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.