Charles perkins quotes
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Obituary
19 October 2000 - Aboriginal leader who campaigned for civil rights reform and was the first of his people to become head of a government department.
The first Aboriginal Australian to become head of a federal government department - the Department of Aboriginal Affairs - Charles Perkins exerted an enormous influence on Australian national life for more than 40 years. Throughout that time he was the most outspoken activist for Aboriginal rights. A man given to a certain vehemence in propounding his views, as recently as last May he had described Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, as a "racist" and a "dog" for what he regarded as his tardiness in embracing reconciliation with black Australia. Perkins demanded a full government apology for past wrongs to the Aborigines. "Without an apology there can be no real reconciliation, and the conscience of the nation will never rest in peace."
Charles Perkins was not only the first Aboriginal Australian to become head of a government department; he was, in 1965, also the first Aboriginal university graduat
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Who is Charles Perkins?
In 1965, as a student at the University of Sydney, Dr Perkins organised a student bus tour around New South Wales to draw attention to the state of Indigenous health, education and housing, and to try and stimulate local action. This was called the Freedom ride, and it highlighted the state of race relations in Australia. It is recognised as one of Australia's most significant civil rights events.
In 1966, Dr Charles Nelson Perkins AO was the first Aboriginal man to graduate from a university in Australia.
His achievements included appointments as secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and chairman of the Aboriginal Development Commission and Aboriginal Hostels. Dr Perkins was a fearless spokesman and renowned activist involved in Aboriginal organisations wherever he lived.
Our centre owes its name to Charles Perkins and we share his philosophy of collaboration, inclusivity and continuing to challenge the status quo.
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Charles Perkins
1936 to 2000
Charles Perkins was born in Alice Springs; his mother was Arrernte and his father Kalkadoon.
He was removed from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Aboriginal Reserve when he was 10 and educated at St Francis House, a school established by Father Percy Smith in Adelaide to educate Aboriginal boys.
He trained initially as a fitter and turner but, being a gifted soccer player, he played professionally for the English club, Everton, then on his return to Australia with the Adelaide Croatian and the Sydney Pan-Hellenic Clubs.
Perkins first attended the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement annual conference in Brisbane in 1961.
He spoke with passion about his visit to Mungana reserve where he saw a double standard in action: attractive homes for the white staff and tin shanties for the Aboriginal residents.
In 1965 Perkins, one of two Aboriginal students at the University of Sydney (the other was Gary Williams), was keen to find a way to publicise the Aboriginal cause. This led to the formation of Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA) and th
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