RSL?
6 - What did some of the local town people say to the Freedom Riders as they protested?
6 - What did some of the local town people say to the Freedom Riders as they protested?
Charlie Perkins - Moree.pdfSource - Charlie Perkins
Source - The Walgett Herald
Source 3 - The newspaper article ‘RSL men rap the color-bar “riders”’ published by The Walgett Herald, 16 February 1965
Source 3 - The newspaper article ‘RSL men rap the color-bar “riders”’ published by The Walgett Herald, 16 February 1965
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - Why were RSL's in NSW "on guard?"
1 - Why were RSL's in NSW "on guard?"
2 - How did the Freedom Riders leave Walgett?
2 - How did the Freedom Riders leave Walgett?
3 - What did the president of thw Walgett RSL say to the Herald when they contacted him? Why doesn't this relate to First Nations people being denied entry to the RSL?
3 - What did the president of thw Walgett RSL say to the Herald when they contacted him? Why doesn't this relate to First Nations people being denied entry to the RSL?
4 - What happened then the Freedom Riders were leaving Walgett?
4 - What happened then the Freedom Riders were leaving Walgett?
5 - Other than Spigelman's persepctive of this event, who else proved this event to be true and deliberate?
5 - Other than Spigelman's persepctive of this event, who else proved this event to be true and deliberate?
6 - What happened when the Freedom Riders took two First Nations men into a seperate hotel?
6 - What happened when the Freedom Riders took two First Nations men into a seperate hotel?
7 - What did Perkins say was happening in cafes in Gulargambone?
7 - What did Perkins say was happening in cafes in Gulargambone?
Source 4 - An extract from A Bastard Like Me written by Charlie Perkins. In this part of his book, Perkins describes the protest at the Moree Swimming Pool.
Source 4 - An extract from A Bastard Like Me written by Charlie Perkins. In this part of his book, Perkins describes the protest at the Moree Swimming Pool.
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - What did the pool manager say when Perkins asked for tickets for himself and ten Indigenous children?
1 - What did the pool manager say when Perkins asked for tickets for himself and ten Indigenous children?
2 - What did Perkins and the Freedom Riders do to respond to the pool manager's refusal to let them in?
2 - What did Perkins and the Freedom Riders do to respond to the pool manager's refusal to let them in?
3 - How did the mayor respond?
3 - How did the mayor respond?
4 - What did the crowd/mob do when the police removed the Freedom Riders?
4 - What did the crowd/mob do when the police removed the Freedom Riders?
5 - What did the mob do to the bus during the protest?
5 - What did the mob do to the bus during the protest?
6 - Why did the police and the mayor eventually let the Freedom Riders and the ten Indigenous children swim?
6 - Why did the police and the mayor eventually let the Freedom Riders and the ten Indigenous children swim?
7 - Why did the police ask them to leave the pool?
7 - Why did the police ask them to leave the pool?
8 - What happened to the Freedom Riders as they walked through the police guard to get back to the bus?
8 - What happened to the Freedom Riders as they walked through the police guard to get back to the bus?
Copy of Charlie Perkins - Moree.pdfSource - Charlie Perkins
Source - State Library of New South Wales
Source 5 - A cartoon published in The Tribune in 1965. Media coverage including this cartoon in the Tribune helped draw attention to the racism that was happening to Aboriginal people, including children, in Moree.
Source 5 - A cartoon published in The Tribune in 1965. Media coverage including this cartoon in the Tribune helped draw attention to the racism that was happening to Aboriginal people, including children, in Moree.
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - What event does this cartoon depict?
1 - What event does this cartoon depict?
2 - Who is watching the children being painted? How do they look?
2 - Who is watching the children being painted? How do they look?
3 - How did this cartoon comment on racism and prove racism is wrong?
3 - How did this cartoon comment on racism and prove racism is wrong?
Source 6 - An extract Ann Cuthroys' diary. Cuthroys was a member of SARA and participated in The 1965 Freedom Rides and she kept a diary of her experiences during the Freedom Rides. In this diary entry, Cuthroy summarises SARA's visit to Grafton, Lismore and Cabbage Tree Island.
Source 6 - An extract Ann Cuthroys' diary. Cuthroys was a member of SARA and participated in The 1965 Freedom Rides and she kept a diary of her experiences during the Freedom Rides. In this diary entry, Cuthroy summarises SARA's visit to Grafton, Lismore and Cabbage Tree Island.
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - What did the Freedom Riders hear about while they were in Grafton?
1 - What did the Freedom Riders hear about while they were in Grafton?
2 - Why wasn't the tape published? How does this comment on the way Indigenous people were treated?
2 - Why wasn't the tape published? How does this comment on the way Indigenous people were treated?
3 - What didn't the Indigneous people living in the Cabbage Tree Island reserve have access to?
3 - What didn't the Indigneous people living in the Cabbage Tree Island reserve have access to?
Ann Curthoys Diary Entry - Grafton and Lismore.pdfSource - Ann Cuthroy
Ann Curthoys Diary Entry - Bowraville.pdfSource - Ann Cuthroy
Source 7 - An extract Ann Cuthroys' diary. Cuthroys was a member of SARA and participated in The 1965 Freedom Rides and she kept a diary of her experiences during the Freedom Rides. In this diary entry, Cuthroy summarises the protest and the Bowraville theatre.
Source 7 - An extract Ann Cuthroys' diary. Cuthroys was a member of SARA and participated in The 1965 Freedom Rides and she kept a diary of her experiences during the Freedom Rides. In this diary entry, Cuthroy summarises the protest and the Bowraville theatre.
Read the source before answering these questions.
Read the source before answering these questions.
1 - What happened when the Freedom Riders arrvived to protest outside the Bowraville Theatre? What did she tell them?
1 - What happened when the Freedom Riders arrvived to protest outside the Bowraville Theatre? What did she tell them?
2 - Describe the living conditions in the Bowraville reserve Indigenous people lived in. Why was not having a manager a bad thing?
2 - Describe the living conditions in the Bowraville reserve Indigenous people lived in. Why was not having a manager a bad thing?
3 - What did the people living in the reserve say to the Freedom Riders?
3 - What did the people living in the reserve say to the Freedom Riders?
4 - How were the Indigneous people segregated in the theatre?
4 - How were the Indigneous people segregated in the theatre?
5 - Why didn't the Freedom Riders "know where to start?"
5 - Why didn't the Freedom Riders "know where to start?"
6 - What happened when Perkins and the Freedom Riders tried to enter the Bowraville Theatre?
6 - What happened when Perkins and the Freedom Riders tried to enter the Bowraville Theatre?
task 3 - putting your knowledge into action
task 3 - putting your knowledge into action
Answer the following question as the Hammer paragraph structure. The Hammer is a good paragraph structure for writing in History. Time how long it takes you to complete the paragraph using the timer below.
Answer the following question as the Hammer paragraph structure. The Hammer is a good paragraph structure for writing in History. Time how long it takes you to complete the paragraph using the timer below.
Identify one event from the 1965 Freedom Rides and explain how it exposed and challenged racism in Australia. In your answer, refer to relevant sources and their usefulness.
Identify one event from the 1965 Freedom Rides and explain how it exposed and challenged racism in Australia. In your answer, refer to relevant sources and their usefulness.
homework
homework
History has more meaning beyond the classroom
History has more meaning beyond the classroom
Teach someone you know about charlie perkins and what his freedom rides exposed
Teach someone you know about charlie perkins and what his freedom rides exposed
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