Apology

At 11am on Monday 16 November 2009, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants. Malcolm Turnbull, then Leader of the Opposition, made his own apology. See a video and transcript of both apologies at the Parliament of Australia website.

Below are photos of the event in Canberra – click to enlarge.

Forgotten Australians enter the Great Hall, Parliament House.

The official party on stage in the Great Hall, Parliament House.

Assembling in the foyer of Parliament House before entering the Great Hall.

Mr Harry Jenkins MP, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, addresses guests in the Great Hall.

Apology and address from then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd MP.

Guests in the Great Hall, Parliament House, during the apology and address from the Prime Minister.

Address from then Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull MP.

Forgotten Australians, during formal proceedings of the national apology.

The Hon Maxine McKew MP.

Below are some of the many people for whom the Apology was a significant milestone. Click to enlarge.

Valda Hogan and Jenny Bosanquet

Sconey and Wayne Robert King

Janice Johnson, Sue Treweek and Diane Tronc

Trish Charter and Gail Favaloro

John Hennessey OAM, former child migrant, with photo of his late mother

Kevin Rudd and Sconey

Former child migrants: Jon Holmes, John Merrigan and Maurice Crawford-Raby

Glenda Bradshaw

Graeme Bradley and Kevin Parker

The following Forgotten Australians shared their stories with National Museum staff. Click to enlarge.

Ms Colleen Stevenson.

Ms Wilma Robb.

Ms Lynette Meyers.

Mr Don Aziz.

Ms Wendy Dyckhoff.

Ms Katie-Marie Sibraa.

Mr Garry Harrison.

Mr James Myers.

Mr David Mulholland.

Read Darlene McKay's open letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; and other Inside blog posts about 'apology'.

News of the apology

Media coverage of the national apology was extensive:

read ABC news story on the apology
watch via YouTube:
- Forgotten Generation on apology journey
- Forgotten Australians flock to Canberra for apology
explore other news stories on the apology

Background to the apology

The apology was announced by the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, then Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, on 27 October 2009. In making the announcement Ms Macklin said:

The apology will acknowledge that what happened in the past was both real and wrong. It will make sure that a largely invisible part of our history is put firmly on the record. And it will remind the community of what happened to many of these children – the loss of family, the loss of identity and, in the case of child migrants, the loss of their country.

Read the media release in full.

Quotes

From Forgotten Australians:

I need this apology today to release me from the pains of my past and to help assist me out of victimhood that I still get when having any dealings with any government official.

(p193)

I cannot forget, will not forgive and no apologies accepted.

(p194)

From Lost Innocents:

We need our suffering and experiences acknowledged. Australian Federal and State governments should acknowledge that they had and still have a duty of care.

(p236)

You can accept an apology, but you cannot forget … I know they tried their best to apologise and everything; we have got to accept that. But I always say it is too late.

(p235)