The Australian Aboriginal Flag (Photo credit: Wikipedia)The big move to the coast for the Baldwins came when the race riots occurred at Moree. My children's father was three years old. His family told him he was the reason for their move. They said it was because he had asthma.
I also know that the McKechnie's were racist large land holders of the area. Hearing the children's grandmother speak about aboriginal people like they were animals was the key to this for me. I was aware there had been trouble. I was physically sick listening to her. She knew I had connection and she treated me and my children accordingly.
I had no idea of the Freedom Rides of the 1960's and the issues of the Indigenous peoples and the white hatred. I was a child myself. It was a very dark time that really was not that long ago. It was when I was going to school.
I was a ward of the state and I lived with many aboriginal children. I was looked down upon because I slept in the same room and ate at the same tables. This was very wrong and it was so much hatred. I was affected by this greatly. I was unable to understand from their point of view as these children were my friends and we were not racist. I didn't see them different to me. I saw them as beautiful people.
MOREE, Saturday. - Mob violence exploded here today as student freedom riders were attacked by a crowd crazed with race hate.
White women spat on girl students and screamed filthy words as the students tried to win Aboriginal children admission to the town baths.
Several people were arrested and the town's mayor, Alderman William Lloyd, pitched into the battle, grabbing students by the scruff of their necks and hurling them out of the way.
Throughout the fighting a barrage of eggs and rotten fruit rained on the students.
Mr Jim Spigelman, a 19-year-old student from Maroubra, was smacked to the ground while the 500 strong crowd roared its approval.
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| Sunday Mirror, 21 February, 1965
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