Arrernte and Kalkadoon man Charles Perkins AO (1936–2000) was a civil rights activist who dedicated his life to achieving justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In the summer of 1964–65, as a student at the University of Sydney, Perkins organised a student bus tour around New South Wales to draw attention to the poor state of Indigenous health, education and housing, and to try and stimulate local action. Referred to as the 'freedom rides', it highlighted the state of race relations in Australia. The students protested and demonstrated against racial segregation and discrimination, culminating in overwhelming support for the 1967 Federal Government referendum which gave a clear mandate to implement policies to benefit First Nations people.
Robert McFarlane (1942-2023) recalled that he took this famous photograph of Perkins at night as he was going to, or returning from, mentoring country boys at Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative College, an independent learning environment for adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This introspective, seemingly isolated, portrayal of Perkins contrasts with his political activism in leading the 'freedom rides', recognised as one of Australia's most significant civil rights events.
Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2013. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2023
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