60 Years On
In 1965, a group of courageous students boarded a bus set out to challenge racial discrimination against First Nations peoples in regional New South Wales. Their journey became a powerful campaign for equal rights.
In 2025, Stand Up invites a new generation to walk that same road. Not to reenact history, but to walk that path together.
What’s Happening
Freedom Rides 2025 is an 8 day program bringing together young Jewish and First Nations adults (ages 18–30).
Together, participants will:
- Retrace part of the original 1965 Freedom Ride route: Boggabilla → Moree → Walgett → Dubbo → Sydney
- Engage in cultural exchange and dialogue
- Hear firsthand from First Nations Elders and key figures involved in the 1965 campaign
- Reflect on the legacy of the Freedom Rides and its ongoing relevance
- Conclude the journey with Stand Up’s 20th Anniversary Celebration of our friendship with Toomelah and Boggabilla
When: 7-14 September 2025
What Were the Freedom Rides?
In 1965, Aboriginal and non-Indigenous students from the University of Sydney formed the Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA) and travelled through northern NSW to expose the racism faced by Aboriginal people.
Led by Charles Perkins, the Freedom Riders brought national attention to segregation in towns like Moree and Walgett. Challenging exclusionary policies, standing alongside First Nations communities, and sparking national dialogue.
The Freedom Rides were a pivotal act of grassroots activism and they remain a powerful reminder of the role young people can play in shaping a fairer future.
Why Stand Up?
At Stand Up, we believe in the power of deep, enduring relationships. For more than 20 years, we've stood alongside First Nations communities in Toomelah and Boggabilla by building friendships, consistently showing up, and listening with humility through our Derech Eretz program. This partnership has been at the heart of our work.
The connection between Jewish and First Nations peoples runs deep. In 1965, several Jewish students were among the Freedom Riders. Later, Jewish leaders like Ron Castan AM QC and Marcus Einfeld became key advocates in landmark legal and human rights reforms for First Nations peoples.
We carry this legacy with us, not as a history to admire from afar, but as a call to action.
Freedom Rides 2025 is an opportunity to deepen this connection, strengthen cross-cultural leadership, and honour the shared values of justice and dignity.
Get Involved
This journey is for you.
Join us in commemorating history and shaping the future.
Places are limited.