Australia Day 2008 - A skywriter writes "Sorry" in the sky.
Click here to watch the movie clip.
Curtin University of Technology held a special event in celebration of the Apology to Indigenous Australia’s Stolen Generations on Wed 13 February. Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket hosted breakfast attended by more than 150 staff and students outside the Kirribilli Café where everyone watched the announcement live on giant projection screens. After the Prime Minister's apology, Curtin commenced its own celebrations with the Centre for Aboriginal Studies' (CAS) Cheryl Taylor delivering a traditional welcome to Nyungar land (on which the University is situated). Professor Hacket then spoke about the University's commitment to reconciliation and its efforts in the area. Head of CAS, Associate Professor Anita Lee Hong also addressed the gathering with a reflection on this historic event.
Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket,
Centre for Aboriginal Studies Head Associate Professor Anita Lee Hong
and Emeritus Professor Lance Twomey
For more information please download the media release (29KB) (13.02.08).
The Australian Government Export Finance and Insurance Corporation held a breakfast and all members of staff listened to the speech on the morning of the Apology.
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Families Australia, the national, independent peak organisation promoting the interests of families, today welcomed the forthcoming apology to the Stolen Generation. Families Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Babington, said: "An apology is only the beginning, but it is a crucial beginning, laying the foundation on which to begin building understanding, mutual respect and the collaborative efforts that will strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities."
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Gilbert + Tobin is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Throughout their twenty year history, they have always demonstrated a committed to reconciliation. So, it was with great pride and excitement that 150 staff came together on the morning of Wednesday, 13 February 2008 to witness the new Federal Parliament apologise to the Stolen Generations.
Managing Partner, Danny Gilbert, was invited to witness the apology in the House of Representatives in Canberra and staff members watched it on the big screen in the office.
For more information download the PDF (160KB).
On the morning of the National Apology Globe-Wilkins Preschool in Marrickville set up a space for a community of preschool children, staff & families to come together on Cadigal Land to view the historical apology side by side.
“As we sat together some of us holding hands, children cradled in laps next to one another – there were tears of sadness and joy as we acknowledged this special day as a piece of history� said Kim Johnston, director of Globe Wilkins Preschool.
“We all had many questions. We broke off into small groups to discuss this day, the stolen generation and our part in the future for reconciliation. The children were quick to recognize that this word sorry meant a lot and that if you hurt someone’s feelings they should say sorry…�.
“By chance we found a special stone in one of our rooms that read HOPE on the top, the children were eager to know what this meant. They soon connected this meaning to Sorry day. Other groups of children looked at the Aboriginal flag and deconstructed its meaning together, then re-created their own understandings on canvas� Johnston said.
The community garden has been a place where most children in Marrickville have visited and learnt what it means to give back to the land – nurture, care & appreciation. It is our part of acknowledging past owners each day they spend time on Cadigal Land.
Griffith University arranged a live broadcast of the National Apology at each of its five campuses. Griffith's Vice Chancellor, Professor Ian O'Connor, notified all University staff regarding the National Apology and to inform them of these broadcasts Reconciliation Australia information (FAQs) and bookmarks showing the reconcile URLs were printed and distributed to each of these locations for the information of staff, students and visitors.
Griffith is placing the Reconciliation Australia banner on its home-page with links to the Reconcile website; further the campus-based broadcasts feature in the University's events calendar. The Indigenous flags also fly permanently at Griffith's campuses.
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Members of staff from Horizon Power in Perth attended the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre on the morning of the Apology to hear the Prime Minister’s speech.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission gathered to hear the national apology in their Sydney office. As well as being a very moving day, it was also a proud one for them as it recognised much of the work that has been done by HREOC to seek justice for the Stolen Generations.
HREOC President, John von Doussa, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, were at Parliament House and Tom spoke in response to the apology.
Many members of staff knew Sir Ron Wilson and he was also remembered fondly and proudly on Wednesday - he would have been delighted that this day had come.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission gathered
to hear the national apology in their Sydney office
Here are some photos how the Kirwan Adult Community Health Services in North Queensland celebrated the Sorry Day
See for more information the ABC website
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Main Roads WA spent Wednesday flying the Indigenous Flag, and promoting the event on their Intranet by featuring the full text of the apology and also a listing a site so that members of staff could tune in to listen or watch the event.
A number of the National Gallery of Australia’s work colleagues gathered to walk to Parliament House on Wednesday morning after a pre-Apology coffee. They also welcomed supporters and encouraged them to wear a CULTURE WARRIORS t-shirt to celebrate the event.
