Goulburn State Aid Strike 1962

Summary

In 1962, a dispute over funding for additional toilet seats at a Catholic school in Goulburn, New South Wales, escalated into a strike led by Bishop John Cullinane. Over 1,300 Catholic students were forced to attend state schools, causing chaos and highlighting the need for state aid in education. The strike garnered national attention and led to a national lobby for state aid, influencing political decisions and the church's role in education.

Takeaways

• 🌸 The script describes a festival of flowers in the New South Wales city of Goulburn, setting a vibrant scene for the story.
• 😡 In 1962, a dispute arose in Goulburn over the government's demand for additional toilet seats in a Catholic school, which the bishop claimed they could not afford.
• 📰 The issue made national headlines and was reported as a significant conflict between the church and the state regarding school facilities.
• 🏛️ Bishop John Cullinane, known for being a shy and retiring man, took a bold step by organizing a meeting with Catholic parents to discuss the situation.
• 🤔 A local solicitor, JB Mullen, suggested a radical idea to close all Catholic schools in protest, which was initially met with opposition.
• 🗳️ On July 9th, 1962, a large meeting at Goulburn's lilac time Hall resulted in an overwhelming majority of parents voting to close the schools and send their children to state schools.
• 🏫 The closure of the Catholic schools led to 1350 children enrolling in already crowded state schools, causing a significant disruption and a sense of adventure among the students.
• 🙏 Archbishop of Canberra, Eris O'Brien, showed support for the parents' democratic right to protest, which was a pivotal moment in the strike's continuation.
• 🚫 The strike began on July 16th, 1962, with seven Catholic schools closing their gates, and the children marching to the state schools.
• 📚 The state schools struggled to accommodate all the Catholic students, with only a few schools having room for less than half of the applicants.
• 📉 The strike was initially planned for six weeks but ended earlier due to concerns about the impact on children's education and the significant publicity it received.
• 🏛️ The strike led to a national lobby group pushing for state aid for schools, making it a hot political issue, and eventually resulted in some state aid being provided in 1963.

Q & A

What was the main cause of the conflict between the government and the Catholic schools in Goulburn, New South Wales in 1962?

The main cause of the conflict was the government's demand for three extra toilet seats at Our Lady of Mercy preparatory school, which the bishop claimed they couldn't afford, leading to a standoff that made national headlines.

Who was JB Mullen and what role did he play in the events of 1962?

JB Mullen was a local solicitor who suggested the radical idea of closing all the Catholic schools and sending the children to the state schools as a form of protest, which significantly influenced the course of action taken by the Catholic community.

What was the proposal put forward at the meeting held at Goulburn's Lilac Time Hall on July 9th, 1962?

The proposal was to strike by closing down the Catholic schools and sending the children to the state schools, as a means of protest against the government's refusal to help with the renovation of the toilets.

How did the Archbishop of Canberra, Eris O'Brien, respond to the proposed strike?

Archbishop Eris O'Brien made a courageous statement, saying that if the Catholic community wanted to exercise their democratic right to make a protest, he would not restrain them, effectively supporting the strike.

What was the outcome of the vote held among the parents regarding the closure of the Catholic schools?

The overwhelming majority of parents voted in favor of closing the schools, which led to the implementation of the strike.

What happened on July 16th, 1962, in Goulburn regarding the Catholic schools?

On July 16th, 1962, the gates of seven Catholic schools in Goulburn were firmly closed, and 1350 Catholic children went to enroll at the state schools, marking the official start of the strike.

How did the state schools manage the influx of Catholic students?

Goulburn High and three primary state schools accommodated less than half of the Catholic students who applied to enroll, while the rest faced the prospect of going without an education for the time being.

What was the initial duration of the strike planned by the organizers?

The original plan was to strike for six weeks.

How did the strike affect the children involved?

The strike was a culture shock for the children, as they had to adjust to a different educational environment. There was also concern about the impact of the closure on the children's education.

What was the broader impact of the strike on the cause for state aid to Catholic schools?

The strike brought tremendous press and publicity to the cause of state aid, making it a red-hot political issue and leading to a national lobby group to ensure state aid became a priority.

What political developments followed the strike in terms of state aid for Catholic schools?

In 1963, the New South Wales Labour government under Bob Heffron attempted to provide state aid for school science laboratories, but the decision was overturned by the federal executive of the Australian Labor Party, leading to embarrassment for the party.

Outlines

00:00

🌸 Festival of Flowers and Catholic School Strike

The script begins by setting a scene of a flower festival in Goulburn, New South Wales, juxtaposed with a historical event from 1962. The city's Catholic community was in an uproar over a seemingly trivial issue: the government's demand for three additional toilet seats at Our Lady of Mercy preparatory school. The bishop claimed they couldn't afford it, leading to a standoff that made national headlines. The script describes the escalating situation, where the state threatened to deregister the school if the toilets were not renovated. Bishop John Cullinane, a usually reserved figure, took the bold step of organizing a meeting with Catholic parents. The radical proposal to close all Catholic schools and send the children to state schools was met with both opposition and support. Despite the emotional turmoil, the majority voted in favor of the closure. The strike began on July 16, 1962, with 1350 Catholic children enrolling in state schools, causing chaos and confusion. The event was a significant protest against the lack of state aid for Catholic schools.

