Freedom Ride opens new chapter in Walgett

Special guests at the opening of the Walgett’s Freedom Ride pavilion were Uncle Roger Knox, Associate Professor Toby Martin and Inspector Craig Jordan. Photo: WAMS

Story: Kristin Murdockkmurdock@outbackradio.com.au

Walgett’s Freedom Ride Memorial Park has entered a new chapter, with 245 guests gathering for the official opening of its new cultural pavilion, providing a permanent space to share the stories of local Aboriginal people and their role in Australia’s civil rights history.

The pavilion was officially opened on September 29 by the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, marking another milestone in the development of the Memorial Park in Fox Street, three years after the site first opened.

The new facility will serve as a place for history, storytelling, education and community gatherings, ensuring the experiences of those involved in the 1965 Freedom Ride, particularly local Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay people, are preserved for future generations.

Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Culture and History Coordinator Amy Townsend has been closely involved in the project and previously emphasised the importance of recognising the experiences of local Aboriginal people alongside those of the university students who travelled through rural NSW.

“Our history is important,” Ms Townsend said. “The 1965 Freedom Ride, led by Charles Perkins and the Student Action for Aborigines, brought national attention to racial discrimination in regional communities.”[…]

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