ANTaR New South Wales Newsletter April 2005 New generation of Freedom Riders February 2005 marked the 40th anniversary of the 1965 ‘Freedom Ride’, led by Indigenous activist Dr Charles Perkins. To commemorate the anniversary, a group of 30 students, social justice advocates and young film-makers set off into regional NSW to take stock of how much has changed and to generate a new debate on Reconciliation in Australia. The historic Freedom Ride of 1965 helped awaken mainstream Australia to the discrimination and injustice endured by Indigenous people in regional areas. Inspired by similar protests in the United States, the Australian Freedom Ride was part of a broader movement for civil rights Goondiwindi, Lismore, Kempsey entry to some shops. Leaving Walgett, for Indigenous people and helped and Taree. The bus returned to the Freedom Riders came across a create momentum for changes such Redfern on Saturday 26 February. young Indigenous man who had been as the 1967 referendum. The Freedom Riders took eight video denied entry onto a bus for being late, cameras and conducted interviews in while minutes later the bus driver The 2005 Freedom Ride was a very the street, in community centres and allowed a non-Indigenous person to different experience than the original, in missions to find out how people board. In some country towns you both inside and outside the bus. felt race relations had changed and can still feel the tension; still see a Where in 1965 there were only two whether Aboriginal people were black end of town and a white end Indigenous participants, half of the getting a fair go. of town. In many communities non- 2005 group was Indigenous. Where Indigenous people refused to speak to they were led by men, women were Much had changed since the original the Freedom Riders. at the forefront of the 2005 ride. In ride. In Wellington, the Freedom 1965 racism and desegregation were Riders were welcomed by the There was a sense that although much high on the agenda, and the Freedom Mayor and by Aboriginal elders. In has changed since 1965, many of the Riders faced opposition from white Bowraville, the local Aboriginal kids gains of the past decades have stalled communities which famously escalated now learn their own language and in and in some cases are being eroded. into violence in some towns. In 2005 Moree the local council opened the Few people have an understanding the focus was on the Freedom Ride pool to the Freedom Riders and local of their rights or any faith in the as a vehicle for Reconciliation. Indigenous children for free. willingness of mainstream politicians to stand up for Indigenous people The 2005 Freedom Ride visited But while some things have changed, or provide them with support to over 13 communities in two all too much remains to be done. empower their communities. weeks, including Dubbo, Walgett, Racism has not disappeared. Moree, Boggabilla, Toomelah and Aboriginal people are still denied >> Look out for ANTaR's Annual Appeal coming in May >> Freedom Ride, continued ANTaR NSW from page 1 President's An overwhelming number of these stories were negative but at the same time there Report were many sources of inspiration and many places where Indigenous people When I accepted nomination as president of and organisations were succeeding in fighting racism. In some communities non- ANTaR NSW at the December AGM, I knew Indigenous people were also involved in that Claire Colyer would be a hard act to this struggle. Local Reconciliation Groups follow and I thank her for her work on the play a key role in engaging the non- management committee over the past few years. Indigenous community in the Reconciliation Sally Fitzpatrick (vice president), Bob Makinson process. (secretary) and Hugh Southon are continuing on the committee, and we welcome new members The journey of the 2005 Freedom Riders John Telford (treasurer), Alison Aggarwal, Lara continues through plans for a range of projects and campaigns. The riders are Kostakidis-Lianos and Melanie Schwarz. Thanks meeting with the NSW Minister for also to former treasurer Frennie Beytagh, Aboriginal Affairs in April and funding is Margaret Brennan, Kate Sullivan and Olga being sought for a documentary to be Havnen for their great work and support to the completed by late 2005 and to develop management committee. the material collected into an educational The direction of Federal policy following the resource for schools and communities. re-election of the Howard Government is Freedom Ride 2005 was an initiative of disappointing but we were encouraged by young people living in Redfern and was Professor Larissa Behrendt at our AGM, reminding organised by ReconciliACTION – Australia’s us that ANTaR and its resource materials are largest youth reconciliation network and the valued by Indigenous people and a strong ANTaR youth arm of ANTaR – with the support of network is needed. I am committed to building