SORRY DAY
National Sorry Day, or the National Day of Healing, is an annual event that has been held in Australia on 26 May since 1998. The event remembers and commemorates the mistreatment of the country's Indigenous peoples, as part of an ongoing process of reconciliation between the Indigenous peoples of Australia and the settler population. The date was selected because on that date in 1997 the Bringing Them Home report was published.
The Bringing Them Home report, which was tabled in Australian Parliament, was the result of an inquiry into government policies and practices during the 20th century that caused Aboriginal children to be separated from their families, with the intention of assimilating them into white Australian culture. This resulted in what became known as the "Stolen Generations", with the effects of these traumatic removals being felt by succeeding generations even today. The report made many recommendations, including that state and federal governments should issue formal apologies and that funding should be provided to help deal with the consequences of the policies.
John Howard, who was prime minister at the time, refused to issue an apology, but Kevin Rudd on 13 February 2008 issued a formal apology on behalf of the government and Australian people.
John Therry students attended the Sorry Day Service on Wednesday 25th at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Church in Minto, in support of Sr Kerry. Our students performed dances and played the didgeridoo while other schools read poems and performed music. Overseen by Fr Aloysius and Pastor Michael, it was a wonderful and prayerful occasion.
