Students retrace Freedom Ride

A group of high school students is retracing the journey of the 1965 Freedom Ride, in the hope of generating constitutional change.

A group of high school students is retracing the journey of the 1965 Freedom Ride, in the hope of generating constitutional change.

Charles Perkins led a busload of university students through outback New South Wales in 1965 to confront racism head-on.

Now students from Central Coast High School are retracing these steps in a bid to generate support for having the original Aboriginal ownership of Australia recognised in the constitution.

“We're actually in the constitution, written as 'natives' but not properly recognised as people of our own lands,” teacher Gavi Duncan said.

Mr Perkins' daughter Hetti Perkins is moved by the actions of the students and said her father would be proud.

Journalist Geoff McMullen, who interviewed Mr Perkins many times, is supporting the action.

“I think the young freedom riders today will ask the question that Charles Perkins would ask in 2011: Are we still living with discrimination? Yes we are,” Mr McMullen said.

Living Black will take a comprehensive look at the 2011 Freedom Ride when it returns on March 13.

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