"Almost half of the Aboriginal people who died in custody and were investigated by the Black Deaths Royal Commission, had been removed from their families as children." - Kirsten Garrett, Background Briefing, Sunday, 11 February 1996.
"They would not let us kiss our father goodbye, I will never forget the sad look on his face. He was unwell and he worked very hard all his life as a timber-cutter. That was the last time I saw my father, he died within two years after." - Jennifer, Bringing them Home, from the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families.
ApologyAustralia is the name of a campaign to allow Australians to offer their personal and communal apology to the Stolen Children. It came about as a result of the Federal Government’s unwillingness to offer that apology on our behalf. Given that the government has failed to represent the people of Australia in this way, it’s now up to the people to offer their own apology.
We, the undersigned people of Australia, believe an apology is owed to those of our fellow citizens who were separated from their families as a direct result of government policy. We offer that apology.
The names of people who participate are kept on an internet site at http://www.apology.west.net.au and will stay there as a permanent memorial to the Stolen Generation. Australians with access to the internet can visit that site and participate by adding their names.
Most Australians don’t have access to the internet. If you are one of these, you can still participate by sending your name, postcode and signature on the back of an envelope to:
ApologyAustralia
c/o 7 Irwin Street
East Fremantle WA 6158
or e-mail to apology@west.net.au if you don't have access to the Web. To see your name on the list, find a friend, a library or a Net Cafe that has access to the internet.
Please tell your friends and associates about ApologyAustralia and get a copy of this leaflet for others to see.