Bikers to Bobbies - Freda takes a bow
by Michèle Nardelli
She may be an “older” Australian and technically retired, but Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs is not only a bit of a wild one when it comes to passion for the child protection message but also an amazing example of a person making a difference in the world.
By special invitation the UniSA child protection researcher launched a new chapter of Bikers United Against Child Abuse (BUACA) last month and took part in a leg of Desert Thunder 2009, an annual ride to raise awareness of child abuse in remote Australia.
Met by 50 leather-clad bikers at Darwin Airport and riding pillion on a Harley, Prof Briggs joined the riders and their families from motorbike riding clubs across WA, Queensland and the NT in a 300-strong run out towards Kakadu. BUACA operates at a grass-roots level providing community education and support for victims and non-offending parents in the legal system.
"I have never been better cared for," she said.
"I decided to support this group because for the past 25 years I have never come across an organised group of men like this, who are keen to get active and involved in the child protection message.
"I am thrilled that BUACA has been established and is taking up the challenge to raise awareness of this important issue."
And to add a real insight into the amazing life of Freda Briggs – just a little over a month after her desert sojourn – she has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Sheffield in recognition of her distinguished academic career and contributions to international research and literature in the field of child protection.
For Prof Briggs the visit has been a trip down memory lane. She has returned to Huddersfield where she grew up and started on her journey from factory clerk, to policewoman, social worker then teacher and finally university academic and international researcher in child protection. And a surprise award during the visit was an inscribed blue Bristol glass bowl and plaque from Avon and Somerset Police headquarters, in recognition of 10 years of consultancy for the international Child-Safe program which was created by the police force there and is now a charity attached to their HQ.