“We know how important this story is to Moree. The photos are a cultural asset,” said exhibition co-curator Debrah Novak.

Around 20 photos and a dozen storyboards were donated to the local Aboriginal Centre, after being hidden away at Yamba Museum.

“Because this isn’t our story, Debrah contacted Moree Council and asked if we could find a home for these photos,” said Yamba Museum president Marea Buist.

Mayor Katrina Humphries said she couldn’t think of a better place of residence for the collection, than the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre.

“We thank the Yamba Museum for the initiative and kindness to bring the photos here.”

The ceremonial handover marked the opening night of Freedom: A Ride We Remember. Speakers such as Lyall Munro Jr and Eddie Pitt took to the stage to share their experiences in 1965, and Zona Moore delivered a powerful and moving poem, recalling the Freedom Ride.

For anyone who may be a tourist to the 1965 event: Charles Perkins headed a bus tour of University of Sydney students to draw attention to racism and the attendant, poor state of health, education and housing in the Aboriginal community.

The campaigners rolled into Moree and demanded an end to segregation, storming the local pool with a busload of children.

Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre collections exhibition officer Raquel Clarke said the exhibition brought home the significance of the event.

“When you see the local images, it helps people realise this is a local thing that happened, and not too long ago either.”

The Freedom Ride entered its 50^th anniversary in 2015, and the annual exhibition has since jumped from strength to strength according to Raquel.

“The Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre was recently renovated. With the added photos, the exhibition has not only become bigger, but more accessible to Moree.”

She added, more school students appeared to be passing through the centre, an indication of the growing reach of the exhibition.

The exhibition will run until June 22.