What is the Freedom Ride?

February 2005 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1965 'Freedom Ride' when a busload of Sydney uni students led by Charlie Perkins went on a journey through NSW to expose the level of discrimination against Indigenous people.

The students travelled through western, northern and coastal NSW. One of the main aims of the ride was to highlight examples of segregation including public pools, picture theatres and pubs where Aboriginal people were refused entry.

The 1965 Freedom Ride helped to bring the ingrained discrimination and racism in the NSW country towns to the attention of the wider Australian public, and was part of a broader push for Aboriginal civil rights taking place across the country.

ReconciliACTION are planning something very exciting this summer to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the original Freedom Ride. Our plan is to fill up a bus with young people passionate about reconciliation and retrace the original 'Freedom Ride' journey whilst making a documentary about the experience. We want to get Australia talking about the face of racism today, as well as connect with young people across NSW to find out their views on how Australia can move forward in reconciliation. When and where will Freedom Ride 2005 go? The Freedom Ride 2005 bus will leave from the University of Sydney on Saturday 12th February. It will then travel north west through Wellington, Dubbo (13th), Gulargambone (14th), Walgett (15th-16th), Moree (16th-17th), Boggabilla (18th), Inverell (19th-20th), Lismore (20th-21st), Bowraville (22nd-23rd), Kempsie (23rd), Taree (24th) and Newcastle (25th). The bus will return to Redfern on Saturday 26th February.

Please note, these dates are tentative. A final timetable will be available shortly.

ReconciliACTION is working with Local Reconciliation Groups, Aboriginal organisations, local Councils and community groups to organise a series of community events in each of the towns visited. These will include barbeques, film showing and music concerts.

If you are a young person or are involved with an organisation based in or around one of the areas the bus will visit we would love to hear from you! Please contact the NSW Reconciliation Council office on 02 9219 0719 or email recon@reconciliaction.org.au

About the organisers there are currently thirty or so Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people working very hard as volunteers to get Freedom Ride 2005 on the road.

The project was an initiative of young people living in Redfern and surrounding areas. The project has grown to include ReconciliACTION members from across Australia and a range of community and Aboriginal organisations. A core organising group which meets regularly in Sydney is co-ordinating the project. The group meets regularly on Monday evening at 6.30pm at the University of Sydney Women's College.

Meetings are open to all young people aged 16 to 29 years. Please contact project co-ordinator Samia on 0408 225 035 or email samia@student.usyd.edu.au mailto:samia@student.usyd.edu.au> if you would like to come along.

As the meetings are youth focused, people outside this age bracket are encouraged to contact Non-Indigenous Convenor Sylvie Ellsmore or

Indigenous Conven or Renee Williamson on 02 9219 0719 to request an invitation to attend meetings. Get involved! This project is very broad in scope and we believe that it has the potential to be a landmark event in the history of reconciliation in this country.

If you would like to get involved with the organising of the project, as a volunteer or participant on the ride (for part or all of the journey!) please give ReconciliACTION a call on 02 9219 0719.

About the documentary The documentary side of the project is a collaboration between Indigenous filmmaker Angie Abdilla and non-Indigenous filmmaker Oliver Lawrance. For more information about the documentary contact Oliver on 0412 265 078 or email tangentfilms@tpg.com.au

Jaymee Demos

ICSO - Indigenous Services Unit

Area East Coast

Phone 42 517984 spec 517984