Sorry Day: Remembering the Stolen Generations

A Willingness to Make Things Right

On National Sorry Day, we remember the Stolen Generations—the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities by the Australian government.

A Compelling Lead for a Story

Coral Vass and Dub Leffler's book, "Sorry Day," includes a special introduction and afterword from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and is read poignantly by actor Trevor Jamieson. The book is a powerful testament to the resilience of the Stolen Generations and their families, and to the importance of acknowledging the past and making things right.

The Stolen Generations

The Stolen Generations refers to the systematic removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities by government agencies and church missions, which occurred from the late 1800s until the 1970s.

The children were taken from their families under the guise of education and protection, but they were often subjected to abuse and neglect. Many were never reunited with their families, and their culture and identity were often lost.

National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day is held on May 26 each year to acknowledge the trauma of the Stolen Generations and to apologize for the government's actions. The day is marked by events and ceremonies across Australia, including readings of "Sorry Day" and other books about the Stolen Generations.

Sorry Day is an important day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and for all Australians. It is a day to remember the past, and to show a willingness to make things right.