Join us to commemorate Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week
Published on 14 May 2025
Mount Alexander Shire Council will be recognising and commemorating Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week with a number of community events.
Sorry Day, which is held annually on 26 May, is a day of remembrance to acknowledge the pain and injustice experienced by members of the stolen generation, and its lasting impacts.
National Reconciliation Week begins the following day from Tuesday 27 May to Tuesday 3 June. The week will feature a range of events run by Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation to commemorate, educate and bring our community together.
This year’s theme is ‘Bridging Now to Next’, and reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. It calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mayor, Cr Rosie Annear, said that Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week are important for acknowledging the pain of the past and looking towards a reconciled future.
“Both Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week are time to come together to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures and their histories,” said Mayor Annear.
“I’d like to invite our community to commemorate these important dates with two community events.
“Along with our Sorry Day Commemoration and the launch of National Reconciliation Week, Nalderun will be offering a program of events which will be available on their website in the coming week.”
The Sorry Day Commemoration will include the launch of the Djaara Cultural Mud Map.
The mud map was created by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson and designed by Trace Balla, local author and illustrator.
It’s a Djaara cultural interpretive sign, and includes pictures, information and landmarks from across the area, including Dja Dja Wurrung language names.
It highlights both historical and contemporary culturally significant sites, and shows the shire’s footprint from a precolonial perspective.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have this beautifully designed map from Uncle Rick Nelson and Trace Balla,” said Mayor Annear.
“It adds an important element of history, artwork and commemoration to Victory Park, which sits in the centre of Castlemaine.”
“It will be great to share information about these important Djaara cultural heritage sites with the community,” said Uncle Rick Nelson.
“The idea first came about through Indigenous Roundtable. A big thanks to Council for supporting this project.”
Council proudly hosts the Mount Alexander Shire Indigenous Roundtable, a forum that brings together representatives from the local Aboriginal community and key stakeholders in the shire, to share ideas, deliver initiatives and events, and provide support for the local Aboriginal community. It is co-chaired by Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson and the Mount Alexander Shire Council Mayor
Other ways that Council is committed to reconciliation is through the Reconciliation Plan 2023-2026, which was adopted by Councillors in November 2023.
The vision for this plan is to ‘Walk together with courage and purpose’, and was developed through conversations with Traditional Owners, First Nations community members, reconciliation partners and members of the Indigenous Roundtable.
Sorry Day Commemoration
When: Monday 26 May, 10.00am to 12.00pm
Where: Victory Park, Castlemaine
What: A commemorative event that will include:
- Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony performed by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson.
- Launch of the Djaara Cultural Mud Map designed by Uncle Rick and Trace Balla.
- Guest speakers Mayor Rosie Annear, and representatives from Castlemaine Secondary College and local primary schools.
- Free barbecue supported by Castlemaine Lions Club.
National Reconciliation Week Launch
When: Tuesday 27 May, 10.00am to 12.00pm
Where: Market Building, Castlemaine
What: A commemorative event that will include:
- Launch of Uncle Ron Murray, local Wamba Wamba, Tatiara man’s autobiography Balranald Boy.
- Nalderun Awards.
- Morning tea provided.
Read more about Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week at https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/ and keep an eye on www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au for community events.