National Apology Day – 10 Years later

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Penrith City Council (02) 4732 7777 (02) 4732 7958 council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au 601 High St Penrith NSW 2750 Australia

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Penrith City Council today acknowledged the 10th anniversary of the National Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a ceremony in Council chambers.

Penrith City Council today acknowledged the 10th anniversary of the National Apology to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a ceremony in Council chambers.

In 2008 on February 13 the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, delivered the  National Apology to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, in particular the Stolen Generations.

The Apology is considered a defining moment in Australian history and was made in relation to past laws, policies and practices which have impacted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Penrith Mayor John Thain said that Apology Day is a reminder to everyone to continue to build on lessons from the past and work for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the future.

"Penrith Council celebrates the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the important contribution Penrith's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents make to our City", Penrith Mayor Councillor John Thain said. "The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are the oldest continuing cultures on our planet and Council recognises these cultures have often endured, struggled and survived against a backdrop of adversity."

Council supports a wide range of initiatives from Apology Day to NAIDOC Week that actively involve and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and residents. The annual mid-year NAIDOC event at Jamison Park continues to grow in size each and every year.

"In the spirit of the Apology made 10 years ago, Council's ceremony today is a powerful reminder that our community's future is shared between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and that our future is brighter because of it," Clr John Thain concluded.

Caption: (L-R) Aboriginal Liaison Officer Carolyn Gartside, Aboriginal Didgeridoo player Brian, Penrith Mayor John Thain, Torres Strait Islander representative Cindy Drummond and Rhonda Randall. 

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 14 February 2018.