Record crowd for Batemans Bay Sorry Day Bridge Walk
By John Longhurst
More than 1500 people joined the Sorry Day Bridge walk over the Bhunduu (Clyde River, Batemans Bay) this morning.
Bus loads of schoolchildren representing all the schools in the Eurobodalla Shire gathered with hundreds of locals on the northern bank of the Bhunduu for a smoking ceremony led by Walbunga man, Jordon Nye, Chief Executive Officer of Muladha Gamara (wise woman, wise man).
Muladha Gamara supports and runs culture youth programs, organises cultural tourism and conducts traditional ceremonies and is based in Mogo.
The special smoking ceremony focused on cleansing country for people supporting Sorry Day as well as promoting healing.
Jordon then then led the Sorry Day March across the bridge with traditional song sticks and singing.
Community member and Walbunga woman, Melissa Ellis, from Moruya, took over and emceed proceedings.
Local police diverted traffic to ensure the smooth running of the march.
Walbunga Elder, Aunty Meryl Crole gave an emotional Welcome to Country and a very moving reading of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations, delivered to the Australian Parliament in 2008.
Traditional dancing and singing followed led by Jordon Nye and well supported by a talented group of young first nation women.
The large crowd joined in the final ceremonial dance in a spirit of reconciliation.
Melissa Ellis then invited Mayor of Eurobodalla, Matt Hatcher, Fiona Phillips, federal MP for Gilmore and Dr Michael Holland, state MP for Bega to speak.
Melissa Ellis concluded the formalities by asking the crowd to reflect on the National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024 ‘Now More than Ever’. Melissa stressed the importance of ‘doing sorry’ as opposed to just saying ‘sorry’.
First Nation Elders were then invited to cut a cake with the words ‘Now More Than Ever’ prominent on the icing.
Walbanja man, Joe Brierley, Community Engagement Officer with The Family Place in Moruya was pleased with the large turnout.
Joe said “At the first march 5 years ago we had a crowd of about 300 people in Moruya. It is getting bigger each year and today’s turnout of upwards of 1500 people is fantastic. It is a great ‘all of community’ event and we are supported by businesses, a range of community groups, government and non government organisations. Everyone has pitched in to provide a barbeque lunch and drinks. It is a great lead in to National Reconciliation Week.”
