ORGANISERS of Shepparton’s annual Apology Breakfast are determined to hold the event in a ‘COVID-safe’ manner, with the exact details to be determined over the coming weeks.
The event, which normally draws about 400 people to Shepparton’s Queens Gardens for an 8am breakfast, marks the anniversary of the Federal Government’s 2008 National Apology.
On February 13 of that year, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations, whose lives had been blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and Indigenous assimilation.
The following year, the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group paired with the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative and the Greater Shepparton City Council to hold an inclusive breakfast.
Dierdre Robertson of the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group, said despite uncertainty over restrictions, the event will go ahead in some form.
“It’s an incredibly important occasion,” she said.
“The Aboriginal community is still affected by what happened, and it’s important the wider community understand that.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find an Aboriginal person even today who hasn’t been affected in some way by the stolen generation policies.”
Ms Robertson said it was possible a smaller event would be held at the Rumbalara Elders Facility on Ford Road, which could be livestreamed to an online audience.
The breakfast is normally attended by secondary students, councillors including the Mayor, and members of The Academy of Sport Health and Education (ASHE).
