Newsletter date: 22 February 2015
Contents:
* Audio Interview & Videos: 2UE: 50th anniversary of The Freedom Ride [Featuring Kyol Blakeney]
* Video: Danny Teece-Johnson, NITV News: Freedom Ride's 50th anniversary marked at Sydney University
* Video: NITV News 18 February 2015: Freedom Rides Again
* Video: NITV News 19 February 2015: 1965 Freedom Ride Awoke Nation to Racial Segregation of Aboriginal People
* Video: NITV News 20 February 2015: Freedom is more than just a word: Moree remembers original freedom ride
* Analysis / Opinion: Monica Tan, The Guardian: Fifty years on, Freedom Ride again holds up a mirror to white Australia
* Analysis / Opinion: Ann Curthoys & Brian Aarons, ABC: Freedom Riders Ann Curthoys and Brian Aarons reflect on NSW Ride 50 years on
* Analysis / Opinion: Solidarity: Racism and Aboriginal rights: Fifty years since the Freedom Ride
* Analysis / Opinion: Monica Tan, The Guardian: Freedom Ride returns to Walgett, the town where the RSL banned black diggers
* Analysis / Opinion & Video: Monica Tan, Fred McConnell, The Guardian: Freedom Ride: plenty of lessons to be learned at Dubbo juvenile justice centre
* Analysis / Opinion: Monica Tan, The Guardian: Freedom Ride: revisiting the dip in the pool that changed a segregated town
* Audio Interview: Let's Talk: Troy Cassar-Daley talks about his new album "Freedom Ride" with Tiga and the story behind the title track
* Audio: National Indigenous Radio's 'Weekly News-in-Review': Rachel Perkins and Lyall Munro Sr discuss the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Ride
* Audio: Justin Fenwick, The Wire: Freedom Ride 2 reflects on indigenous activism [Featuring Charles Perkins (file audio), Prof. Shane Houston & Rachel perkins]
* Video: YouTube: Freedom Ride: 50 years on
* Video: ABC: 7pm TV News NSW: Sydney University students re-enact Indigenous Freedom Ride in 1965
* Audio: ABC AM: Moree remembers Freedom Ride race riot fifty years on
* Audio: CAAMA news 19-02-15 [Featuring Prof. Shane Houston]
* Audio Interview: Joel Vouzakis, 2ser: 50th Anniversary Re-Creation of the Freedom Ride [Featuring Prof. Shane Houston]
* News: Jacqueline Breen, ABC: Far west elders reflect on Freedom Ride anniversary
* News: Kerrin Thomas, ABC News: Moree marks 50 years since NSW Freedom Ride for Aboriginal rights
* Analysis / Opinion: Julie Power, SMH: Freedom ride: day of song and gratitude 50 years after original ride
* Analysis / Opinion: Julie Power, SMH: Fiftieth anniversary re-enactment of freedom ride goes north to fight discrimination against Aboriginal people
* Analysis / Opinion: Julie Power, SMH: Freedom Ride's 50th anniversary a celebration and a reminder
* Event: The University of Sydney: 50th anniversary the Freedom Ride
* Event: Walgett District News: 50th Anniversary Freedom Ride Order of Events
* Upcoming Event: Sydney Koori Information Network: FW: Free Event: Freedom Ride 50th Anniversary - Film Screening Fri 27 Feb 2015
* Background Video: Myles Morgan, NITV: Backgrounder: 1965 Freedom Ride awoke nation to racism
* Background: Andrea Booth, SBS News: Explainer: What was Australia's Freedom Ride?
* Background Video: Eleanor Gilbert, Vimeo: Walgett - Connecting to Country program for the High School staff
WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
- Audio Interview & Videos
2UE: 50th anniversary of The Freedom Ride [Featuring Kyol Blakeney]
http://www.2ue.com.au/news/50th-anniversary-of-the-freedom-ride-20150218...
