Term 2
May 26th - National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day was established following the publication of the Bringing Them Home report. The report was produced by the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families and was tabled in Federation Parliament on 26 May 1997. The report made 54 recommendations on a wide range of issues, including one which called for the establishment of a community-based National Sorry Day Committee.
The City of Melbourne is developing a Stolen Generations Marker, which will be a permanent place with a significant artwork that reflects the resilience of the Stolen Generations and their families, acknowledges the injustices of the past, and provides future opportunities to move along the path to reconciliation together.
https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/national-sorry-day
May 27th – Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
The 1967 referendum saw more than 90 per cent of eligible Australians vote yes to two changes in the Australian Referendum - to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the national census of the population and to give the Australian Government the power to make uniform, specific laws about Indigenous people (rather than individual states making their own laws). Legislation reflecting the referendum was enacted on 10 August 1967.
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research?publicationTypes=%7Bb23bf2d2-5e26-4a97-8ce5-a1a06eebf192%7D2017/May/The_1967_Referendum
May 28th Anniversary for the 2000 Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk for Reconciliation
The Bridge Walk for Reconciliation and similar events that took place around Australia in the weeks following were collectively the biggest demonstration of public support for a cause that has ever taken place in Australia.
The march was a public expression of support for meaningful reconciliation between Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/walk-for-reconciliation
May 29th Anniversary of the Torres Strait Islander Flag
The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok.
The colours of the flag represent the Torres Strait Islander people's connection to the land, sea and sky.
The flag was the winning entry in a design competition in 1992.
In 1995, the Torres Strait Islander flag was recognised by the Australian Government as an official 'Flag of Australia' under the Flags Act 1953.
https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/torres-strait-islander-flag
June 3rd – Mabo Day
On 3 June 1992, the High Court of Australia handed down its decision on Mabo v the State of Queensland (No. 2), a native title claim by Eddie Mabo and others on behalf of the Meriam People of Murray Island, Queensland. The High Court's decision rejected the notion of Australia as terra nullius, meaning empty land or land belonging to nobody, at the time of European arrival and colonisation.
The term Native Title was used to describe and recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may have existing rights and interests in the land and waters, according to traditional laws and customs that have survived beyond European arrival; and that these rights can be recognised by the common law. In the Torres Strait region, Mabo Day is recognised as a public holiday.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Stories_and_Histories/The_Mabo_decision
May 27th - June 3rd – National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week celebrates the rich culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It's an ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/
National Sorry Day was established following the publication of the Bringing Them Home report. The report was produced by the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families and was tabled in Federation Parliament on 26 May 1997. The report made 54 recommendations on a wide range of issues, including one which called for the establishment of a community-based National Sorry Day Committee.
The City of Melbourne is developing a Stolen Generations Marker, which will be a permanent place with a significant artwork that reflects the resilience of the Stolen Generations and their families, acknowledges the injustices of the past, and provides future opportunities to move along the path to reconciliation together.
https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/national-sorry-day
May 27th – Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
The 1967 referendum saw more than 90 per cent of eligible Australians vote yes to two changes in the Australian Referendum - to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the national census of the population and to give the Australian Government the power to make uniform, specific laws about Indigenous people (rather than individual states making their own laws). Legislation reflecting the referendum was enacted on 10 August 1967.
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research?publicationTypes=%7Bb23bf2d2-5e26-4a97-8ce5-a1a06eebf192%7D2017/May/The_1967_Referendum
May 28th Anniversary for the 2000 Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk for Reconciliation
The Bridge Walk for Reconciliation and similar events that took place around Australia in the weeks following were collectively the biggest demonstration of public support for a cause that has ever taken place in Australia.
The march was a public expression of support for meaningful reconciliation between Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/walk-for-reconciliation
May 29th Anniversary of the Torres Strait Islander Flag
The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok.
The colours of the flag represent the Torres Strait Islander people's connection to the land, sea and sky.
The flag was the winning entry in a design competition in 1992.
In 1995, the Torres Strait Islander flag was recognised by the Australian Government as an official 'Flag of Australia' under the Flags Act 1953.
https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/torres-strait-islander-flag
June 3rd – Mabo Day
On 3 June 1992, the High Court of Australia handed down its decision on Mabo v the State of Queensland (No. 2), a native title claim by Eddie Mabo and others on behalf of the Meriam People of Murray Island, Queensland. The High Court's decision rejected the notion of Australia as terra nullius, meaning empty land or land belonging to nobody, at the time of European arrival and colonisation.
The term Native Title was used to describe and recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may have existing rights and interests in the land and waters, according to traditional laws and customs that have survived beyond European arrival; and that these rights can be recognised by the common law. In the Torres Strait region, Mabo Day is recognised as a public holiday.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Stories_and_Histories/The_Mabo_decision
May 27th - June 3rd – National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week celebrates the rich culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It's an ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/
