We're Sorry

Today at 9.00am our Prime Minister, Saint Kevin Rudd, fulfilled one of his key election promises and apologised, on behalf of the National Parliament, to the "Stolen Generations", an apology offered as a first step to a future that embraces all Australians (St Kevin's words).

Crowds gathered in front of Parliament House early for this historic and long overdue (over 11 years since the "Bringing Them Home" report) apology to our indigenous people for their past mistreatment.

Of course there was a big media contingent (I even saw the ubiquitous and soon to retire Ray Martin).

I arrived early and happened to meet up with the Jo, the principal of Ainslie PS, who was attempting to keep a sit down space for her 54 students in front of the big screens.

A large crowd gathered before 9 o'clock, an extraordinary mix of people including many indigenous communities who had bussed in from country NSW and even further afield, young and older Australians, lots of suits as well as the dreadlock crowd.

St Kevin was sublime. His reading of the actual apology was heartfelt..but we already knew the words...it was released to the media previously. It was his supporting speech that took us through all the emotions: regret, sorrow, hope, excitement. There were cheers and tears but, overwhelmingly, hope...for a better future. We could all believe a new page in the history of our great continent can now be written........

Alinta W. is a young indigenous teacher at Ainslie PS and a good friend of our Jody. Alinta attended the historic Welcome to Country at the opening of Parliament yesterday and had the chance to wear Aunty Matilda's (Ngambri elder) ceremonial possum fur coat. Alinta's face today expessed it all!

Brendan Nelson's speech in reply was extremely disappointing. He misread the moment and chose to defend and rationalise the failures of the Howard years while riding on St Kevin's coat tails in supporting the apology.

These two fierce looking nuns led our part of the crowd in turning our backs to the screen while Brendan's speech was broadcast.

We got up close to the cleansing smoking ceremony.

Ainslie PS children sang the Sorry song for the crowd at the end of the broadcast.

I walked down to the Aboriginal tent embassy afterwards. There has been a huge gathering of people there, building all week. There were demonstrations yesterday calling for the end of Howard's NT Intervention and there was strident speechmaking today about black deaths in custody. However the crowd today was very mellow..... it was a very special day.


I think this picture sums it up..the older gentleman was one of the original leaders in establishing the first tent embassy in 1972 in the last few months of the McMahon government. I got a shot of him today cuddling his gorgeous grand daughter and looking very happy, and proud.