Freedom Ride Memorial Park
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited led the design of a Memorial Park to commemorate local people and Freedom Ride supporters. The Chairperson, Mrs Mary Purse, is the daughter of the late Harry Hall who was a primary leader, along with the late Charles Perkins (AO).
The Park commemorates the Freedom Rides to Walgett of 1965. It identifies significant events and local Aboriginal people who had a key role in the protests against segregation in Walgett on 15 February 1965. The park is located at an old bank site with a “vault”. The vault itself has artwork installed depicting the ‘Freedom Riders’ and also commemorates local community members, families and the students who took part in those events. The artwork will be linked with QR codes to a website that records the history in more detail. It is a quiet space to sit and reflect and includes walkways, sandstone seating, plaques and plants. The development of the park is in stages, with planning for a covered walkway, gift shop, café and additional native plants.
WAMS is also in the process of applying for a Heritage NSW “Blue Plaque” to recognise this event, this will be a pilot “Blue Plaque Trail” with multiple plaques along the route.
