A Place to Share
Sorry day and National Reconciliation Week
2025 National Day of Healing (Sorry Day) Commemorative Flag Raising Morning Tea and Exhibition
The City of Ballarat, BADAC and CAFS commemorated the National Day of Healing (Sorry Day) and Reconciliation Week 2025 with a powerful photographic exhibition as guided by Ballarat Elder Uncle Murray Harrison and Stolen Generations survivors.
Commemorative Flag Raising EVENT
When: 9:15am, Monday 26th May
Where: BADAC Market St Carpark and entry via 108 Armstrong St, Ballarat Central
- BADAC, City of Ballarat, CAFS and Wadawurrung invite one and all.
- Smoking Ceremony to commemorate this significant date
9:45am Morning Tea and Pathways to Healing Yarning Circle in the BADAC Tree Room
- (Local Community Members featured in exhibition - Peter Kennedy Jnr and family and Photographer David G. Jones ( and
- Sorry Day flower craft and badge making
Loan of The TAKEN exhibition is generously provided by photographer and author David G. Jones. We will have, with permissions granted by survivors from Ballarat including Uncle Murray Harrison, Charmaine Clarke and Peter Kennedy Jnr and families, a small selection of the images exhibited at BADAC's Tree Room from 26th May to early June 2025.
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The selection of the Taken photographs on exhibition features local and national Stolen Generations victims from across Australia. This important photo book can be loaned from Ballarat and Central Highlands libraries with a library membership.
Questions: contact LenkaVanderboom@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Discover and Share Ballarat Events
SORRY DAY 2025
26th May 9:15am BADAC, City of Ballarat and Wadawurrung event to mark the National Day of Healing (Sorry Day) 2025 for one and all. Followed by Pathways to Healing Morning Tea Yarning Circle Tree Room at 108 Armstrong Street.
26th - 28th May - The Taken Exhibition on show at BADAC Tree Room 108 Armstrong St Ballarat
National Reconciliation Week Launch - WTOAC and Council
The City of Ballarat and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners 'BridgedNow to Next' with a National Reconciliation Week 2025 event for all. Over 60 people were welcomed with Cultural ceremony and enjoyed the first of the daily Bridge Mall lunchtime walks to learn about indigenous plants, WTOAC symbols and the Yarramlok portal
2025 Healing (Sorry Day) and Truth-telling
Damascus Sorry Day Event
City of Ballarat collaborative event at BADAC
City of Ballarat collaborative event at BADAC
Annual collaborative event by Loreto College Ballarat, St Patrick's College and Damascus College to mark National Sorry Day.
Monday 26th May
10am Official Welcome and Smoking Ceremony
Sorry Day Service and VIP Guest Speaker
11:30am Morning tea for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and community members, students and their families.
Contact: Alex Jameson a.jameson@damascus.vic.edu.au
City of Ballarat collaborative event at BADAC
City of Ballarat collaborative event at BADAC
City of Ballarat collaborative event at BADAC
STAND TOGETHER to mark the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing them Home Report and to commemorate the children and families impacted by the Stolen Generations policies.
9:15AM Monday 26th May 2025
Flag-Raising
9:40AM Morning Tea and Yarning Circle
with Peter Kennedy Jnr, David G. Jones and Community
National Day of Healing
at BADAC Tree Room
THE TAKEN - Photographic Exhibition
by David G. Jones in collaboration with Stolen Generations survivors of Australia and will be on show until June 2025 at BADAC Tree Room.
Event co-designed with survivors
Uncle Murray Harrison and Charmaine Clarke.
#NRW2025 #LocalStories #StolenGenerations
#SorryDay
contact: lenkavanderboom@ballarat.vic.gov.au 0407921222
The Arthur Rylah Institute will be hosting a hybrid seminar Working together to understand the impacts of Cultural Burning at 1pm on Monday 27 May 2024.
