The City of Ballarat has today commemorated the 16th anniversary of the Stolen Generations apology.
A yarning circle was held at the Art Gallery of Ballarat attended by Uncle Murray Harrison and Deputy Mayor Cr. Peter Eddy.
The ceremony commemorated 2008 when then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stolen Generations who were removed as children from their families and their culture.
“We understand that there are very few First Nations families who have not been impacted — we know that in some families children from three or more generations were taken,” Cr Eddy said.
“The removal of children broke important cultural, spiritual and family ties and has left a lasting and intergenerational impact on the lives and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here in Ballarat and across Australia.
“To hear people like Uncle Murray share their stories is extremely powerful in showing why we must always continue to remember and learn from the past.
“First Nations’ peoples are such an important part of Ballarat and it’s important we continue to acknowledge the errors of the past so we can continue to move forward together,” he said.