05:02

🏛️ The Impact of the Catholic School Strike and State Aid Debate

The second paragraph delves into the aftermath of the Catholic school strike in Goulburn. It highlights the efforts of Goulburn High and three primary schools to accommodate the influx of Catholic students, but notes that space was limited and not all could be enrolled. The strike organizers were concerned about the long-term effects on the children involved. The initial plan was for a six-week strike, but due to extensive press coverage and public support, the strike ended sooner. JB Mullen announced that while the immediate action would cease, the fight for state aid would continue through a national lobby group. The script also touches on the political implications of the strike, with the New South Wales Labour government tentatively supporting state aid before being overruled by the federal ALP executive. The Liberal Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, used the issue to his advantage in a snap election, positioning himself as supportive of the church's educational role.

Keywords

💡Festival of Flowers

The 'Festival of Flowers' is a celebration that showcases the beauty of blossoms, often held in cities to attract visitors and promote local culture. In the video's context, it serves as a backdrop to the story of Goulburn, highlighting the contrast between the city's festive atmosphere and the serious educational issues at hand.

💡Catholic

The term 'Catholic' refers to the religious affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. In the video, the Catholic community of Goulburn is central to the conflict over school funding and facilities, particularly the controversy surrounding the lack of toilet seats in a Catholic school.

💡Toilet Seats

In the script, 'toilet seats' symbolize the tipping point of the conflict between the government and the Catholic community. The demand for additional toilet seats by health inspectors led to a financial dispute and ultimately the school strike, illustrating the broader issue of state aid for religious schools.

💡School Strike

A 'school strike' is a form of protest where educational institutions are temporarily closed as a means of expressing dissatisfaction or demanding change. In the video, the Catholic community's decision to close schools and send children to state schools was a significant act of protest against the government's refusal to provide funding.

💡State Aid

'State aid' refers to financial support provided by the government to educational institutions. The video discusses the controversy and eventual push for state aid to religious schools, which was a contentious political issue at the time.

💡Bishop John Cullinane

Bishop John Cullinane is a key figure in the video, representing the Catholic Church's leadership during the conflict. His actions and decisions, including the call to close schools, were pivotal in escalating the situation and drawing attention to the issue of state funding for religious education.

💡Archbishop of Canberra

The 'Archbishop of Canberra' is a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church, who in the video, supports the democratic right of the community to protest. His statement allowed the school strike to proceed, indicating the Church's stance on the issue.

💡State Schools

In the video, 'state schools' are government-funded educational institutions that became the alternative for Catholic students when their own schools were closed during the strike. The capacity of state schools to accommodate the influx of students became a significant point of discussion.

💡Education Department

The 'Education Department' is the government body responsible for overseeing educational policies and standards. In the video, the department's demand for school renovations and the subsequent refusal to provide funding led to the conflict with the Catholic community.

💡National Lobby Group

A 'national lobby group' is an organization that advocates for specific causes at a national level. In the video, the formation of such a group was part of the strategy to continue the fight for state aid for religious schools after the initial strike ended.

💡Snap Election

A 'snap election' is an election that is called unexpectedly or earlier than the scheduled time. In the video, the Liberal Prime Minister Robert Menzies called a snap election, using the issue of state aid for religious schools as a political platform.

Highlights

Lovely lessers bid you welcome to a festival of flowers as the New South Wales city of Gotham arches in its annual tonic time.

Golden was a very Catholic town by the early sixties with more than 2,000 children attending seven Catholic primary and secondary schools.

The cause of the blow up was government school and health inspectors demanding three extra toilet seats at Our Lady of Mercy preparatory.

The bishop said he couldn't afford the renovations and the state refused to help, leading to a national controversy.

Bishop John Cullinane decided to act by inviting 40 Catholic parents to discuss the situation.

JB Mullen, a local solicitor, suggested closing the schools and sending the children to state schools, which led to a significant reaction.

On Monday, July 9th, 1962, 700 people met at Goulburn's Lilac Time Hall to discuss a strike.

The proposal to close the Catholic schools and flood state schools with their students was met with both opposition and emotional support.

Archbishop of Canberra, Eris O'Brien, stated that he would not restrain the parents if they chose to exercise their democratic right to protest.

On Monday, July 16th, 1962, the gates of seven Catholic schools closed, and 1,350 Catholic children attempted to enroll in state schools.

The sudden influx of students caused chaos and confusion at the state schools, which struggled to accommodate them.

Despite the publicity, the state schools could only accommodate less than half of the Catholic students.