This seminar will feature Blair Gilson (Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation) who will tell us about the cultural burning program on Wadawurrung Country and its cultural significance.
This will be followed by Dr Brad Farmilo (ARI) who will discuss the monitoring element of the project, and what we have learned so far.
2024 PAST Ballarat Reconciliation Events
The Taken Exhibition and Video
BALLARAT LIBRARY EXHIBITION
EXTENDED to MID JUNE
BALLARAT LIBRARY EXHIBITION
EXTENDED to MID JUNE
New Book in the Library cataloque is complemented this Reconcilational Week with David G. Jones' photos featuring national and local Stolen Generations survivors. Uncle Murray Harrison calls for you to share this event and to head down and have a look at this collection of powerful images.
EXTENDED EXHIBITION DATES
FREE
BALLARAT LIBRARY
DOVETON ST
City of Ballarat Flag Raising followed by Morning Tea Yarning Circle
Monday 27th May
10:30am Flag raising and Wadawurrung Ceremony to mark the Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum and the beginning of National Reconciliation Week followed by 11am - 12:15pm:
Morning Tea and Yarning Circle event hosted upstairs at the Trench Room,
Ballarat Town Hall. Speakers:
- Yarrowee River Heritage Project
- Yarning Garden
- Ballarat Allies
- KEAG Advisory Committee
Create space at your place – gardening for wildlife
Create space at your place – gardening for wildlife
Free Guided Tour
Wednesday 29 May 11.00 am
45 - 60 minutes
Dress for all weather
Enjoy the trees and beautiful floral beds of the Botanic Gardens on this guided tour to discover simple ways we can create a safe haven for local native plants and animals in our own gardens. Learn why this is important and how to join the growing band of Garde
Free Guided Tour
Wednesday 29 May 11.00 am
45 - 60 minutes
Dress for all weather
Enjoy the trees and beautiful floral beds of the Botanic Gardens on this guided tour to discover simple ways we can create a safe haven for local native plants and animals in our own gardens. Learn why this is important and how to join the growing band of Gardeners For Wildlife.
Venue: Ballarat Botanic Gardens; Meet outside between the Robert Clark Centre and Conservatory (Large Glass House)
Ages: All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Other: Maximum 20 participants.
Wheelchair accessible tour (some paths can be boggy after rains.)
Free take home information
Contact: anita.kane88@gmail.com
Facing Up @ WPAC #NRW2024 special event
Create space at your place – gardening for wildlife
Theatre Event
Tuesday 28th May 7pm
45min play followed by a Q&A
For community members, educators, secondary and tertiary school groups, and local government representatives and officials committed to learning more about reconciliation, "Facing Up" offers a powerful platform for reflection, dialogue, and collective action. Don't miss this ch
Theatre Event
Tuesday 28th May 7pm
45min play followed by a Q&A
For community members, educators, secondary and tertiary school groups, and local government representatives and officials committed to learning more about reconciliation, "Facing Up" offers a powerful platform for reflection, dialogue, and collective action. Don't miss this chance to be part of this experience during Reconciliation Week.
FACING UP by Lynden Nicholls combines historical records and personal stories to create a compelling theatrical experience. The play presents familiar events, such as the 1967 referendum, the enquiry into Aboriginal deaths in custody, and the Tent Embassy, while also revealing lesser-known, powerful moments that evoke a sense of urgency for change and progress.
DURATION
45 minute show with a 30 minute Q and A
WARNINGS
Facing Up references some incidents in First Nations history that could be upsetting to some.
Suitable for a general audience.
Facing Up in partnership with Wendouree Performing Arts Centre discounted tickets for #NRW2024
CREDITS
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Lynden Nicholls
CAST
Trudy Fatnowna Edgeley
Zerene Jaadwa
Shannon Nicholls
CULTURAL ADVISER
Tammy Gilson
EDUCATION PACKAGE
Hermione Higgins and Deb Lowah Clark
(available on request)
