Side by Side on the Freedom Ride Past
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Bat’s life! Art Month 2015 FEATURE — page 10 THE REVIEW — pages 11-14 NSW State Election 2015: What you need to know – pgs 6-7 NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR MARCH ’15 CIRCULATION 22,000 ALEXANDRIA BEACONSFIELD CHIPPENDALE DARLINGTON ERSKINEVILLE EVELEIGH GLEBE KINGS CROSS NEWTOWN PADDINGTON REDFERN SURRY HILLS WATERLOO WOOLLOOMOOLOO ZETLAND things that has happened to Kempsey in a long time,” Morris remarked. Continuing the vision of Charles “Charlie” Perkins were 29 current university students and 11 of the original Freedom Riders from 1965. The students were selected by Kyol Blakeney, the new President of the university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) and the first Indigenous person elected to that role. “I was looking for passion … I was looking for diversity,” Blakeney told reporters. He chose a mix of local and international students, some familiar with Indigenous issues and some unfamiliar, in order to maximise the learning experience for all. Blakeney emphasised that “the important thing is to actually sit down and listen to the community and see what they want”. Indeed, student riders Max Hall and Samantha Jonscher discovered that locals “were not only willing but desperate to share their stories”. Auntie May from Moree shared the isolation and disempowerment her people are facing, the lack of amenities and the need for greater respect from the government. Moree has lost its The 2015 Freedom Ride bus departs from Sydney University. “If you have a dream and a vision, make it real, make it a mission” – Roy Ah-See, Deputy Chair, NSW Aboriginal Land Council Photo: Claire Mahjoub drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre due to an apparent funding shortage. Adding to the controversy, Moree Plains Shire Council resisted calls to formally apologise for its segregated Side by side on the Freedom Ride past. In Dubbo, meanwhile, locals like Craig Biles were pushing for greater Vanessa Cartwright “deep south” of the United States. Fewer with protests, including that Aboriginal unlike the original visit to 15-odd emphasis on Aboriginal history and learn that this movement inspired ex-servicemen deserved to join Walgett towns over two weeks, could not culture to rebuild Indigenous morale. AT SUNRISE on Wednesday February similar action in the “deep north” of RSL, racial restrictions at Moree baths prevent the hype on social media. This process, Biles believes, is vital for 18, an excited crowd gathered rural NSW. At midnight on February should be lifted, and Aboriginal locals Continuous updates via the Facebook the youth he works with at the Orana outside the iconic Quadrangle at the 12, 1965, the University of Sydney’s first should not be confined to the front page “Freedom Ride 50th Anniversary” Juvenile Justice Centre. “Until we, as University of Sydney. It was time to Indigenous student, Charles Perkins, of Bowraville Picture Theatre. In an and the Twitter hashtag #freedomride50 Aboriginal people, understand our own revive the legacy of the 1965 Freedom led 28 other student activists on a bus attempt to curb the protests, a driver attracted the attention of thousands of history we don’t have a foundation,” Ride – a student bus tour of country trip to investigate segregation and at Walgett rammed the bus, forcing it Australians. It was heart-warming he stated. NSW that finally made newsworthy racism in rural NSW communities. off the road. These dramatic incidents, to witness the enthusiasm of the Native languages are a flailing the inequalities faced by Aboriginal According to original activists Ann however, only furthered the cause of young and old, the Indigenous and foundation in Walgett, where teachers people. February’s 50th anniversary Curthoys and Brian Aarons, the the riders. As Curthoys and Aarons non-Indigenous alike at the parades, require more resources to sustain local ride saw greater positivity, support non-Indigenous students on the tour stated, media coverage provoked “some forums, barbecues and concerts hosted languages. In Kempsey, employment and community spirit than previous were “shocked” by what they found: serious soul-searching in urban and in the towns of Dubbo, Walgett, Moree for Indigenous people lags behind rides, even as it broadcast the ongoing “Desperately poor living conditions … rural NSW”. and Kempsey. Aboriginal singer Amos improvements in education. The 2015 concerns of Indigenous Australians. white people convinced of their racial The media coverage of the 2015 Morris praised the upbeat vibe at a riders actively documented these superiority, and exclusion of Aboriginal Freedom Ride has likewise been concert featuring music legends Troy and other issues facing Indigenous Many Australians learn about the people from the basic amenities of a thought-provoking. The limitation of Cassar-Daley and Paul Kelly. “It was Australians, such as inequalities 1961 freedom ride movement in the country town.” The students reacted prioritising four