Reconciliation celebrated online
Bass Coast Reconciliation Network has risen to the challenge of acknowledging this year’s national events through digital mediums.
The network will host two online events for both Sorry Day on Tuesday 26 May and National Reconciliation Week which starts on Wednesday 27 May and runs through until Wednesday 3 June.
The Network; made up of Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Health, Westernport Water, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bunurong Land Council, Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community, have been working behind the scenes to produce an online sorry video-book and a video production featuring footage from last year’s events and interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community members.
Each production will be launched at online “gatherings” where everyone is invited to grab a cuppa and come together to acknowledge the past and yarn about walking and working together into the future.
Australia’s National body for reconciliation, Reconciliation Australia notes that: “Sorry Day is an important moment to remember the past policies of forced child removal within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the painful history of the Stolen Generations and recognise moments of resilience, healing and the power of saying Sorry.”
Australia’s first Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998 – exactly one year after the Bringing Them Home Report was presented to Federal 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 recommends both an apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and reparations.
Sorry Day marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week.
“This year’s theme of ‘In This Together’ could not be more relevant to the current situation. While we would all love to be together in person this is an opportunity to join with communities across Australia and acknowledge these events in a new way,” said Geoff Russell, Chair of Bass Coast Reconciliation Network.
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/reconciliation #NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020
#ENDS
Media Contact | Sally O’Neill soneill@penguins.org.au 0408 101 976
