National Sorry Day (26th May) is an annual day to remember the Stolen Generations. It is an opportunity to lament, pray and share the truth of the trauma, pain and injustice that Aboriginal children, families and communities endured through child removal policies and the ongoing intergenerational impacts.
On this day, we lament the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children are still being removed from their families at a rate almost 10 times higher than non-Indigenous children. And data shows the number of Indigenous children in out-of-home care is projected to double by 2029.
National Sorry Day came from one of the recommendations from the Bringing them Home Report released in 1997 (we strongly encourage all to read the Bringing Them Home Report here).
Bianca Manning, Gomeroi woman and Common Grace’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator wrote a prayer for the Stolen Generations that you are invited to pray. Bianca’s grandmother was a member of the Stolen Generations, being forcibly removed from her family at the age of 3 and put into Cootamundra Girls Home.
Sorry is an important ongoing step on our nation’s healing journey. As followers of Jesus, may our love and our sorry be not only in word but in actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).
Safina Stewart, proud Wuthithi and Mabuiag Island woman, artist and Common Grace Relationships and Storytelling Coordinator, has also developed a National Sorry colouring-in sheet for Common Grace you are welcome to use here.
We encourage you to attend a Sorry Day event in your community. Below are a list of events, but if your area isn’t listed please find out what is happening near you (Your local council, Aboriginal medical service or land council, and Facebook are great places to start!).
Thursday 25 May
National Sorry Day Event, Landcare and Sustainable Living Centre, umali barai-ku
2A Five Islands Rd, Booragul NSW
3:30-5:30pm
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/national-sorry-day-event-tickets-629717972407
National Sorry Day Event, Moondani Toombadool Centre
Swinburne University of Technology
AD Building, John St, Hawthorn VIC
10-11am
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/national-sorry-day-event-tickets-601030377037
Friday 26 May
Sorry Day, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
Darug Land at Lemongrove Campus, outdoor garden near Springfield Cottage
Glebe Place, Penrith NSW
11am-1pm
RSVP [email protected]
National Sorry Day Commemoration, Liverpool Regional Museum
462 Hume Highway, Corner Congressional Drive, Liverpool NSW
10:30-11:30am
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=613297100840942&set=a.146471010856889
National Sorry Day, Noonga Reconciliation Group
Kalinga Park, Sorry Day site
Via Park Ave entrance, Clayfield QLD
10am ceremony
11am BBQ
Enquiries: [email protected]
National Sorry Day, Teralba Park Stolen Generations Support Group
Teralba Park, Cnr Osborne Rd/Pullen Rd, Everton Park, QLD
7am
Link Up (Qld)’s Sorry Day Breakfast 2023
Orleigh Park, 68 Hill End Terrace, West End QLD
8-10am
https://kambuhealth.com.au/community-news/link-up-qld-s-sorry-day-bbq-breakfast-friday-26-may-2023
SA National Reconciliation Week Breakfast Commemorating National Sorry Day
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace, Adelaide SA
7-9am
https://events.humanitix.com/nrwbreakfast-2023
Sorry Day at Knox, Knox Civic Centre
511 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South VIC
10am-1pm
RSVP http://tks.im/national-sorry-day-ceremony
Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place, Sorry Day Workshop
Westall Community Hub
35 Fairbank Rd, Clayton South VIC
11am-2:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/264737592718246?active_tab=about
RSVP [email protected]
National Sorry Day 2023, Melville Oval Pavillion
Market Pl, Hamilton VIC
11am-1pm
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=696272479170977&set=a.615092970622262
National Sorry Day 2023, Boonwurrung/Bunurong Country
Functions by the Bay
Cnr Plowman & Young Street, Frankston VIC
10:30am-2pm
https://linkupvictoria.org.au/events/national-sorry-day-2023
National Sorry Day Healing Ceremony, Malahang Reserve
Oriel Rd, Heidelberg West VIC
1-2pm
2023 Sorry Day Commemoration, Monash Park
Cnr Welsford & Fryers St, Shepparton VIC
10am
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2023-sorry-day-commemoration-tickets-636463598757
Sorry Day, Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club
15 Legge Way, Cape Paterson VIC
10:00am - 1:00pm
https://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/explore/whats-on/events/national-sorry-day
Saturday 27 May
Sorry Day Stolen Generations Community Gathering
Tarpeian Precinct Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW
10am-2pm
https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/event/sorry-day-stolen-generations-community-gathering/
Sorry Day Afternoon Tea & Guest Speaker, Kyabra Community Association
37 Kyabra St, Runcorn QLD
12-1:30pm
https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/event/sorry-day-afternoon-tea-and-guest-speaker/
Sunday 28 May
National Sorry Day 2023, Mona Vale Memorial Hall
1 Park St, Mona Vale NSW
1:30-5pm
https://asgmwp.net/event/national-sorry-day-2023/
Balaangala Community Group Sorry Day Commemoration 2023
Balaangala Garden
98 Yoorala St, The Gap QLD
3pm-4.30pm
RSVP [email protected]
We will continue updating this page as National Sorry Day approaches. If you have any Sorry Day events you’d like us to add, please email [email protected]