Healing History

In Australia many in IofC’s network have sought reconciliation through genuine listening, honest apology, forgiveness and a working commitment to justice and healing between Aboriginal and non-indigenous Australians. Many are active in initiatives such as Sorry Day and the Journey of Healing (http://www.journeyofhealing.com)

Aboriginal people have travelled to Asia, Africa and Europe to help with IofC work there. In 2000 a team of Australians, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal toured Zimbabwe and South Africa, with a musical presentation depicting Australia’s struggle to face the truth about past cruelties and work for justice and healing. They performed to a total of 10,000 people in many venues, and found that their audiences related closely to the stories both of oppression and of healing.

In different parts of Australia, people motivated by IofC’s approach, have participated in local reconciliation groups

• The Blackwood Reconciliation Group in South Australia joined with ex-residents of the former Colebrook Training Home to create a memorial to Aboriginal children removed from their families under government policies from 1943-72 (photo and quote from bottom of P12 of Initiatives of Change magazine)
• The Lane Cove Reconciliation Group in Sydney meet monthly to bring a wide range of indigenous issues before the public eye. In 2005 a monument to the Cameraygal people was unveiled at Woodford Bay in the presence of Aboriginal Elders and the Governor of NSW, H.E. Professor Marie Bashir AC (http://www.nswrecon.com/lane_cove/)
• Sydney Friends of Myall Creek support the development of the memorial site of the Myall Creek massacre as a heritage and education facility (http://www.myallcreek.org)
• Northern Suburbs Reconciliation Group, Perth, WA.
  30 Gribble Road, Gwelup, WA 6018