BORN in a tin hut in an Aboriginal camp in Moree, Elder Noeline Briggs-Smith is passionate about preserving local Indigenous history.
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Noeline wishes to create a memorial from the Moree Aboriginal Reserve School’s old bell, in an effort to honour a group of women who helped bring higher education to the then segregated local Aboriginal students. The school was built in 1933, and Noeline believes the bell now resides in Moree East Public School (MEPS), but the Department of Education has disputed her claim.
“These are the women who instigated higher education. You’ve got Aunty Dulcie, you’ve got Aunty Maude and you’ve got Aunty Maynee,” she said. With schooling only provided until sixth class, the Aunties approached the headmaster of Moree Intermediate High School in the 50s, succeeding in a trial for high school aged Indigenous students.
Following the 1965 NSW Freedom Ride, which drew attention to the widespread segregation in Moree, the Reserve School was slowly phased out, closing in 1971. According to Noeline, the bell, which had been donated to the Aboriginal school by the local fire brigade, then accompanied Aunty Maynee Saunders when she was transferred to MEPS.
We want something there from the history, from the school.
- Noeline Briggs-Smith
Noeline has applied for a community heritage grant, hoping to move the bell to the Pius X memory garden, across the road from the original reserve school, to memorialise the Aunties.
“If I can get that, I’ll move the bell because it’s no good just putting a plaque there. We want something there from the history, from the school.”
However a Department of Education spokesperson disagreed with Noeline, stating that “The Department of Education has carefully considered the providence of the bell that has been in use at Moree East Public School since 1962. Documentation gathered indicates that it was not from the Aboriginal Reserve School which closed in 1971.”
Noeline remains adamant that the MEPS bell belonged to the Aboriginal Reserve School first.
“It is so important. Because the people who have the bell are saying ‘No. The Aboriginal school did not have the bell,’ and we rang that bell. We rang that bell, all those students who are still alive today are saying ‘no!’” she said.
Documentation gathered indicates that it was not from the Aboriginal Reserve School which closed in 1971.
- Department of Education spokesperson
“Segregation was here in Moree. It was part of our history. It’s no good you saying it wasn’t. You can’t change history to suit people.”
“I lived through it. I was born into it. And I didn’t like the way my people were treated. They were no different from any other race. You had your good, you had your bad, you had your clean, you had your dirty. But I mean, they just plonked it onto everyone.”
While the Department of Education remains firm on their position, the spokesperson said “The Department is willing to discuss with Ms Briggs-Smith’s (sic) her desire to acknowledge the women who led opportunities for Aboriginal students to pursue their senior schooling.”
“I’m saying; where is the bell? If they say that this bell was not at the reserve school, then where is our bell? That’s what I’m saying. Where is our bell?” Noeline said.
Where is our bell?
- Noeline Briggs-Smith
To read a letter to the editor response written by the historical society's James Pritchard, click here.
To read the Champion's follow up story on this issue, click here.
For Noeline's response, click here.
