One Year On: Celebrating The National Apology To The Stolen Generations

One Year On: Celebrating the National Apology to the Stolen Generations
Friday, 13 February 2009

One Year On: Victorian Reflections on the National Apology to the Stolen Generations

Reconciliation Victoria, in partnership with Stolen Generations Victoria, today are launching a new project calling on all Victorians to reflect on Prime Minister Rudd's National Apology to the Stolen Generations and what this has meant to advancing reconciliation in Victoria.

Launching the project at a breakfast to celebrate the first anniversary of the Apology, Reconciliation Victoria Co- Chair Mr Keith Gove says, "The apology to the Stolen Generations is one of those once in a generation events that shapes people's thinking about the future."

Reconciliation Victoria CEO, Mr Frank Hytten, sends out a call for action, "Sorry was just the first step. Now it is time to start work on the new chapter in our nation's history that the Prime Minister talked about in his Apology".

Over the coming weeks Reconciliation Victoria will be engaging with schools and community groups across Victoria to collect responses to the following key questions:


Where were you and how did you feel when you heard the National Apology to the Stolen Generations?

What should the Victorian Government do over the next 12 months to make the Apology real?

What will you do to strengthen reconciliation in your own school, organisation or community?


"This project is about listening to the voices of Victorians, especially that of our youth" says Mr Gove. The Apology "was a response to Aboriginal voice. It gave a basis for conversation between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people, and it showed young people that change is possible. This may be one of its lasting legacies: to show young people that reconciliation is possible, that the aspirations of Aboriginal people can be met and the voice of the Australian community is important."

Responses collected from the project will be displayed publicly during Reconciliation Week 26 May - 3 June
2009.

For more information about the project or to find out how you can be involved, visit the Reconciliation Victoria
Website: www.reconciliationvic.org.au

Media Contact:
Frank Hytten, CEO, Reconciliation Victoria, Tel: 03 9662 1645 or 0432 345 652
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Reconciliation Victoria Inc.