PRINT VERSION Biography of Charles Perkins

 

The Legacy of Charles Perkins

H

ow did the various Indigenous issues become solved? Much of it was brought about by one man. Born in 1936, he lived through the Second World War as a child, went through varied experiences including, at his peak, the(Australian) Freedom Ride which took place in NSW from the 12^th to the 26^th of February 1965. At 64 years old on 19 October 2000, he passed away due to complications relating to his health (his kidney transplant). He is well known as the first Aboriginal Australian to graduate from university and to head a Government Department. Although widely taught in schools, his own actions in his life are not looked upon as positively as the Freedom Ride he led.

The Freedom Ride spread the news that Aboriginal people could begin to stand up for themselves. It utilized the media and was also recorded in Perkins’ book A Bastard Like Me, which describes the experience better than the footage or photos. The major issues were the poor living conditions and the racism in the country areas. The Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA) undertook the survey of Aboriginal living conditions, the demo for allowing visibly darker-skinned Aboriginal children access to pools in certain towns, and other activities. At the time, racism was widely thought of in the university community as being widespread overseas in places such as South Africa and the south of America.

He was born in Alice Spring’s Telegraph Station, and spent the years of WW2 in Alice Springs, as well as in Rainbow Town which was located outside of Alice Springs. He moved to Semaphore, near Adelaide, where a hostel for Aboriginal boys had been set up. (St Francis House, most likely located in Marryatville) This was run by Father Smith, who most likely saved him from receiving no education in a poor school. However, leaving his mother and other family would have forced him to become tough as well as complicate his culture or heritage. In his teenage years, he enjoyed being with his friends and playing sport. These included boxing, soccer, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Aussie Rules and cricket. His school grades were not well recognized and resulted in leaving school and starting work. He moved out of the hostel at age 15 and for five years he worked as an apprentice in Adelaide for the British Tube Mills company. This lasted until 1957 while he lived at a boarding house. He was 21 years old in 1957, and was already earning the most money as a soccer player in Adelaide. His pay totalled eight pounds per week, and his weekly three pounds from the company would have been unnecessary. In 1961, he married, had children, moved to Sydney, completed his education with some struggle, and played for Pan-Hellenic (Sydney Olympic FC). He was able to play for this team because of his fame and experience in playing overseas in England and other places. Only half a year had passed before he had become the coach of the team. He established the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs in Sydney with Ted Noffs, but soon found it was useless. He went into public service (in the government) and was immensely busy. During this time, he also had to undergo dialysis for his kidney. His eventual kidney transplant was successful and allowed him to further act to change the conditions of many lives. Positive and effective methods did not simply spring from his rather unfortunate childhood and adolescence. It was only after many years of education, life abroad, and sport, that he finally became the person we remember him as.

During his life, numerous awards were bestowed to him both for his Indigenous-related activities and his football career. Doctorates were also awarded from both the University of Western Sydney in 1998 and from the University of Sydney. Memorial Prizes and scholarships named in his honour were also created. Many could say that his greatest achievement was starting the improvement of Indigenous Australians’ lives by leading the ‘Freedom Ride’. He had experienced the discrimination and segregation throughout his upbringing. He helped change the situation by assisting people to build self-confidence and question the policies enforced at the time. His character and the leadership he displayed must have been a factor as well. Aboriginal issues, rights and equality was his life work.

Veteran journalist Gerald Stone, (who covered the first Australian Freedom Ride in 1965), remembers him as “powerful because he was moderate”. The Freedom Ride woke the country to the reality that there was a problem or something to think about. He did not criticise the system from the outside, where nothing would have succeeded, but instead chose to work on issues from within the system;this is what made him so special when compared with others of the time. Many people will remember him even as time goes on and new issues arise.

Bibliography

Indigenous Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University 2011, 'Perkins, Charles Nelson (Charlie) (1936–2000)', http://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/perkins-charles-nelson-charlie-810, (accessed 28 October 2016).

(Transcription) TV Script,http://www.australianbiography.gov.au/subjects/perkins/script.html(accessed 28 October 2016).

Red Apple Education Ltd., Charles Perkins: Freedom Rides, http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u-117_t-319_c-1079/charles-perkins-freedom-rides/nsw/charles-perkins-freedom-rides/power-people-and-politics-in-the-post-war-period/people-and-power(accessed 28 October 2016).

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