Logan community commemorates National Apology

10 years ago, I was at Federation Square in Melbourne when the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave the apology. I was with my big sister Mertyl. All those year ago 3 of us were sent to the William Booth orphanage for girls but as I was a toddler I went too because the girls often looked after babies and toddlers. My 2 older sisters brought me up the back of the orphanage sometimes and this lady used to hand us lollies through the gate. I didn’t know who that lady was. We just kept going up the back and she kept bringing us lollies and talking to us. I found out later that the lady was my sister Myrtle. She wasn’t allowed inside to see us. They wanted to sever all ties with family. So, my dear, sweet sister slid lollies through the gate.

With the apology my sister Mertyl and I embraced. I’m grateful for that day 10 years ago that someone in power said sorry. Sorry to the children.

These were the words of Archie Roach, followed by his spine-tingling rendition of Took the Children Away that brought the hundreds of people present to tears and then to their feet in a standing ovation.

On February 23rd 2018 at the Kingston Butter Factory hundreds of community members met to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations. The event led by numerous Elders began with children from Mabel Park State High School’s performing traditional dance to a packed house. Yugembeh Elder, Aunty Robyn Williams, delivered the Welcome to Country. Local social enterprises were on site to provide food and beverages throughout the day.

YFS Chief Executive Officer Cath Bartolo acknowledged Elders and welcomed VIP guests including local politicians and friend of YFS Quentin Bryce. She noted that 10 years ago YFS held a ceremony at their Slacks Creek office to acknowledge the formal apology that Prime Minister Rudd made to Indigenous Australians, especially Stolen Generations. On that day, the non-Indigenous staff of YFS publicly said sorry to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and guests. We made a commitment that we would work for justice and closing the gap that exists between mainstream Australia and Indigenous Australia. We were humbled when the Healing Foundation approached us to partner with them to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the apology. 10 years on – we must continue to acknowledge the Intergenerational Trauma which still effects our communities. This is a trauma experienced not just individually but collectively between generations and across communities, she said.

Sharron Lindh thanked the Elders and noted her pride in the young people: seeing you dance so strong and proud and tell that story with your heart. She paid her respects to mother earth and father sky and Uncle Archie Roach and acknowledged all the Elders as the people who guide us and give us strength.

Sharron Lindh shared her personal story. Adopted at the age of 6 weeks, she was loved but had a yearning to find her roots: I had a hole in my heart and sprit wasn’t settled. I yearned for my language song and story.

Sharron became a Link-Up client and found her people. She talked about the importance of her and her people being able to share their true stories of their shared histories so that their children have connections.

Ngurambangga Yanhanha – Walking on Country was then performed by Sharron in the language of the Wiradyuri people, with deep respect to all Elders and Traditional Custodians. She sang in honour of her late mother: Her mother’s mother was stolen so there was not a lot of culture in her family, she said. Sharron also wrote Ngurambangga Yanhanha.

The artistic talent continued as a handful of students representing the efforts of over 700 children who were engaged in learning about the Apology, read their poems. Aunty Robyn introduced the young people, then spoke about her love of her job working with children. She particularly revelled in talking with them about the 10th Anniversary of the Apology, given it is such recent history. Student poems were read by young women from as far as Broome and the Lockhart River.

Local and State Politicians Hon Shannon Fentiman MP, Councillors Stacey McIntosh, Laurie Koranski, Jon Raven and Melissa McMahon MP then reiterated the Apology:

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

Torres Strait Islander Elders closed the official commemorative ceremony with a blessing.

Archie Roach continued the festivities with a performance of his most loved songs. He said: It’s very moving for me to be here today. The young people’s interpretive dance moved me to tears and the readings of the young people at school. Too many brothers and sisters in a dark place. Hurt. We need to understand where the pain is coming from – when the burden’s too heavy it’s going to break you but we won’t cry – we’ll lift our spirit high up to the sky.    

View the original film clip of Archie Roach’s Took the Children Away here or listen to a live version here.