It is more than half a century since Australians overwhelmingly voted ‘Yes’ in the 1967 referendum to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census and be recognised as part of the Australian population. The date was May 27, 1967. It is more than three decades since the historic Mabo land rights win in which the high court ruled in favour of native title rights to the land that had previously been declared by the British to be ‘terra nullius’ or ‘land belonging to no-one’. That pivotal decision was handed down on June 3, 1992.
Today we commemorate those historic dates, each a major milestone on Australia’s reconciliation journey, by celebrating National Reconciliation Week between May 27 and June 3 each year.
But while much has been achieved, there is still plenty of work to be done.
This year’s National Reconciliation Week is appropriately themed ‘Now More Than Ever’. It is a reminder that the fight for justice, equality, recognition and reconciliation must keep going, particularly at such a difficult time following the defeat of the recent Voice referendum.
“Let us start a new chapter in the future of Australia, where we walk as equals,” says 2023 NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year and Children’s Ground Chair William Tilmouth. “Where reconciliation is not just a word and a day in the calendar, but where we reconcile the trauma and atrocities of the past and celebrate our shared future and knowledge.”
National Reconciliation Week is a time when all Australians are encouraged to learn more about the nation’s Indigenous culture, history and achievements, and our shared histories. It was first celebrated in 1993, the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and known then as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, before being launched under its current name by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in 1996.
The week and theme is organised by Reconciliation Australia, a not-for-profit independent organisation set up in the year 2000 to provide national leadership on reconciliation. It was the same year that 300,000 Australians marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge in solidarity with our First Nations people, an act that was soon replicated in bridges, towns and cities across the nation. Today, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in schools, workplaces, local councils and community organisations world-wide.
Led by co-chair Tom Calma and CEO Karen Mundine, Reconciliation Australia encourages all communities to get involved through registering a choir as part of Voices for Reconciliation, or planning an event to help bring National Reconciliation Week to life such as visiting a First Nations exhibition or film screening and posting it to the official events week calendar and inviting others to grow their understanding of Indigenous culture.
Here at Alberts, we’ve chosen to join forces with one of our foundation’s partners, Children’s Ground, and will be supporting their ‘Wear it Yellow’ campaign. During National Reconciliation Week, Alberts staff will be wearing a touch of yellow – the colour of the sacred ochre First Nations people have used for generations in ceremonies and gatherings; the centrepiece of our beautiful Aboriginal flag and the chosen colour of Children’s Ground – in a bid to raise funds to assist the organisation’s future.
Children’s Ground aims to create change for future generations (Image: Children’s Ground)
Alberts, through its philanthropic organisation The Tony Foundation, has since 2022 been a proud supporter of Children’s Ground. A First Nations-led organisation operating in Central Australia and the Northern Territory, Children’s Ground strives to create a better future for the next generation of children by working with communities over a 25-year-period to support children in five key areas: learning, health, economic development, community development and creative and cultural development in order to nurture and strengthen their cultural identity, language and understanding of Country in a way that’s free from injustice and economic poverty.
Our team shining bright in yellow in support of Children’s Ground
All funds raised during Alberts Wear it Yellow campaign will go directly towards supporting Children’s Ground and delivering self-determination, education, health and employment opportunities for First Nations people.
“Children’s Ground’s holistic approach aligns closely with The Tony Foundation’s mission to create positive change in the lives of young Australians through music,” says Alberts executive director Ingrid Albert.
“They focus on improving outcomes for Australian First Nations communities by integrating music into cultural connection, social and emotional wellbeing, education and mental health initiatives. Music is delivered through learning (singing in language), enterprise (recording, releasing and performing music) and cultural connection through the inter-generational sharing of songs.
“Our team looks forward to Wearing it Yellow this National Reconciliation Week in support of Children’s Ground and in celebration of First Nations culture, recognising and respecting the incredible wisdom and knowledge of over 65,000 years on this land.”
