A new beginning!

It is impossible to live in Australia and not appreciate the indigenous heritage that existed thousands of years before Europeans commenced living in in our land. In 1997 it was recognised that a previous government had decided that some Aboriginal children were better suited to be part of a white european family, it would improve the aboriginal child's future.

In May 2000 the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd made a parliamentary speech apologising for the action which removed aboriginal children from their families. The speech will be forever known as "The Sorry Day Speech".

I sat in in a campus at Wyong and watched the speech on TV, knowing that this was a historical event. Around me were hundreds of students and teachers, including many aboriginals. Many held each other and some wept at the recognition that such an injustice had finally been recognised.

The first blip is history in reverse, it is one of three shots which make up a reconciliation mural. The mural was commissioned by our council, and promotes our multi cultural community. The first section shows the arrival of European settlers. The second shows images represented by paintings from the aboriginal dreamtime. The last section is an aboriginal representation of the sky spirit, known as Biamie. I drive past the mural and feel quite humble at being part of history which brought about such change.