NSW Family Services Inc has posted the below on their website and sent it out to all members and service outlets via an e-Weekly Update. In addition, the message was forwarded to AbSEC and LINK-UP. Both are organisations that they work closely with. Flowers were also sent out to various organisations and members.
“During this important week for Indigenous Australia we would like to pay tribute to our Aboriginal colleagues and members.
The FamS community is also sincerely sorry for policies and actions in the past that have had such a profound impact on you as individuals, your families and clients.
We pledge our efforts to work with you towards a better future where we can celebrate together.�
NSW Family Services Inc continue to demonstrate sincere and ongoing commitment to reconciliation and closing the seventeen year gap in life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
NSW Fire Brigades launched a statement of commitment to Reconciliation and placed some Q&A information about the stolen generation on their website. So far, the information has been well-received and they have had a phenomenal response from within the organisation and from the general public.
Oxfam Australia celebrated the National Apology with a breakfast screening at the Melbourne head office. Well over 100 Oxfam Australia staff watched as the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, issued a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who were removed from their families and communities as children. Other Oxfam staff joined the crowd of thousands in Federation Square. A large poster simply titled “SORRY� was signed by many and gave everyone an opportunity to express their thoughts on this historic day.
Oxfam proudly flew a SORRY banner from the building.
Qantas hosted a private event for Wednesday’s apology. They have been very supportive and proactive in providing Stolen Generations members with travel for the week’s events.
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Rottnest Island Authority (Perth WA) arranged an opportunity for non front-line staff to view the broadcast in their Board room and catch a later ferry to the Island on Wednesday morning. For those staff that had be at work to service customers from 8am, the Authority arranged with the ferry operator to screen the broadcast on the journey across to the Island.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics took the opportunity to promote the apology by sending notices about the apology to all staff members. They also broadcasted the apology in most of their offices throughout Australia on Wednesday.
The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association has deeply welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to apologise to members of the stolen generations, their descendents and families. Please find attached the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association's media release issued 12th February 2008.
Please click here to download the media release (590KB)
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) has expressed strong support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s decision to apologise to Indigenous Australia’s ‘stolen generations’. Members of The Australian Nursing Federation watched the apology from their offices right around the country on Wednesday morning. ANF federal secretary Jill Iliffe said the apology would help heal the wounds of past injustice and begin a true process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
“It is crucial that the government take the spirit of the apology forward into concrete gains in the health and social status of Indigenous Australians. Essential primary health services must be provided to all communities and improved and extended to ensure Indigenous people have access to the same quality health care as non-Indigenous people,� Ms Iliffe said.
The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Resources made available TVs on all floors of the Industry Building, and included the link to Parliament House Broadcasting for staff to witness this historic event. An email encouraging participation and outlining what the apology is about was also sent to all staff members.
The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care held a morning tea to mark the apology to the stolen generations. Over 150 staff gathered to watch the live broadcast of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology on behalf of the Australian Parliament.
Afterwards, Acting Deputy Director-General James Christian addressed staff, saying "Sorry means a lot because it’s the first step towards a more respectful relationship and meaningful reconciliation in the future, and we all have a role to play in that.
"Please think about what we do in DADHC and what difference we can make to ensure our interactions, services, policies and programs have a positive impact on the Aboriginal community in the future."
Staff then celebrated this milestone in Australia's history with morning tea,
including the cutting of a 'sorry' cake...
Saying 'Sorry' at Trinity College, the University of Melbourne
‘What saying “Sorry� ultimately achieves will be determined by the actions of each of you after you walk out the door today’, the Warden of Trinity College, Associate Professor Andrew McGowan, told members of the College and the wider University of Melbourne community during a special reflection in the College Chapel at midday on 13 February.
Members of the Trinity community light candles in remembrance of the stolen generations …
Held to acknowledge the members of the stolen generations and to join with the Prime Minister of Australia in saying ‘Sorry’ to them and their families, this informal service included a number of elements interspersed with periods of silence for personal prayer and reflection. Those present were invited to light a candle in remembrance of those who suffered family separation under the policies of previous governments.
People also had the opportunity to write their own personal messages. These will be bound into a ‘Sorry Book’ and archived for display as a symbol of Trinity’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous welfare and equality.
… while others wait to write personal messages for inclusion in Trinity’s ‘Sorry Book’.
WorkCover WA circulated a community education email to all staff members regarding the apology to assist them in understanding its significance and to share pride in this historic moment.
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