Harper Sercombe
Whittlesea council marked national Sorry Day on Friday, with an observance ceremony held at the South Morang Civic Centre.
National Sorry Day has been held since 1998 marking the tabling of the ‘bringing them home’ report in federal parliament in 1997.
It is seen as a day to reflect on the past laws, practices and policies that separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and acknowledge the stolen generation survivors.
Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said national Sorry Day is an important day for the community.
“National Sorry Day is a day on which we say sorry to the stolen generations for the profound suffering, grief and loss they have experienced as a result,” Ms Wilson said.
“We acknowledge that the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is a cause of intergenerational pain still acutely felt by many in our community.”
Friday’s ceremony began with a smoking ceremony led by Thane Garvey before attendees observed a minute’s silence and welcome to country.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Yoorok Justice commissioner Maggie Walter. Ms Walter is a Palawa woman, professor and advocate for Indigenous rights who has authored more than 100 journal articles and research chapters in the fields of Indigenous sociology and Indigenous data sovereignty.
National sorry day fell on the eve of national Reconciliation Week, which runs from 27 May to 3 June.
The theme of this year’s national reconciliation week is “be a voice for generations”.
