SUNDAY marked fourteen years since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally said sorry to the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.<\/p>\n
His speech in parliament on 13 February 2008 acknowledged the hurt, pain, suffering, and humiliation experienced by First Nations families and communities, as a result of previous Federal Government policies.<\/p>\n
National Apology Day was locally recognised with a service at the Art Gallery of Ballarat on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Koorie Engagement Action Group\u2019s Nikki Foy hosted the morning, with a digeridoo performance from Peter Lovett, and speeches from Aboriginal elder Uncle Murray Harrison, and Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative Stolen Generation worker Vicki Peart.<\/p>\n
One of seven children, Mr Harrison was removed from his family, and culture, as a child in 1948. He travelled to Canberra to hear Mr Rudd\u2019s apology in 2008.<\/p>\n
The words, \u201cTook away something that had haunted [him] for 60 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToday means that I am free, but the day also brings back sadness. Me and my sisters were dragged by the hair outside to the car. That is just as dramatic as it was 70-plus years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt still hurts, but the fact that a man had the courage to stand up and say to the Stolen Generation, \u2018me and my government are sorry for what we\u2019ve done to you over the years…\u2019 that was not a political stunt.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody now, throughout the whole of the country, and the world, knows that there is a Stolen Generation, and these people are somebody. Am I a myth? No, I\u2019m not. The country acknowledges that we were stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Peart is the daughter of a survivor of the Stolen Generation, and supports members of the Stolen Generation, and their families, through her work at BADAC.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, they thought that what was in the best interest of Aboriginal children was to have them removed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle did they know that by removing our children, some would endure horrific trauma, and this trauma would be passed down for generations to follow.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome children were subject to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, where some would often turn to drugs and alcohol to erase the pain, or these children as adults would turn to crime and be placed back in jail, as the only life they knew was to be institutionalised.\u201d<\/p>\n
The list of speakers at the service also included Cafs\u2019 inclusion and diversity lead Liz Hardiman who recognised, on behalf of the group, its involvement in the Stolen Generation<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the successor organisation to the Ballarat and District Orphan Asylum, the Ballarat Orphanage, and the Ballarat Children\u2019s Home, Cafs acknowledges the harm done and apologises to these children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said 13 February, 2008 is a \u201clandmark day in Australia\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to take a moment to pause and remember the apology and what it meant to the Stolen Generation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SUNDAY marked fourteen years since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally said sorry to the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. His speech in parliament on 13 February 2008 acknowledged the hurt, pain, suffering, and humiliation experienced by First Nations families and communities, as a result of previous Federal Government policies. National […]<\/p>\n