Over the past fortnight, Mercedes has observed two important dates in the Australian calendar – National Sorry Day, and National Reconciliation Week.
National Sorry Day
Last week, on Thursday 26 May, the Mercedes Community acknowledged National Sorry Day. This day is to remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.
May 26 marks the day that the landmark Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Federal Parliament in 1997. This report gathered testimony and submissions from those affected by the child removal policies from across Australia. This year’s Sorry Day commemorates 25 years since the completion tabling of Bringing Them Home.
It is a time to remember the past policies of forced child removal, and reflect on the sad and painful stories of the Stolen Generations. It is a time to recognise the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the power of saying sorry. Staff and students commemorated this event in Thursday’s Pastoral Care Period with prayer and reflection. Staff and students also erected a display in the library featuring notable books about the Stolen Generations, and purple Native Hibiscus flowers symbolising the scattering of those affected. Students also made their own purple flowers as a symbol of togetherness and recognition for the Stolen Generations.
National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The Week runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey. Firstly, the successful May 27, 1967 referendum, which saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census as citizens. Secondly, the High Court decision delivered on 3 June, 1982 in culmination of Eddie Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one). The precedent set by this ruling lead to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Australian lands. We now recognise the doctrine of Native Title as common law throughout Australia.
Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2022, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians. We call individuals, families, communities, organisations and governments to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Throughout this week, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff wear their Indigenous-design Mercedes shirts with pride. Our Year 9 Media students also interviewed staff and students about what reconciliation means to them – see the video below!
