2005 Media Releases
May 13, 2005
National Day of Healing at La Trobe University
A National Day of Healing – including the films 'Lousy Little Sixpence', 'Rabbit Proof Fence' and other events – will be celebrated at La Trobe University Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus over two days, on 26 and 27 May.
Since 1998, 26 May has been Sorry Day, a day to remember the Stolen Generations, and to play a part in their Journey of Healing.
La Trobe University Ngarn-gi Bagora Indigenous Centre, which has organised the event, says the Journey of Healing is continuing, because there is much healing needed among the Stolen Generations.
‘But it is needed too in the wider Aboriginal community, and among the non-Indigenous community. The inability of Aboriginal culture to thrive alongside Western culture shows that there are destructive attitudes which must be healed before we can find respect and appreciation for each others’ cultures. That is the aim of the National Day of Healing.
‘We hope that everything that has happened on past Sorry Days will happen, and more yet. We want it to be a day when truth and compassion drown out the politicking, and we all commit ourselves to answering the problems.’
At La Trobe University’s Bundoora Campus participants will gather at the Caffeine food area at 5.30pm for tea and coffee, then move to the Agora theatre for a showing of the documentary 'Lousy Little Sixpence' at 5.45pm. After refreshments, the feature film 'Rabbit Proof Fence' will be shown at 7.00pm.
On Friday 27th May there will be a gathering at the University flagpoles at 11.00am, where Aunty Doreen Garvey will Welcome participants to Country, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will be raised, accompanied by a didgeridoo and the Birrion Lakidjeka Dance Group.
The event will then move to the Odeon Room, Union Building, where at 11.45am there will be an introduction by MC, Lisa Bellear and some words by Gary Thomas, La Trobe University Director of Indigenous Education.
Howard Edwards will be the Special Guest Speaker, to be followed by an open mike session, a poetry reading by Indigenous student Elizabeth Kooroonya Savage and then the ‘Journey of Healing’ song.
At 1.00pm there will be a bbq lunch, with music by Indigenous performer Peter Rotumah. At 2.00pm activities will close with the release of purple balloons to symbolise the native hibiscus, newly adopted emblem of the Stolen Generations.
Proudly sponsored by the La Trobe University Ngarn-gi Bagora Indigenous Centre, the Indigenous Office of the SRC, the SRC, the La Trobe University Union and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
For further information:
Please contact Nellie Green, Coordinator of the Ngarngi Bagora Indigenous Centre at La Trobe University, Tel: 03 9479 3817.