Australian Freedom Rides

  • Hired A Bus

    placed a banner across the bus stating "Student Action For Aboriginies"
  • Arrived in Wellington

    "houses were made of tin" "muddy floors" "overcrowded" "kids had diseases"
  • Arrived In Gulargambone

    aborigines weren't allowed in pubs, nor served at cafes. it was impossible for them to find jobs.
  • Arrived in Walgett

    “Went to the Namoi River settlement in the morning and did some surveys for a few hours. Most of the people I spoke to very shy and diffident and said they were quite happy. Conditions very bad - had to use filthy water, tin shacks with mud floors, overcrowded.”
  • Arrived in Moree

    "We went back to the hall, had tea, and then went off to the Memorial Hall for the public meeting we'd arranged. There were over 200 people there and at first the atmosphere was very hostile, with lots of jeering and interjection."
  • Arrived In Boggabilla

    “We heard some terrible stories such as the fact that the police came in the houses without knocking whenever they liked, to find out who had been drinking. Also they "did what they liked with the women".”
  • Arrived in Tenterfield

    “There we heard from Bob Brown that they day after we left Moree (yesterday) about 60 aboriginal children, tried to get in the pool after school. Up to 5.30 about 30 were allowed in, some with Bob Brown, others not. At 5.30 pm the manager refused to allow any more aborigines in and at 6 pm the baths were closed (usually they stay open till 8 pm). The baths opened again at 7 pm and soon after this the mayor stated that the segregationalist statute of June 6th 1955 would be enforced.”
  • Back To Moree

    “Charlie started talking to the crowd, but there was a lot of hissing and booing. Then he went to the front of the line and when he refused to move was grabbed and taken away from the line.”
  • Arrived In Grafton

    "We heard a tape prepared by a Mr Miles, from the ABC. It described the conditions of aborigines on the far north coast, really exposed the complexities of the problem and suggested concrete solutions. There were many recordings of aborigines expressing their views. The tape was prepared two years ago but had never been used - it was too hard-hitting for the ABC.”
  • Arrived In Lismore and Cabbage Tree Island

    “Cabbage Tree Island was very interesting but the reserve was really very much like any other reserve. The coop. the shop was OK and so were some of the houses, but others did not have water or electricity. The manager seemed to be a real bastard.”
  • Arrived in Bowraville

    “We'd hardly arrived when this woman, the president or secretary or something of a local Aborigines Welfare Committee, assured us there was no discrimination in Bowraville, and told us all about how wonderful her committee was.”
  • Arrived in Kempsey

    “We took about 10-15 kids with us to the swimming pool. They weren't allowed in and neither were Charlie or Gary. Absolutely blatant.”