Local artist, activist and original Freedom Rider, Machteld Hali, continues her tireless efforts in supporting her community and advocating for the rights and empowerment of First Nations people. 

With the launch of her latest art fundraiser at The Tempest Gallery on 17 May, Machteld hopes to raise the remaining funds for her phenomenal $20k contribution to education for First Nations people at the University of New England. 

Machteld is guided by a strong desire to help, grown from some of her own experiences of hatred and discrimination as an immigrant in this country. It began in 1965 when Machteld participated in the Charles Perkins Freedom Ride run by Sydney University. 

The Freedom Ride was a 15 day bus journey through regional NSW and has since become a defining moment in Australian activism, now taught about in schools. The Freedom Ride was intended to spread awareness for the poor conditions that indigenous people were living in NSW at the time. 

Machteld recounts the Freedom Ride and the things she saw during the journey from a time where indigenous people were excluded from movie theatres, swimming pools, RSL clubs, etc. Many were living in unsafe and unhealthy conditions in reserves and missions in ‘shanty towns’. 

The fundraiser is aptly named “No More Eggs and Tomatoes” as a nod to the events that occurred at the Moree swimming pool. Machteld and the group of Freedom Riders were run out of town by angry locals throwing eggs and rotten tomatoes, spitting and fighting the peaceful protestors. Culminating in their bus being run off the road and their bus driver abandoning the group, leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere. 

The art fundraiser will feature a diverse selection of framed artworks generously donated by Hali herself, her students and a range of local artists. Notable contributions include pieces from acclaimed artists such as Pro Hart, Auguste Blackman, Robyn Sharp, Becky Guggisverg, and Kerrina Swords.  

The evening will provide food, drink and entertainment and the opportunity to bid on the art in an auction. Currently Machteld has raised $16,125 for the scholarship administered by the University of New England, with the goal to hit $20k. Machteld has hosted at least 10 workshops, some free, encouraging students to donate their work to two previous exhibitions that have helped contribute to the funds.  

In 2015, the University of Sydney hosted a reenactment of the Freedom Ride with 19 of the original members on board. The changes in the communities they visited were palpable and a complete turn around to the hostility the group had faced fifty years earlier. Healthy indigenous children lined the roads into town, and the townspeople welcomed the riders with appreciation for their past efforts. 

Despite progress, challenges still persist and many issues related to identity loss, intergenerational unemployment and substance abuse are still prevalent in regional towns like Moree. Machteld is motivated by these ongoing struggles and believes ‘education is the golden arrow’. 

Reflecting on the challenges addressed by the original Freedom Ride, Machteld emphasises the importance of acknowledging and rectifying past injustices. Those interested in attending the fundraiser or contributing to the cause are encouraged to contact Machteld by email at [email protected]. Details of the gallery open night can be found here. 

Through collective action and unwavering dedication, Machteld aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of First Nations people, one brushstroke at a time. In a bid to continue the legacy of the historic Freedom Ride of 1965, the artist continues to be a voice for our indigenous people, reminding us all of the importance of shared community and culture.