Mayor meets with elders to mark ‘Sorry Day’
19 May 2017
Orange mayor John Davis OAM, met with local indigenous elders and community leaders today in a low-key recognition of the annual ‘National Sorry Day’ event.
Because the Orange NAIDOC Committee are organizing an event to recognize the 50th anniversary of the 1967 indigenous referendum in the Orange Regional Museum precinct on 27 May, a separate event was held a week earlier for Sorry Day.
Mayor Davis met with the Chair of the Community Working party Jason French, Gerald Power and local elders today during a regular morning tea held each fortnight at the HAC Centre.
“This annual milestone is marked Australia-wide on 26 May, and it’s important the community takes time to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of the country's indigenous population,” Cr John Davis said. “It is estimated that between 1883 and 1969 more than 6,200 children were forcibly removed from their families and communities in NSW alone.”
“It’s important that we take time to remember the past injustice to Aboriginal peoples and policies of forced child removal, as well as recognising the signs of resilience, healing and the power of saying Sorry.”
"It was very interesting and moving to sit around together and hear some of the personal stories of this groups of elderly Orange residents. They generously shared their stories of how they moved to live in Orange from many different parts of Australia, and have now raised their families here."
Orange City Council’s Central West Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer Jordon Moore facilitates fortnightly gatherings with a number of local Aboriginal Elders who meet regularly for a yarn and social support activities at the HACC Centre at 286 Lords Place Orange.
CONVERSATION : Mayor John Davis met with elders of the Orange Aboriginal community. Pictured (l. to r.) are Mayor John Davis, (sitting) Paul Oates, (standing) Alice Williams, Muriel McMahon, (standing) Wayne Langlo, Ellen Rose, (sitting) Donna Dodds, (standing) Daphne Monaghan, John Frail, Pat French.
Consultation has concluded
