NSW stolen children activities launched
SYDNEY — Two dozen of 60 Sorry Day sponsors helped launch the NSW activities for the inaugural May 26 National Stolen Generation Sorry Day on May 6, at the Opera House.
The Sorry Day commemorates the history of the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and its effects.
"Knowledge of the practice and effects of forcibly removing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families has impacted on the conscience of the Australian population like no other in our history", said Jason Field, coordinator of the NSW Sorry Day organising committee.
Submitted to the attorney-general on April 5, 1997, Bringing them Home estimated that more than 100,000 indigenous children were stolen from their families.
The Sorry Day sponsors include writers Tom Keneally, Anne Deveson, Libby Gleeson and John Pilger, activists Jack Mundey, Faith Bandler and Garth Nettheim, actors John Bell, Anna Volska and Jacki Weaver, radio presenter Robin Williams and singer and actor Leah Purcell, as well as religious leaders, lawyers and academics.
The national patrons for the day are former governor-general Sir Zelman Cowen, and the interim national chairperson of the National Stolen Generations Corporation, Carol Kendall.
NSW patrons are the state governor, Gordon Samuels, and his wife. They will host a reception on May 26 at Government House and open an exhibition of Stolen Generations materials, In the Interest of Bennelong, including photographs, poetry, past media clips, commentary and artwork which depicts the impact of removal on the lives of many Aboriginal Australians in NSW.
One of the main public events of the Sorry Day will be the May 24 rally and concert at the Opera House. Performers will include Ernie Dingo, Noni Hazelhurst and Julie Lavelle, one of the stolen children. Leah Purcell will be performing "Run Daisy Run", based on the story of her grandmother who was taken from her family.
[For details of Sorry Day events, see page 29-31, or for NSW events, contact Jason Fields on (02) 9550 5666.]