Sorry Day and the Stolen Generations
National Sorry Day acknowledges and recognises members of the Stolen Generations and their suffering.
Stolen generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families and communities.
Together we can take steps towards healing our Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Recognising Sorry Day each year is one such step.
The first National Sorry Day
The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998. This came a year after the Bringing Them Home report was passed through Parliament.
The report was about the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. It was a result of an inquiry by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
2025
Knox City Council observed National Sorry Day on Sunday 26 May. The ceremony was held around the Yarning Circle at Knox Civic Centre.
The ceremony brought together Stolen Generations members and descendants, our First Nations community, and the broader community for a morning of truth-telling and healing.
This year marked 20 years of Council acknowledging Sorry Day.
The event included:
- Welcome to Country
- Smoking ceremony
- Guest speaker Aunty Esme Bamblett, Member First Peoples' Assembly
- A message from the Mayor.
2024
Knox City Council observed National Sorry Day on Sunday 26 May. The ceremony was held around the Yarning Circle at Knox Civic Centre.
The event included:
- A traditional Welcome to Country
- Smoking ceremony
- Keynote speech by Aunty Jill Gallagher CEO, VACCHO
- Message from the Mayor
- Yidaki performance by Ash Dargan and time to yarn with Aboriginal catering and coffee.
2023
We observed National Sorry Day on Friday 26 May 2023.
A ceremony at the Knox Civic Centre yarning circle included:
- a traditional Welcome to Country
- fire lighting and Smoking ceremony
- guest speaker Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter from the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
- dance and didgeridoo performances.
2022
We observed National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week with a ceremony at Knox Civic Centre on Thursday 26 May 2022.
We remembered and acknowledged the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities.
2021
In 2021, Knox City Council observed National Sorry Day and the start of Reconciliation Week with a live stream event set among a 'Sea of Hands' installation symbolising solidarity with First Peoples across Australia. The virtual event included traditional Aboriginal ceremonies, a didgeridoo performance by world renowned musician Ash Dargan and the raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
2020
Our 2020 National Sorry Day event was held online. It included an address by Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, the Mayor and a stirring performance by spoken word artist Nikki Madgwick titled 'Unity in the Community'.
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