National Sorry Day to be marked with official ceremony

National Sorry Day to be marked with official ceremony - 13 May 2015

Wagga Wagga City Council will mark National Sorry Day at an official ceremony on Tuesday 26 May at 11am.

National Sorry Day is an event to express regret over the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The day provides a chance for people to come together in the healing process for the Stolen Generation who were forcibly removed from their family and communities.

Held annually since 1998, National Sorry Day was born out of a key recommendation made by the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families in the Bringing Them Home Report that was tabled in Federal Parliament on 26 May 1997.

The annual Sorry Day commemorations have helped to remind and raise awareness among politicians, policy makers, and the wider public about the significance of the forcible removal policies and the impact that they have had not just on the children that were taken, but also on their families and communities.

The intergenerational impact of the forcible removal policies on young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens in the 21st Century have been profound, and the commemoration of National Sorry Day each year helps contribute towards a broader ongoing effort toward healing and social and emotional wellbeing for individuals, families and communities across the country.

Following the official ceremony a morning tea will be served in the Council meeting room.

Members of the public are invited to attend. To assist with catering, please RSVP to Ashleigh Pengelly 6926 9358by 21 May.

Media opportunity

What: National Sorry Day official ceremony and morning tea

When: Tuesday 26 May at 11am

Where: Civic Centre forecourt, morning tea to follow in Council meeting room