Reconciliation Events Calendar

SORRY, the new single, is the band’s first output in nearly 15 years, written & sung by Shane Howard’s sister Marcia.

This BIG HEART PRODUCTION is an independent contribution to the spirit of justice and reconciliation and cultural respect. It is humbly dedicated to all those hurt by this shameful chapter in Australia’s history.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TRADE ENQUIRIES:

National Sorry Day Launch

Gatjil Djerrkura, Chairman of ATSIC, and Evelyn Scott, Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, will take part in the event, which will begin with a ‘smoking ceremony’ and dance, traditionally performed at the beginning of important ceremonial occasions as a purification and cleansing ritual.

Carol Kendall, co-chair of the National Sorry Day Committee, said today, 'The ceremony will validate the experiences of removed people and celebrate the strength, resilience and determination of those who survived these policies.’

The Sorry Day itself, Tuesday May 26, 1998, will be held exactly a year after the tabling in Federal Parliament of 'Bringing Them Home', the report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.

A national Sorry Day was one recommendation of the report. The National Stolen Generation Working Group therefore invited non-Indigenous people to join with them in setting up a national Sorry Day committee; and now State committees are planning a wide range of events on May 26. The NSW State Governor, the Hon Gordon Samuels, and his wife Jacqueline, are Patrons of the Sorry Day in NSW. Across the country thousands of non-Indigenous Australians are signing Sorry Books, offering their 'personal apology for the hurt and harm' caused by the removal policies. These will be presented to Indigenous elders on Sorry Day.

Ms Kendall said, 'We want Sorry Day to be positive - a day when all Australians can express their sorrow with a clearer understanding of the whole tragic episode, and celebrate together the beginning of a new understanding.'

Further information about Sorry Day can be obtained at http://www.austlii.edu.au/rsjlibrary/sorry

For further information please contact: Diana Plater, (02) 9389 6337, (mobile) 0419 692 502 or fax: (02) 9389 2312

Women for Wik

Women for Wik, PO Box 154, Balmain, NSW, 2041
Ph: 02 9810-3922 Fax: 02 9810-3033 or email or visit their website

Sea of Hands

The Sea of Hands is currently gearing up for a national tour which will help to increase the profile of ANTaR and support for native title and reconciliation. Experience of the Sea of Hands held in Canberra last year, was that it attracted national and international attention. Of particular interest was the international coverage of the last Sea of Hands which included:

• Network TV in the US;
• Satellite TV in Europe;
• TV in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan & Hong Kong;
• Front page of The Guardian newspaper in the UK;
• Coverage in the London Times including a large colour photo on the back page;
• Opinion piece in the Irish Times.

Clearly there is strong international interest in the native title issue.

The current touring schedule for the Sea of Hands is:

• Feb 21-22 - Melbourne (at Treasury Gardens for 2 days incl concert on 22nd).
• Mar 8 - Adelaide (coinciding with the Adelaide & Fringe Festivals).
• March 20 - Sydney (at Bondi Beach).
• April 4-5 - Brisbane Wooloongong, Broome, Darwin - TBA

Camilla Cowley

It provides an opportunity for those who feel strongly that Australians have a collective responsibility for what happened, and would like to say "Sorry" to the Aboriginal community and be able to show this publicly.

The Sorry Ribbon is a way to raise awareness of this and other Aboriginal issues, both within and without the Australian community.