the NSW Reconciliation Council. and working with that network. For more information or to make a donation At our planning day in February, we mapped out visit www.reconciliaction.org.au or contact our direction for 2005 in key areas of fund-raising, Sylvie Ellsmore on 02 9219 0719. This story communications, networking and local groups. written by Sylvie Ellsmore, Kirsten Cheatham There has been a good response to a subscription and Ben Spies-Butcher. reminder letter to those on our mailing list and membership is growing steadily. This year, ANTaR NSW will continue to support Freedom Ride volunteers needed those Indigenous people seeking justice through Four or five volunteers with the Stolen Wages Campaign and we’ll be working stenographic or good typing skills on the Health Rights Campaign at state level. are needed to help with transcribing The NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act is currently the many hours of video and audio under review. Geoff Scott, New South Wales recordings made on the Freedom Ride Aboriginal Land Council’s Chief Operations trip. Transcription is necessary for Officer, addressed a committee dinner in January producing this valuable material in film, and ANTaR expects to make an input into the audio and written forms and will also Review this year. make it available to communities and support groups. If you can help contact Anne Byrne Oliver at [email protected] President, ANTaR NSW 2 ANTaR NSW Newsletter | April 2005 LOCAL GROUP PROFILE Newcastle Aboriginal Support Group The Newcastle Aboriginal Support will allow these scholarships to run for another Group was founded by Jack Doherty 5-6 years. in 1980. Its purpose is to be Sorry Day is observed each May 26th (the first alongside Aboriginal people in their was in Christ Church Cathedral), and we join in NAIDOC week. The Group has worked struggle for justice and in raising hard in support of Reconciliation at the state public awareness. and federal level. Over many years we ran the Yamuloong project on Reconciliation themes in We publish a newsletter Wurreker and hold schools. We conducted an educational forum bi-monthly meetings, usually in the Birabahn on the Treaty concept. Members like our sacred building or the Awabakal Co-operative at sites tours. Wickham, or sometimes the Trades Hall. The meetings are on a wide variety of topics and The Group’s committed members are becoming issues. We maintain our relationship with older and fewer, free time being much harder the Co-operative and the surrounding Land for the young to come by than formerly. The Councils. present federal emphasis on assimilationist mainstreaming and the continuing manifestation We have lobbied politicians at the local, state of racist policies at all levels means our work and federal level over many years on issues like remains a necessity. Mabo, Wik, native title, the abolition of ATSIC, and changes to the Human Rights and Equal Contact Newcastle Aboriginal Support Group Opportunity Commission. At election times we via Rodney Knock, PO Box 79, Broadmeadow, usually ask local candidates to address us on NSW 2292 [email protected] their Indigenous policy. We have always enjoyed the support of the state and federal members of parliament. Our most successful single achievement was the Coming-Together on the Newcastle foreshore in 1993, welcomed by the Indigenous community and attended by several thousand non-Aboriginal people. The commitment signed there by so many was embraced by the Newcastle City Council under then Mayor John McNaughton. Subsequently the Council under Mayor Greg Heys strengthened this, and the advisory Guraki panel was formed. The Support Group was fully involved at every stage. In 1992 we established the Jack Doherty Newcastle Mayor, Councillor Greg Heys and Aunty Iris scholarships, in memory of our founder, Russell at the signing of Newcastle City Council’s renewed for Indigenous students at the University of commitment to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Newcastle. Donations have been individual peoples of Newcastle on 14 April 1998. The Newcastle (three of them extremely generous), with only Aboriginal Support Group played a major role in the one from business (a law firm). Current funds process. ANTaR NSW Newsletter | April 2005 3 Major review of NSW Land Rights Act There is a lot at stake in the current government the land council network to improve the lives review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in of Aboriginal people in NSW is an obvious NSW. The system was set up in 1983 with a priority. The review will evaluate the benefits to strong compensatory element, recognising that Aboriginal people from land rights and whether land can have an economic as well as spiritual, better outcomes can be achieved. social and cultural significance, and the Act is not premised solely on traditional ownership Governance issues will also feature.