60th anniversary of the Freedom Ride in Walgett

Last Monday 17 February, the community of Walgett commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Ride's visit to Walgett. 

Inspired by the Freedom Rides and civil rights movement in the United States, 29 Sydney University students including Arrente/Kalkadoon man, Charlie Perkins, set off from the Wayside Chapel in Sydney in February 1965. The protest tour aimed to highlight racial discrimination and expose deep set racism and segregation still operating in New South Wales.  

Walgett was the site of the first Freedom Ride demonstration on 15 February 1965, staged in front of the RSL to draw attention to the exclusion of Aboriginal ex-servicemen.

To commemorate the anniversary in Walgett, the day commenced with visitors and community participating in a Walk of Respect in honour of the students, with five of the original students from 1965 in attendance and taking part. 

A commemorative ceremony took place at the Freedom Ride Memorial park, where the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Beazley, addressed the crowd, followed by Ministers including the Hon Penny Sharpe and the Hon David Harris and local people sharing their experiences of the 1965 Freedom Ride.  

The day included an opening smoking ceremony, Aboriginal dancers and performances by Walgett Community College, St Joseph’s Primary School and Collarenebri Central School. In the evening, a free community concert and BBQ also took place with local musicians performing and celebrating this significant part of history. 

Culture and History Coordinator at Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS), Amy Townsend described the Freedom Ride as a significant event in history.  

“This is one of the most significant events and it’s about honouring this monumental milestone of history for the Walgett Aboriginal Community,” Amy said. 

The day also saw some significant announcements for Walgett made by the state government. 

“It was also announced that Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) will receive a grant towards building a community pavilion on the Freedom Memorial Park site,” Amy said. 

“Furthermore, the Blue Plaques Program also unveiled and announced that in the future, more plaques will be across the Freedom Ride Route in NSW”. 

The Rides occurred at an important moment in the progression of Aboriginal rights in Australia. Social attitudes were changing, and the Menzies Government's 1962 Commonwealth Electoral Act had secured federal voting rights for Aboriginal people who had still been excluded in some states, but the Constitution still excluded Aboriginal people from the national census. 

The Freedom Riders’ advocacy and the media coverage they garnered helped bring the issue of racial discrimination to the fore in national and international headlines and stirred public debate about disadvantage and racism. Two years later, Australians overwhelmingly voted “yes” in the Holt Government's 1967 Referendum to include Aboriginal people in the census, and bring Aboriginal Affairs under federal government jurisdiction. 

A special photo exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary called ‘On the Road to Justice: Remembering the Freedom Ride’ is also open until 13 March 2025 at 119 Redfern Street, Redfern, Sydney and includes historic photographs and contemporary portraits.  

IMAGES: Courtesy of Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service.