Charles Perkins Stories from Australia’s history and the Freedom Ride The story of modern Australia starts on 26 January 1788. On that day, Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove from England Around midnight on 12 February 1965, a group of 29 students boarded a with the convict ships of the First Fleet. The new settlement bus outside the University of Sydney. They were going on a two-week tour brought disaster to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, because the of outback New South Wales, but this was no holiday. The students on newcomers took their lands. This event marks the beginning of the Freedom Ride aimed to drive from town to town, exposing shocking Australia as we know it today. racism against Indigenous Australians.
fter 1788, Indigenous Australians became outcasts in their own lands. A The European settlers tried to crush Indigenous ways of life, but they did not succeed. Indigenous Australians survived and fought back. There are many stories in this long fight for justice. Charles Perkins and the Freedom Ride is one of these great stories in Australia’s history. The students who took part in the Freedom Ride came Indigenous peoples, such as the Eora people of Sydney, from different suffered the loss of their lands and culture when backgrounds, Europeans arrived in Australia. including Jewish, Christian and Indigenous. They all wanted to fight for an end to racism.
fiery young Indigenous man, Charles Perkins, was A one of the students on the bus. He was determined to stand up to racists and improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. By the end of the Freedom Ride, the students had exposed racism in Australia and Charles Perkins had become a powerful Indigenous leader. racism: Unfair treatment based on race The Freedom Ride was a turning point for Indigenous Australians. This is the story of the people, the ideas and What does it mean? the events of the Freedom Ride, and how it changed Australia forever.
4 5 Key people
These two people played key roles in the Freedom Ride. Ted Noffs
Charles Perkins Born: 1926 in Mudgee, New South Wales Role: Supporter and organiser of the Freedom Ride Born: 1936 at The Bungalow, a police-run Aboriginal reserve in Alice Springs, Age at the time of the Northern Territory Freedom Ride: 39 Role: Leader of the Freedom Ride Died: 1995 Age at the time of the Freedom Appearance: Short, stocky, round face, Ride (1965): 29 warm smile Died: 2000 Character: Intelligent, friendly, energetic, good with people, a writer, Appearance: Tall, slim, well-dressed, a poet and a man of action dark eyes, dark curly hair, strong jaw Comments: Ted Noffs was a church Character: Intelligent, quick-tempered, minister at the Wayside Chapel in the hard-working, a brilliant sportsman and an Sydney suburb of Kings Cross. He excellent public speaker, but a loner welcomed everyone to his chapel, Comments: Charles Perkins was clever including drug addicts, alcoholics and and energetic, but as an Indigenous man homeless people. He also fought for he faced terrible racism. It was through justice for Indigenous Australians. hard work and determination that he Noffs recognised Charles Perkins’ talents achieved success. Perkins became a soccer and encouraged him to study at the star in Australia and overseas, then became University of Sydney. Perkins was so the first Indigenous man to earn a inspired by Noffs that he said ‘he set university degree. Perkins’ experiences of me alight’. Noffs was one of the people unfair treatment made him determined to who came up with the idea of the fight for Indigenous rights. As the leader of Freedom Ride to highlight racism in the Freedom Ride, he battled racism with New South Wales and Queensland. great courage. However, his experiences of racism made him angry and difficult to work with in later life.
8 9 Shameful March 1963 Soon, Perkins became involved in student In the early 1960s, Indigenous Australians activities. He spoke at meetings … were treated as second-class citizens, just Perkins passed his high school exams and began studying at the treatment because of the colour of their skin. Myeoplea p h ve HOTEL University of Sydney. no houses and no running water! They’re banned Ionaste w ’t w from hotels this chance! and cinemas! In country towns in New South Wales, they were banned from hotels and cafés … … and picked on by the police. H uaney, yo c ’t sit down You’re under in here! Get out! arrest. 20 July 1964
… and formed a group to fight for justice called Student Action For Aborigines.
In America, THEY held We could do Freedom Rides that, too – hire They lived outside the towns in rough camps. to protest a bus and drive But I’ve done against racism. to racist towns. nothing wrong!
At a SAFA meeting … Ltntee ’s i vi the We should do surveys, press along. too, and ask Aborigines Do we agree on a about what they want. Freedom Ride? Me? I failed high school. 1962 YS!E
In Sydney, Charles Perkins and his friend Pastor Ted Noffs were determined to December improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. I want to help A Freedom Ride around New South Wales The Wayside Chapel, King’s Cross my people. was planned for the summer.
These are the most racist towns, Charles. While you’re away, I’ll stay here and keep the Work hard and you'll press informed. get into university. You could be a great 10 leader, Charles. 11