February 25, 2015
Seven years ago something special happened in Canberra that many people believed would never occur … the Prime Minister said “sorry” to Aboriginal Australians.
When then-PM Kevin Rudd stood up in Parliament to deliver his historic Apology speech, the public gallery was packed.
Many of the onlookers who had been personally affected by the racist policies of forced assimilation – stripped of their identity and culture as part of the Stolen Generations – wept and hugged each other as Mr Rudd spoke.
The Cherbourg community gathered together on Tuesday morning to mark the seventh anniversary of Mr Rudd’s historic speech and to reflect on what the Apology had meant to them.
The morning was organised by the Ration Shed Museum at Cherbourg, in conjunction with Cherbourg Community Health.
It began with a “welcome to country” by Ficks Crossing Rodeo School Deputy Principal Bevan Costello, followed by a performance by the Barambah Dancers.
Guest speakers were Aunty Ada Simpson and Cherbourg Hospital and Health Service manager Tarita Fisher.
“Do you remember where you were on February 13 seven years ago? Do you remember turning on the TV or listening to the radio as Parliament opened for its first sitting of 2008?” Aunty Ada asked.
“Many Indigenous Australians will never forget the moment that the Australian Government said ‘sorry’.
“There are survivors of the Stolen Generations here in Cherbourg but many have now passed on.
“Many boys and girls in Cherbourg were taken from their families and placed into the dormitory system – the legacy of that time still lingers in our community today.
“The Apology had a big impact on our lives because it focused not only on the Stolen Generations but all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“I think it made all Australians reflect on the many difficult times that we as the first nations of this land had to endure and it gave us pause to think about our future as white and black Australians.
“I hope that as we celebrate the Apology that we will continue on that journey: healing our past and building our future together.”
A minute’s silence was held to allow all participants to reflect on the “collective healing journey” connecting all Australians.
Ms Fisher then spoke more about the Apology, saying the theme of the day for her was “heal the past and build the future”.
A short extract from the film “Domo Boys” brought back memories for Stevie Hart and Arnie Murray who spoke about their personal experience of being raised in the Boys Dormitory at Cherbourg.
Ration Shed Museum chairperson Sandra Morgan said the day had been very moving for everyone who had attended.
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The text of the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Apology speech:
Mr Speaker, I move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
