Mr Joel van Bentum | Principal   

Reconciliation Week

Monday 26 May is National Sorry Day, it marks the day that the "Bringing them home" report was tabled in the Australian Parliament. This was a landmark report that brought to light the extent of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, what we commonly refer to now as the "Stolen Generations".

Sorry Day is a day to remember and reflect on the impact of this part of Australian history. It is also a time to be reminded that the impact is ongoing. People are still disconnected from their families and their culture, untethered from their past, their culture and their stories. For non-indigenous people National Sorry Day is a time to remember and recognise that the actions of the dominant culture whether in good intention or in bad, has caused great disruption and pain for many people.

As a Christian school we recognise that as is says in Romans that all fall short of the glory of God and all require forgiveness. Scripture and History is replete with examples of hurt, pain, death and destruction. It is also full of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.

The first step in a journey of forgiveness and reconciliation is the acknowledgement and acceptance of the hurt and pain caused. This can be referred to as truth-telling, there is a need to deeply listen to the aggrieved party to understand the impact, whether intentional or unintentional of our actions. As individuals this is important in our personal relationships and as a nation it is important.

National Sorry Day leads into reconciliation week between 27 May and 3 June. 27 May marks the day of the 1967 referendum that gave indigenous people equal standing under the constitution. June 3 marks the day of the High Courts Mabo decision that overturned the concept of “terra nullius”. Reconciliation week is a time we consider the messy and winding road to conciliation and reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all other Australians.

In personal relationships once hurt has been acknowledged and forgiveness has been extended, the journey to reconciliation can begin. Reconciliation is the process of returning to a restored relationship of trust and good standing. As Christians we remember that once we were separated from God, but through Jesus we are forgiven and can now be reconciled back into relationship with God. For the Christian this is a difficult journey, often full of mistakes and setbacks. It is the same way between people groups.

As we enter this next week I encourage us to be prepared to learn about the mistakes, missteps, and malevolence of our past, to deeply listen to the ongoing hurt and trauma of the present and to participate in the hope of what can come.

To finish, let me share a prayer from Reverend Canon Aunty Di Langham to mark Reconciliation week 2025.

Creator God of Holy Dreaming

Bring us together as one,

Reconciled with you and one another.

Bless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this land.

The first peoples to receive your blessings in this land.

The first peoples to see your beauty in the land, water, sky and nature.

The first peoples to hear your voice in ancient stories.

The first to give you praises in ancient places.

The first to know your love and love you in return.

God bless the Elders keeping culture and languages alive.

Bless all who work in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, making friends, growing partnerships to a deeper understanding of culture and languages, learning to love and grow together. 

Give us grace to travel together towards reconciliation for the sake of Jesus Christ. 

- Amen