Bass Coast community together for National Sorry Day

Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is proud to be hosting a National Sorry Day event on May 26, at the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club.

The event will commemorate the Stolen Generations and encourage truth telling to promote healing and reconciliation.

“Sorry Day is an important opportunity for our community to come together and acknowledge the pain and suffering caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children," said Kate Adams, Bass Coast Reconciliation Network Chair.

“The Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is pleased to see organisations partner with community and hope that this event will promote healing and reconciliation.”

For Patrice Mahoney OAM, National Sorry Day is a day to remember “all the children and their families who were stolen, abused, and died are never forgotten”.

“And to all those who waited patiently, advocated tirelessly, and to the brave who found the courage to find their voice and speak of the horrendous truth,” Patrice said.

“Our role now is to make sure those stories are never forgotten. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the brave and courageous individuals who shared their personal experience and told their story.”

Sorry Day, also known as the National Day of Healing, is an annual event to acknowledge and remember the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities and cultures. 

Everyone is invited to be part of the event at Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club from 10am to 1pm to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generation survivors and reflect on how we can play our part in the healing process.

The event will include a Welcome to Country, speeches from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leaders followed by a light lunch, yarns and a cultural performance with music from Paul Patten.

The Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is a group of organisations that works with community to promote reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians in the Bass Coast region.

Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is pleased to see organisations come together with the community to acknowledge and celebrate this important date of significance.

For more information on the Sorry Day event, please visit: www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/reconciliation or contact Patrice Mahoney on 0427 878 846.

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