The day before the Apology

There was a sense of great anticipation across the country from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians leading up to the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

The day before, the opening of the 42nd Australian Parliament included a Welcome to Country by Ngambri elder Matilda House Williams. This was the first time such an event had been held since Federal Parliament first met on 9 May 1901 in Melbourne.

It set the tone for the apology itself the following day, the words of the prime minister's speech having already been provided to the media.

Apology Day

'Mr Speaker, I move: That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.' So began Prime Minister Rudd's speech apologising to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian Government, largely written by the prime minister himself.

Many Australians were waiting to hear one word in particular: 'sorry'. That moment was powerfully captured by television broadcasters:

This broadcast clearly captures what it meant for First Nations people to hear the prime minister's speech. High-profile Australians interviewed on the day included tennis champion and Wiradjuri woman, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and country musician Troy Cassar-Daley. It was an historic moment for Australia.

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