The original strike plan was for six weeks, but it ended earlier due to the overwhelming media attention.

A national lobby group was formed to ensure state aid became a significant political issue.

In 1963, the New South Wales Labour government introduced funding for school science laboratories, leading to political turmoil and a snap election called by Prime Minister Robert Menzies.

Transcripts

lovely lessers bid you welcome to a

festival of flowers as the New South

Wales city of Gotham arches in its

annual tonic time gay blossoms are a

perfect frame for a city in Ghana dress

in 1962 Catholic anger boiled over in

Goulburn New South Wales not far from

Canberra golden was a very Catholic town

by the early sixties more than 2,000

children worked seven catholic primary

and secondary schools the cause of the

blow up now seems bizarre government

school and health inspectors demanded

three extra toilet seats at Our Lady of

Mercy preparatory the bishop said he

couldn't afford it the rau made national

headlines all corners compiled this

gripping report this lavatory was

condemned as being unsuitable and too

small for the number of pupils attending

this school the health departments and

the Education Department demanded that

it be renovated the pur Catholic bishop

here said that they couldn't afford to

and asked the state to help the answer

was no the next thing when our a decree

was issued that the schools registration

would be removed by a certain date if

the toilets were not done and the bishop

made it quite clear that what he said

was the truth we didn't have the money

to do it but the state government hadn't

counted on Goldman's Bishop John

Cullinane normally a shy retiring man he

decided to act on a Sunday he invited 40

Catholic parents to discuss what to do

one was a local solicitor JB mum final

suggestion that came about from mr. JB

Mullen who has not renowned for his

radical ideas he suggested that all the

schools closed and the impact of that on

the meeting was quite effective

on Monday the 9th of July in 1962 700

people met at Goldman's lilac time Hall

a building known locally as the praying

mantis the proposal before them was a

strike to close down the Catholic

schools and send their children to flood

the state school the Maya management

there was a large measure of opposition

to the motion that we could even think

of closing the schools it was more

emotional than intellectual but believe

you me it was emotional

there were literacies on both sides one

woman claiming that she do March and

Parliament house rather than sacrifice

her children put them in the forum or in

so to speak

[Music]

but when it was put to the vote the

overwhelming majority of parents said

yes close the school's watching on

silently was a prince of the church a

much respected historian eres O'Brien

Archbishop of Canberra Goldman Catholics

in those days were much more likely to

obey the wishes of the archbishop and on

fact I think had he said well look I've

listened to you but you mustn't do it we

probably wouldn't have carried on with

the strike and then at the end of it he

made a very courageous statement saying

that if you as good citizens and good

Catholics want to exercise your

democratic right to make a protest

I will not restrain you that remark was

not understood immediately by reporters

they asked the question what does that

mean - which Bishop Cullinan told them

on the side it means the schools are

closing and so back to Goldberg on

Monday July the 16th 1962 the gates of

seven Catholic schools swung firmly

closed 1350 Catholic kids their bags and

cut lunches turned up to enroll at the

already swollen state schools the strike

was on

we haven't run as we marched and we

could see other groups of schoolchildren

more marching towards the hospital and

there was a bit of a sense of excitement

and adventure because it was something

different from the normal

run-of-the-mill school day and finally

the the children did arrive and there

was a great deal of commotion and

confusion factor one stage the reporters

and the journalists who had to be asked

to leave the school grounds there was so

much worried and upset

[Music]

it must have been chaos but at Goulburn

high they did their best

like the English teacher Jack blues I

welcome them as students I said I wanted

them to enjoy their stay with us no

matter how long it was and we do our

best to meet their needs and education

and I said for both of us I hope it'll

be a learning experience and there was

just masses of people and we were

waiting to get into the hall and we had

to sit and wait for ages to find out you

know what were they going to do with us

and I guess that was the impact of it

you know government schools really

couldn't accommodate all of us and they

would take just some of us it turned out

that Goulburn high the only state high

school and three primary schools had

room for less than half the Catholic

students who applied to enroll the

others look like going without an

education for those who did get in it

was a bit of a culture shock tink

despite the avalanche of publicity for

the state aid cause the strike

organisers were worried about the impact

of the closure on children

the original plan had been to strike for

six weeks we received a press and

publicity which was tremendous it

exceeded in fact our wildest

expectations

in the end JB Mullen announced that in

everyone's interest the strike would end

but the battle would go on with a

national lobby group to ensure that

state aid became a red-hot political

issue

[Music]

in 1963 Bob herons New South Wales

Labour government Catholic back

right-wing stuck a toe in the waters of

state aid with money for school science

laboratories consternation the faceless

men of the alp Federal Executive

overturned that decision leading labour

in Parliament with egg all over the face

the liberal Prime Minister Robert

Menzies a Presbyterian seized his chance

he called a snap election with God on

side we must all thank God that the work

of the church goes on and that it will

provide what to me is the essential and

inevitable background of a civilised

instructional and educational course