Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this article may contain names of people who have since passed away.
Councils around the nation are commemorating National Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day. The theme of reconciliation this year is ‘Be Brave, Make Change’. Reconciliation Week celebrates the noteworthy milestones for reconciliation for the Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander People, including the High Court Mabo decision and the successful 1967 referendum. The celebration encourages life-long reconciliation change in every single Australian.
National Sorry Day commemorates the national apology to Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, and aims to acknowledge the terrible injustices faced throughout Australia’s history.
Blacktown Council
Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM, is calling on the community to add their voice to the important cause of Aboriginal healing and reconciliation with a community ceremony at Nurragingy Reserve.
Mayor Bleasdale said, “Sorry Day calls on us all to reflect on the injustices experienced by ‘The Stolen Generations’ and provides an opportunity for us to come together to ensure they are never repeated.
“It is an important day to acknowledge and remember a dark time in Australian history and also reflect on the role we each play in promoting healing.
“This week we also mark National Reconciliation Week, which is time to celebrate the meaning of reconciliation and the building of mutual and respectful relationships with First Nations people.
“During Reconciliation Week, we are called on to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation and focus on how important it is for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements.”
Mayor Bleasdale said the occasion was especially significant in Blacktown City, which is home to the largest urban population of Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales.
“As Mayor of Blacktown City, I am extraordinarily proud of our Indigenous history and heritage, and Indigenous Australians have an enduring connection to this beautiful region known today as Blacktown City,” Mayor Bleasedale said.
“Council is committed to reconciliation and has a Reconciliation Action Plan to guide our work in this space.”
Featured photo courtesy of Blacktown City Council.
National Sorry Day on 26 May with a community ceremony at Nurragingy Reserve.
Sunshine Coast
Traditional Custodians, the Sunshine Coast Indigenous Australian community, and Council representatives have met on Jinibara lands to launch National Reconciliation Week.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor, Mark Jamieson, said Council was committed to continuing to engage in meaningful action to further reconciliation in the region.
“Today was a great opportunity to gather together, build strong and respectful relationships between First Nations people and non-First Nations people, celebrate the start of National Reconciliation Week and the achievements, commitments and partnerships with the First Nations community,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“Sunshine Coast Council was the first local government in Queensland to have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan in partnership with Reconciliation Australia in 2011.
“Our Sunshine Coast Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-22 continues to place a high priority on building strong collaborations and partnerships and supporting social and economic opportunities for the First Nations community.
“The Sunshine Coast local region has a rich First Nations history and I look forward to seeing the RAP work to support a shared future that embraces culture, heritage and diversity.”
Community Development Portfolio Councillor, David Law, said reconciliation was a long journey the city must undertake together.
“This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Be Brave, Make Change’, asks us to make change, beginning with brave actions in our daily lives, as we all have a role to play in working towards reconciliation,” Cr Law said.
“We must all commit to learning about our shared histories and exploring how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
“Council is committed to continuing to prioritise meaningful and collaborative working relationships with Traditional Custodians and First Nations people within our region to build a strong, inclusive and connected community on the Sunshine Coast.”
Events within the Sunshine Coast community can be found here.
Whittlesea Council
An Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony, a Sorry Walk and stories of the Stolen Generation marked the City of Whittlesea’s 2022 commemoration of National Sorry Day.
The event, at Council’s Civic Centre in South Morang, included a Welcome to Country as well as a keynote speech from Lisa Zammit, the Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Home, about the Stolen Generations and Redress Scheme.
Local community Elder, Uncle Herb Patten, guided attendees through a Sorry Walk to the Sorry Space at Civic Centre and flags were lowered to half-mast to honour members of the Stolen Generation who did not come home.
City of Whittlesea Administrator and Whittlesea Reconciliation Group member Peita Duncan, said the day was about taking time to pause and understand the impact of the Stolen Generation.
“Sorry Day is about understanding the impact of our history on Aboriginal people. It’s about ensuring there is understanding and truth-telling of the history of this country,” Ms Duncan said.
“We first commemorated National Sorry Day here at Council in 2002, led by the late Uncle Reg Blow and the Whittlesea Reconciliation Group. Today some 20 years later, we reaffirm our commitment to reconciliation, and to continuing to build relationships and understanding.”
Ms Duncan said with the second largest Aboriginal population in metropolitan Melbourne, Whittlesea Council had taken significant steps over the years towards reconciliation.
Having completed its Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, the City of Whittlesea will soon begin work on an updated Reconciliation Action Plan. Council is also working with the local community to create an Aboriginal Gathering Place.
“Moving forward in the City of Whittlesea we want to deepen our understanding of our rich Aboriginal culture and heritage, and through initiatives such as the Aboriginal Gathering Place, the City of Whittlesea hopes to foster positive change and reconciliation with the First Nations people of this land,” Ms Duncan said.
Images courtesy of Whittlesea Council.
Geelong Council
Geelong Council and the City of Greater Geelong are partnering to project artwork by Indigenous Australians onto Geelong’s City Hall and the Barwon Water forecourt as part of the city’s National Reconciliation Week celebrations.
The artworks were completed by artists living in Barwon, Marngoneet and Karreenga correctional facilities, along with in-community artists with connections to Wadawurrung Country. All artworks in the exhibition can be purchased online, with 100 per cent of the artwork price going directly to the artist.
Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio Chair, Councillor, Jim Mason, said Reconciliation Week was a time for people to reflect on the shared histories and cultures and explore what actions can be personally taken to contribute to reconciliation in Australia.
Barwon Water Managing Director, Tracey Slatter, said Barwon Water was proudly participating in Reconciliation Week by supporting the city’s projections program at the water corporation’s Ryrie Street HQ.
“This public demonstration reflects our commitment to reconciliation and building respectful partnerships with Traditional Owners and other Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander people who demonstrate great generosity in sharing their knowledge and culture with us,” Cr Mason said.
The artworks can be viewed at the Confined 13 virtual exhibition. The exhibition aims to draw attention to high rates of First Nations People incarcerated in Australia.
Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handed down its report in 1991, incarceration rates for Indigenous Australians have doubled. Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander people make up three per cent of Australia’s total population but represent more than 30 per cent of the national prison population.
The City has installed 50 banners across the region to raise awareness of National Reconciliation Week.
Hobson City Council
The program will include exhibitions of National Reconciliation Week posters, a special performance by local musician James Henry, artist Aretha Brown’s Wominjeka flags flying at gateways, and library workshops for primary school students.
Mayor Hemphill said Council’s Reconciliation Week events aim to raise awareness in the broader community about what reconciliation means to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and how everyone can create an inclusive and empowered community, in line with the vision outlined in the city’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
“It’s a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government – to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians,” Mayor Hemphill said.
Shellharbour City Council
Shellharbour City has organised its annual Reconciliation Flag Walk with Aboriginal Elders, Mayor Chris Homer, Shellharbour City Councillors, civic leaders and children from 29 local schools.