18 Feb 15: "Over a hundred Sydney of University students and staff are taking part in the 50th anniversary re-enactment of The Freedom Ride. Angela Catterns on the major milestone in the civil rights of Aboriginal people, led by Charles Perkins."
- Video
SBS News: Freedom Ride's 50th anniversary marked at Sydney University
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/02/18/freedom-rides-50th-anniver...
18 Feb 15: ""I think it was a rude awakening for some of the students," said the NSW Aboriginal Land Council's Roy Ah-see. "Today's re-enactment would...bring back a lot of memories for them." Filmaker Rachel Perkins said the journey was a personal one. "I think the freedom ride for me personally reminds me about what you can do and what these people did," she said. "You don't think you have the power to change it but you do."" By Danny Teece-Johnson, Source: NITV News
- Video
NITV News 18 February 2015: Freedom Rides Again
http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/400753219891/NITV-News-18-February-...
"NITV News - 18 February part 1 [Freedom Rides Again starts after 5min 0sec]
Published on 18 February 2015 on NITV; Expires on 25 February 2015, 5:30pm."
- Video
NITV News 19 February 2015: 1965 Freedom Ride Awoke Nation to Racial Segregation of Aboriginal People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UliuBSjhUds
"50 years on from the historic Freedom Ride through regional New South Wales - the civil rights protesters have received a very different welcome. The bus left Dubbo this morning for Walgett - NITV News’ Ryan Liddle has been following the trip.
Meanwhile Natalie Ahmat is in Moree awaiting the arrival of the Freedom Riders and Myles Morgan asks whether the original Freedom Ride brought significant political change for our people."
- Video
NITV News 20 February 2015: Freedom is more than just a word: Moree remembers original freedom ride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmdaqWL7SYo
"The Freedom Rides have certainly had significant impact on the Gomeroi town of Moree in North Western NSW. It was here where the Freedom Riders led by Charles Perkins stood up to the Moree council over their racist policy of not letting Aboriginal people into the local swimming pool. 50 years on, NITV News’ Danny Teece-Johnson and Natalie Ahmat met with Moree Elders who were only young children when the original Freedom Riders visited and listened as they reflected on how much things have changed. But while race relations have improved there is still much work to do. ... "
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Fifty years on, Freedom Ride again holds up a mirror to white Australia
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/18/freedom-ride-2015-...
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/freedom-ride-50-years-on
18 Feb 15: "In 1965 the Freedom Ride exposed shocking racism in rural NSW towns and put Indigenous rights into the national spotlight. Now a new generation is retracing its route to commemorate the activists and find out how much has changed ... [Rachel] Perkins] was asked what her father would have wanted the second ride to stand for. She said a renewed focus on the situation of Indigenous Australia and that "we don’t let go of the thing that the Freedom Ride embodied, which is not accepting the status quo"." Monica Tan, Guardian Australia's Deputy Culture Editor
- Analysis / Opinion
ABC: Freedom Riders Ann Curthoys and Brian Aarons reflect on NSW Ride 50 years on
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-18/freedom-rides-remembered/6130544
18 Feb 15: "Fifty years ago, from February 12 to 26, 1965, Charles Perkins led a group of students, including us, from the University of Sydney on a freedom ride. We travelled by bus to protest against racial discrimination against Aboriginal people in New South Wales country towns such as Walgett, Moree, Bowraville and Kempsey. Although we had done our best to prepare, the non-Aboriginal students were shocked by what we found: desperately poor living conditions on fringe settlements, ... " By Ann Curthoys and Brian Aarons
- Analysis / Opinion
Solidarity: Racism and Aboriginal rights: Fifty years since the Freedom Ride
http://www.solidarity.net.au/highlights/racism-and-aboriginal-rights-fif...
" ... While formal discrimination was largely abolished in the 1970s, it was shamefully re-introduced with the Northern Territory Intervention in 2007. Across the country the social position of Aboriginal people remains dire. Most of the problems observed by the Freedom Riders, shamefully, persist 50 years on-inadequate housing, water and medical services, police harassment and child removal. ... With Aboriginal people still treated as second-class citizens, the original Freedom Ride points to the kind of militant action that is needed again, today."