towns in four days, amazing … probably one of the best in health and Continued on page 2 November 2014 2 NEWS March 2015 PUBLISHER disrespectfully. If they treat us like South Sydney Uniting Church that, how are they treating vulnerable Side by side Raglan Street, Waterloo homeless people?” The views expressed in this newspaper are Fresh approach to caring for people in need The views expressed in this newspaper are on the those of the author and the article and are not A City of Sydney spokesperson has necessarily the views of the Uniting Church. ANDREW COLLIS responded to questions from the SSH. Freedom Ride “Rough sleepers in Wentworth Park NEWS [email protected] BOTANY: THE Food Distribution were asked to cooperate in keeping Continued from page 1 Phone Lyn 0400 008 338 Network (FDN) held its Annual the park safe and tidy for the public,” mental health, substandard General Meeting on Wednesday ADVERTISING the spokesperson said. “Two fires and housing, bureaucratic barriers to Contact – [email protected] October 29. The guest speaker several hazards, such as cooking in progress and the ongoing desire Phone Julia on 0402 525 061 for the meeting was Kelly Smith, tents, rat infestations and a build-up for Constitutional recognition. “We Nutrition Programs Co-ordinator for MAILING ADDRESS: of furniture, have been reported in the want to expose these issues that are PO Box 3288 Secondbite, with whom FDN shares past six months. still there to mainstream Australia; Redfern NSW 2016 premises in Margate Street, Botany. “The City of Sydney works hard we want to put pressure on the LETTERS to ensure that public space can government to act pretty quickly Please send letters and emails to: The AGM was attended by staff, be accessed and enjoyed safely by on fixing these issues,” stated Kyol The South Sydney Herald. Management Committee members, everyone, including people experiencing Blakeney. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Signs of distress at Wentworth Park Photo: Kat Hines Supply sender name and suburb. clients, volunteers and supporters. homelessness. The City encourages Looking back to 1965, original Size: 150 words or less. All expressed commitment to FDN’s responsible behaviour by all people rider Hall Greenland reflected that We may edit for legal or other reasons. values and objectives – the care and in our public spaces while ensuring “more important than the trip wellbeing of people who are aged that disadvantaged people are not itself was the result of the trip. The FOUNDING EDITOR orRough frail or living with a disability. sleepers claim discriminated against and are treated changing of consciences, the raising Trevor Davies (25.5.1956—14.6.2011) Phyllis Sequeira, FDN President, with compassion and respect. of awareness, the determination spoke of challenges ahead in relation “Following complaints last year about that we had to do something.” torough the National Disability treatment Insurance deliberately lit fires and unauthorised The original riders witnessed the Scheme (NDIS). “We are currently camping at Wentworth Park, the City landmark 1967 referendum, the SSHin the process of completing an down to Wentworth Park to obtain issued warnings to a group of rough invention and dissemination of application for Disability Service firsthand knowledge and let others sleepers about keeping the area tidy. Aboriginal flags, Native Title rulings MMANAGINGanaging EDITOREditor FEATURES EDITOR GLEBE:Standards FOR Accreditation,” more than she a year, a know about the “shameful way these The City worked with the rough sleepers and other acts of solidarity. The Andrew Collis Dorothy McRae-McMahon communitysaid. “Achievement of homeless of the Homepeople has homeless people are being treated”. to clean up the area and remove some new riders also envisage positive beenAnd Communityliving in tents Care under (HACC) the tramline “These people at Wentworth Park are of the items. outcomes. “This [ride] was not atstandards Wentworth and thePark. Disability Despite Service Council lovely people. We saw elderly people, “Recently, more items have built up a re-enactment, but a revival,” policy,Standards which will refers put us to in working a good with sick people, people with mental health in the area, including over 20 tents, deck tweeted student Aparna Balakumar. theposition homeless to be eligible in a respectful for ongoing and issues. They don’t want to be living in chairs, tables, a barbecue and a fridge. Compiling a report of their compassionategovernment funding, way (via as well a dedicated as aFDN tent Manager but they Peter don’tInce presents have his a reportchoice. to the The AGM Photo:“City Kat Hines staff, along with specialist findings will assist the students to NEWS EDITOR ONLINE EDITOR ensure that we are continually Lyn Turnbull Cate Long homelessness unit and a number of Council wants to put them back on the homeless-service workers, met with the continue advocating for Indigenous servicesreviewing and and outreach improving programs), our the pavement.interaction, Whyinclusion should and a care.