Reconciliation monument to be unveiled at Sorry Day

23 May 2018

To mark this year’s National Sorry Day, Wagga Wagga City Council and Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Isabel Reid will unveil a unique monument to acknowledge and pay respect to those impacted by forced removal policies.

The monument – a large rock cradling a commemorative plaque – will be unveiled on Friday 25 May at the Wollundry Lagoon.

National Sorry Day is held annually to remember 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 Generations who were forcibly removed from their family and communities.

“National Sorry Day is a time to pay respect to and remember all those who have been impacted by government policies of forcible removal that have resulted in the Stolen Generations,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said.

“Today many of these stolen generations live in our community, now as our Elders. As a testament to their strength and their stories, the community is invited to join me in the unveiling of the Sorry Day Rock, which has been put in place to honour and recognise this history in our city and our country.

“On behalf of Wagga Wagga City Council I hope through acknowledging National Sorry Day each year together, we aide healing and emotional wellbeing for individuals, families and communities across the country,” he said.

A highly regarded local Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Isabel Reid is the chair of the Cootamundra Girls Home Corporation and has worked tirelessly to progress the recommendations of the “Bringing Them Home Report” that was tabled in Federal Parliament on 26 May 1997.

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 report.

Members of the public are invited to attend.

After the official ceremony, all attendees are invited to join both Aunty Isabel and the Mayor for a morning tea on the upper balcony of the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY

When: Friday, 25 May from 10.30am - 12.30pm

Where: Wollundry Lagoon, grass area off Burns Way near the Civic Theatre

What: Unveiling of commemorative monument for Sorry Day