Words in action | Youth pioneering reconciliation on National Sorry Day

The banners with the hands: brown and white. A symbol of walking together, of reconciliation.

At Monash Park, the flags were at half-mast. The Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian flags were all lowered as a mark of respect.

Lowered in recognition of Sorry Day. A day when the impact of the many government policies over many years since colonisation — resulting in what is now known as the Stolen Generations — is commemorated.

The lowered flags fluttering, reminding us of the significance of this day.

The people came, a trickle at first.

People standing in the sun, waiting.

The crowd gathered. People who had come to be part of this important event.

There was the murmur of greetings being exchanged.

But there was also something else.

The recognition that this was a time of reflection, of contemplation, of remembering, of commemorating.

School groups arrived. Secondary school students from as far away as Cobram and Numurkah, and primary schools — St Mary’s from Mooroopna and Wilmot Rd among them.

They brought with them decorated hands to place under the flagpoles. Hands — many with messages saying ‘Sorry’.

Each hand is the work of a student, a student learning more about the history of our land. Students whose participation in this event reflects a difference from what’s happened in the past — a greater knowing, a greater understanding.

Then, it was time.

Sajad, a student from Sirius College, stepped to the microphone, carefully adjusted it to his height and began by inviting Uncle Bobby Nicholls to speak.

He was followed by Sara, also from Sirius College, who introduced the next speaker.

There was an acknowledgement of Country’s importance and the deep links and connection to this land and water.

Young people participating are an integral part of the Sorry Day Commemoration.

Young people — who are our future.

Young people learn about our history. Young people engaged in truth-telling.

Ben McGowan and Krystal Oelfke from Shepparton Christian College spoke about the background to the day. How a National Sorry Day was one of the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report.

A day to acknowledge and pay respects to the members of the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. To recognise not only their struggles and hardships but also their tenacity, strength and determination.

Claire and Tom from Cobram Grammar School, with such care in their voices, led the Expression of Sorrow.

“They took the children away from their mothers, their fathers, their families and communities.”

“We are Sorry.”

Then, the laying of the wreath.

Charlie and Phoebe’s words, acknowledging the profound and ongoing sense of loss, grief, pain and suffering caused by so many removals, carried across the crowd,

The flowers were carefully taken up the slight hill to the base of the flagpole. They were carried by Brogan and Ikwa, two students from ASHE, with respect and pride. They lay gently on the grass among the small sea of hands.

The minute’s silence. A pause, a time to remember, to reflect.

And the flag-raising — in recognition of the significance of the day.

Again, it was carried out by young people: Ella, Peter and Aaron.

Ruby and Ella stepped up to the microphone to encourage us to reflect on the meaning and significance of the Bringing Them Home report and Sorry Day and consider what each of us can do. This is an important question for all of us to ponder.

Leading us into National Reconciliation Week, Jayda and Taj reminded us why our participation was so important.

“We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part, we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures and futures.”

But this work requires patience and tenacity. It is this tenacity that Milanna and Blayne reflected on as they spoke about the dates that bookend National Reconciliation Week.

The same tenacity shown by Eddie Koiki Mabo in his long battle to have his rights to his land recognised by the highest court in the land. The same tenacity that resulted in the overturning of the legal concept of terra nullius — that the land, claimed by white settlers, belonged to no-one.

The words ‘Now More Than Ever’ — the 2024 National Reconciliation Week theme and spoken by Sabri and Trinity — reminded us all that, no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of First Nations peoples would — and must — continue.

“There have been many moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey that make us want to turn away. But when things are divisive, the worst thing we can do is disengage or disconnect.”

Now More Than Ever, there is an opportunity to make a difference in this country, to challenge the status quo, and not let another generation be lost to systems that were not built for First Nations people or the diversity of Australia in the 21st century.

Now, More Than Ever, it is time to learn from the lessons of the past and accept that without the full engagement of First Nations peoples in the life of this country, Australia will be forever diminished.

Now More Than Ever, it will take each of us who can see the benefits and opportunities of making space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our ways of being, knowing and doing to advocate for and defend those rights against those who would limit or take them away.

But there was another important message emerging as we listened to the speakers at this year’s Sorry Day Commemoration.

The other message was the importance of the involvement of our younger generations in such events.

Now More Than Ever, talking about our country’s history is an important part of truth-telling, and ensuring that our young people participate in this is crucial for our future together.

Now More Than Ever, we need everyone to join us on this journey.

You can join the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group by going to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RespectSRRG/