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Freedom Ride returns to Walgett, the town where the RSL banned black diggers
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/20/freedom-ride-walge...
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/freedom-ride-50-years-on
20 Feb 15: "In 1965 in this small western NSW town, Aboriginal people were segregated in the cinema and barred from the RSL, even if they were returned servicemen ... But she [Karen Rutterman] also notes that a more subtle form of racism remains in the town, which is now 50% Indigenous. Situated on the dusty, flat plains of the NSW interior, Walgett shares with many remote Australian communities a high unemployment rate, substance abuse issues, poor educational outcomes, high levels of domestic violence and friction between townspeople and the local police force." Monica Tan, Guardian Australia's Deputy Culture Editor
- Analysis / Opinion & Video
The Guardian: Freedom Ride: plenty of lessons to be learned at Dubbo juvenile justice centre
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/19/freedom-ride-plent...
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/freedom-ride-50-years-on
18 Feb 15: "The 2015 Freedom Ride commemorating the groundbreaking 1965 bus trip reaches Dubbo, and a group of teenagers gather in the presence of living history ... Like the ride of 1965, this year’s Freedom Ride is about casting a spotlight on the discrepancy of life quality between Indigenous populations and their non-Indigenous counterparts in country towns. And exposing the riders to the challenges that Indigenous communities face. On Wednesday the bus stopped by the Orana juvenile justice centre in Dubbo. ... More than 90% of the population is Indigenous ... "
Monica Tan is Guardian Australia's Deputy Culture Editor
Fred McConnell is deputy video editor for Guardian Australia, producing news video, as well as shooting and editing video features
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Freedom Ride: revisiting the dip in the pool that changed a segregated town
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/21/freedom-ride-revis...
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/freedom-ride-50-years-on
21 Feb 15: "In 1965, Charles Perkins and his fellow Sydney University students ran the gauntlet of booing, fruit-throwing residents to take a group of Indigenous children for a swim in the town pool ... And while the town has come a long way since the days of colour bars at the pool, it remains plagued by social issues. Moree has one of the highest crime rates in the state, with some Indigenous leaders pointing to the collapse of the cotton industry, leading to welfare dependancy and mental health issues. ... " Monica Tan, Guardian Australia's Deputy Culture Editor
- Audio Interview
Let's Talk: Troy Cassar-Daley and Dr Woolombi Waters
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/troy-cassar-daley-and-dr-wool...
17 Feb 15: "Troy Cassar-Daley talks about his new album "Freedom Ride" with Tiga and the story behind the title track. Dr Woolombi Waters is a Kamilaroi man and writer and lecturer at Griffith University. He writes a weekly column for the National Indigenous Times."
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio's 'Weekly News-in-Review'
http://www.nirs.org.au/_content_data/_files/Weekly%20News%20In%20Review%...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tnxymtayodpdtgc/Weekly%20News%20In%20Review%20...
20 Feb 15: "This week's episode is presented by Cassandra Tim.
This week:
* Arrernte woman Rachel Perkins and Gomeroi man Lyall Munro Sr discuss the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Ride;
* Amnesty International's Rodney Dillon on proposed WA remote community closures;
* Eualeyai Kamillaroi academic Larissa Behrendt from the University of Technology, Sydney speaks about closing the gap;
* Torres Strait Regional Authority Chair Joseph Elu on the region's fishery industry.
Producers: Cassandra Tim and Warren Barnsley"
- Audio
The Wire: Freedom Ride 2 reflects on indigenous activism
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=12426
http://www.thewire.org.au/audio/Justin.mp3
18 Feb 15: "It's 50 years since Charles Perkins led students on a Freedom Ride tio highlight the racism in country Australia. Fifty years on a similar ride is taking place though the mood is more reflective of what indigenous activism has achieved and needs to achieve in the future.
