Members of the Stolen Generations, their families and the wider community will unite to promote healing and hope in the lead up to National Sorry Day later this month.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents and community members from Macarthur, Wingecarribee and across South West Sydney will commemorate Sorry Day - the anniversary of the historic Bringing Them Home Report – at The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, on Friday 24 May.
Sorry Day will be held in partnership with Campbelltown City Council, Liverpool City Council, Wollondilly Shire Council, NSW Family and Community Services, Uniting, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.
“National Sorry Day is an opportunity to join with our region’s first peoples and to acknowledge, commemorate and remember the Indigenous Australians who were impacted by the past policies of forced child removal that resulted in the Stolen Generations,” said Mayor George Brticevic said.
“Sorry Day recognises the wrongs of the past and is an important part of the healing process so we can achieve reconciliation, fairness and equity in society,” Cr Brticevic said.
National Sorry Day has been held annually on 26 May since 1998 to acknowledge and recognise members of the Stolen Generations
The first Sorry Day in 1998 was held exactly one year after the historic Bringing Them Home Report was presented to Parliament.
The Bringing Them Home Report was the result of an inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, and recommended an apology and reparations.
The forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children began as early as the mid-1800s and continued until the 1970s.
Sorry Day will be held from 10.30am, Friday 24 May at The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, Woodlands picnic area.
The commemoration includes a morning tea and a 12pm official opening followed by a walk through the Stolen Generations Garden.
