Redfern Community Centre, The Block, 2007. Image from Redfern Oral History. Click for more.
At least 1,000 people stood in the pouring rain at Redfern’s famous Block and watched on the big screen as Kevin Rudd moved the motion of Apology. I would not have missed it for quids!
Next to me an Aboriginal woman in her thirties or forties, her tears blending with the rain.
Cheers and a standing ovation greeted Kevin Rudd’s speech.
We didn’t get to hear the middle section of Dr Nelson’s speech as at that point the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, was speaking to us live.
However, the symbolism near the end of Rudd and Nelson jointly presenting to the Speaker the gift from the Stolen Generations spoke to all our hearts.
Golden syrup and damper afterwards, and then a coffee for me on the way home at Cafe Cana.
William Yang was there at the Community Centre, and some people from church.
Big smiles from some little Aboriginal kids as I crossed Pitt Street and Redfern Street: “Look! He’s got a flag!”
A day truly to be treasured, long long anticipated and for a period the dread that it would never happen. But it has happened.
No more analysis today, no more commentary. The day is too good for that.
See Cheers, tears as Rudd says ‘sorry’.