Featured in story:
* Charles Perkins (file audio)
* Professor Shane Houston . deputy Vice-Chancellor, Sydney Uni
* Rachel perkins" Produced by Justin Fenwick
- Video
YouTube: Freedom Ride: 50 years on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2LC9J1_4zE
- Video
ABC: 7pm TV News NSW: Sydney University students re-enact Indigenous Freedom Ride in 1965
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-18/sydney-university-students-re-enac...
18 Feb 15: "A busload of Sydney university students, past and present, has set off on a re-enactment of the Freedom Ride undertaken by Indigenous activists across regional New South Wales in 1965."
- Audio
ABC AM: Moree remembers Freedom Ride race riot fifty years on
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4183720.htm
20 Feb 15: "An ugly chapter in Australia's race relations will be remembered today in the regional New South Wales town of Moree. Fifty years ago a group of university students led by the late Charles Perkins arrived in Moree and exposed widespread racism and segregation. It was the flashpoint of the 1965 Freedom Ride when a violent race riot hit national headlines. Many locals say times have changed, but others say there's still a racial divide. Lindy Kerin reports from Moree."
- Audio
CAAMA news 19-02-15 [Featuring Prof. Shane Houston]
http://caama.com.au/caama-news-19-02-15
19 Feb 15: " ... To New South Wales where fifty years ago a group of students embarked on the Freedom Ride...a journey which would see their legacy written into the history books as they brought issues of racism in Australia to the forefront of media."
- Audio Interview
2ser: 50th Anniversary Re-Creation of the Freedom Ride
http://www.2ser.com/about/item/13529-50th-anniversary-re-creation-of-the...
17 Feb 15: "The Freedom Rides were an important milestone in Australian history, and a giant stepping stone in the fight for Indigenous civil rights. Tomorrow, February 18th 2015, marks the 50th anniversary of the original Freedom Ride and to celebrate, more than a hundred former students and staff from the University of Sydney are reenacting the rides to commemorate the landmark in Australia's history. To chat a little bit more about thie reenactment and the importance of the Freedom Rides we caught up with Professor Shane Houston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney." Produced by Joel Vouzakis
- News
ABC: Far west elders reflect on Freedom Ride anniversary
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-17/far-west-elders-reflect-on-freedom...
17 Feb 15: "As the state marks fifty years since the Aboriginal Freedom Rides, a Wilcannia elder says discrimination extended far further west than that 1965 bus trip. ... This week Mr Perkins' daughter Rachel will join another group retracing the original route. The ride didn't extend out to the state's far west, but Wilcannia elder David Clarke says discrimination did. "I can remember crying my eyes out," he said, recounting an incident from his first day at school. ... " By Jacqueline Breen
- News
ABC News: Moree marks 50 years since NSW Freedom Ride for Aboriginal rights
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-20/moree-marks-50-years-since-freedom...
20 Feb 15: "The town of Moree in north-western New South Wales is marking the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Ride for Aboriginal rights. The 1965 ride was a bus tour of students from the University of Sydney, led by Charles Perkins, who wanted to draw attention to racism and the poor state of Aboriginal health, education, housing in the state's regional towns. The activists visited Moree and campaigned for an end to the exclusion of Indigenous people from its facilities, including the pool." By Kerrin Thomas
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: Freedom ride: day of song and gratitude 50 years after original ride
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/freedom-ride-day-of-song-and-gratitude-50-year...
19 Feb 15: "It was a day of songs and gratitude to the original Freedom Riders who 50 years ago hopped on a bus heading for Aboriginal equality. On Wednesday afternoon buses containing 28 of the next generation of freedom riders and about a dozen of the original riders from 1965 arrived in Dubbo to chants of "freedom". It was the first stop in a four-day re-enactment to mark the 50th anniversary of the ride that was led by Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins and Bill Ford, who had been inspired by the American freedom riders." Julie Power, a reporter for Fairfax Media
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: Fiftieth anniversary re-enactment of freedom ride goes north to fight discrimination against Aboriginal people
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fiftieth-anniversary-reenactment-of-freedom-ri...
