Community members gathered for the 2025 Sorry Day Commemoration in Victory Park in Castlemaine on Monday.
Sorry Day, which is held annually on May 26, is a day of remembrance to acknowledge the pain and injustice experienced by members of the stolen generation, and its lasting impacts.
The event included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony performed by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, and the launch of the Djaara Cultural Mud Map designed by Uncle Rick and Trace Balla.
There was also range of speeches from representatives of local secondary and primary schools and Mount Alexander Shire mayor Rosie Annear.
National Reconciliation Week began on Tuesday and runs until next Tuesday June 3.
The week will feature a range of events run by Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation to commemorate, educate and bring our community together.
This year’s theme is ‘Bridging Now to Next’, and reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. It calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.
Nalderun CEO Kath Coff said local schools were taking part in a range of activities during Reconciliation Week 2025, including Nalderun-led activities and visiting Boorp Boorp Boondyil and the Reconciliation Week exhibition at the Market Building, the Reconciliation Walk in Chewton, as well as a host of school-based activities.
“Kindergartens are also involved with Uncle Ron, Murnong Mummas and author Trace Bella set to visit as part of local events,” she said.
“We are also pleased to be working with Maldon Primary School and Maldon Pre-School to coordinate a Tarrengower Walk for the first time and Newstead Primary are also doing a walk with Connecting Stories,” Kath said.
Teachers from all schools across the Mount Alexander network meet each term as part of the Nalderun network meeting.
Chewton Primary School principal Bernadette McKenna said the local schools worked with Kath Coff from Nalderun on resources to promote Indigenous perspectives into their classrooms.
“We are incredibly lucky to have Nalderun Aboriginal Education Corporation to support our students, schools, staff and families here in the Mount Alexander and Goldfields region,” she said.