18 Feb 15: "The freedom ride re-enactment convoy set off from Sydney Uni on Wednesday to great fanfare - a far cry from the original 50 years ago. ... When the first freedom ride left Sydney University to fight discrimination against Aboriginal people in 1965, it did so without Wednesday morning's fanfare, without the university's support and without official speeches marking the occasion." Julie Power, a reporter for Fairfax Media
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: Freedom Ride's 50th anniversary a celebration and a reminder
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/freedom-rides-50th-anniversary-a-celebration-a...
17 Feb 15: "As a 15-year-old Aboriginal girl, Rhonda Gray could only dream of attending university when she jumped on a Freedom Ride bus in 1965 on a tour of NSW's deep north to expose discrimination and poor living conditions among Aboriginal Australians. On Wednesday morning, her grandson Kyol Blakeney, the second Indigenous president of Sydney University's Student Representative Council, will lead a group of 29 students in a recreation to mark the 50th anniversary of the original Freedom Ride, ... " Julie Power, a reporter for Fairfax Media
- Event
The University of Sydney: 50th anniversary the Freedom Ride
http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/2015-freedom-ride
"In February 1965, a group of students, led by Charles Perkins, organised ...the tour to draw attention to the state of Indigenous health, education and housing, and to try and stimulate local action. A re-enactment of the ride will bring original Riders and current University students and staff together to mark the 50th anniversary of this historic event from 18 to 21 February 2015.
The 2015 Freedom Ride will retrace parts of the journey and travel to:
* Dubbo (18 February)
* Walgett (19 February)
* Moree (20 February)
* Kempsey and Bowraville (21 February) ... "
- Event
Walgett District News: 50th Anniversary Freedom Ride Order of Events
http://www.walgettdistrictnews.com/news/50th-anniversary-freedom-rides/
- Upcoming Event
Sydney Koori Information Network: FW: Free Event: Freedom Ride 50th Anniversary - Film Screening Fri 27 Feb 2015
http://www.sydneykin.org.au/content/fw-free-event-freedom-ride-50th-anni...
"Redfern Community Centre invite you to attend the screening of Rachel Perkins’ film "Freedom Ride" to commemorate 50 years since a group of university students, including Charles Perkins, travelled throughout NSW to challenge racism in rural and coastal towns. ... "
- Background Video
SBS News: Backgrounder: 1965 Freedom Ride awoke nation to racism
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/02/19/backgrounder-1965-freedom-...
19 Feb 15: "The Freedom Ride brought unprecedented media attention to racism against Aboriginal people in Australia, writes Myles Morgan. ... Racism and segregation was very much alive in country New South Wales in 1965, and then-student Charlie Perkins worked to bring these issues into the light. "A lot of Australians talk about 'We want to give the Aborigines a fair go', then it's full stop and it's usually forgotten," Charlie Perkins had said. ... " By Myles Morgan; Source: NITV
- Background
SBS News: Explainer: What was Australia's Freedom Ride?
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/02/18/explainer-what-was-austral...
18 Feb 15: "This week is the 50th anniversary of the momentous Freedom Ride that journeyed through western New South Wales in February 1965 to draw attention to injustice and discrimination against our First Peoples of Australia. ... " By Andrea Booth
- Background Video
Eleanor Gilbert, Vimeo: WALGETT - Connecting to Country program for the High School staff
https://vimeo.com/119919172
18 Feb 15: "Community video from Walgett, NW NSW where the 1965 Freedom Ride re-enactment will be tomorrow 19 February 2015. The Connecting to Country program was an attempt by the local Aboriginal community to educate staff at the high school about the need to understand where the Aboriginal students are coming from psychologically and historically. This film was shot on 12 September 2014."
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
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