IT's About Time

Cooktown comments from locals flagged over the evening.

Barbara Rosendale said "Healing can actually legitimately start now to over turn all of the lip-service of years gone by.

I don't' believe compensation will really help to heal actions that broke a peoples heart.

Repatriation and intervention will never heal our people without rehabilitation... and support for spiritual healing."

Mr Rudd delivered the "sorry speech" so eloquently.

I felt this was finally done by our current Prime Minister for Australia, especially our "past" Governments.

"Let the Healing Begin" said Catherine Bird

Helen Gordon Said, "My Grandmother was taken and we don't know her identity or her family.

Saying "Sorry" now must mean we work towards togetherness,
for "One Nationhood".

I sat in front of the television this morning and I felt good.

I was one of the lucky ones. I got taken away but my family, the one I had to stay with, was good to me".

"Both worlds, with government are still very young.

Today means a lot to the Elders, and their hopes for younger genrations to come".

"Until I came to Cooktown, I didn't realise how important "SORRY" was.

We hope this word of "faith" will attract a willingness to provide the resources for the area, here in Cooktown and Cape York". Said Deborah Retton-Howe

"Long over-due,

How can someone grieve their loses when the people who have committed the offences leave both Indigenous and non-indigenous people stuck until acknowledged", Said Ronda Holland.

"We are happy that it happened... finally.

For the sake of the old peoples and for the people that got taken away". Said the "Fancy Three" boys from Hope Vale.

"Family is Family!"
"We must decide what we want Australia". said Paul Nelligan

Yes I am sceptical, however I have hope. What happened to the Stolen Generations was deeply bad and I hope now all my people will come home.

To come home we need the right kind of resources, a committed local government who can help us with the issues like jobs, training and health. Our kids need a break, said Ruban Baru from Hope Vale.

I am Glad they did it!

I come from Aotearoa New Zealand and we don't have the same extent of racism.

Ie., We didn't have the "Stolen Generations", said Lorrine Collier

I feel today is important for peoples physic, for their emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

We need this day to move forward, together.

Regarding Repatriation, I feel understand identity - health and culture, it is necessary... It is not the money. It is about our Artefact's, our Bones... it is the gesture of accepting this "DAY" with respect. said Student Anthropologist, Ms Romona McIvor.

"I like the way they have finally apologised, it has been a long time since....

I hope this help brings a better life for our children, especially in the area of opportunity." Floyd Cobus, Farron Cobus, Eddie Kepple, Regiald Gordon and Owen Cobus from Hope Vale.

"It will take fundemental help.

It is lip-service at the moment.

It needs to be put into some concrete", said Kel Harper.

"It's good to finally see politics' working for people and not people working for politics'.

Keep up the good work Mr Rudd.

I believe even the angels are rejoicing to night," said Mr Robert Browning.

"As I passed the local petrol pump,and I spoke to the attendant, he told me he has been speaking to many HopeVale and Wujal Wujal people who were in Cooktown today.

That many people felt that " the mans got guts"!

This he explained is because many people from Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal communities understand that the Rudd government has put themselves on the line," including his reputation."

He then asked if he could tell me a story.

Not everyone was happy in Cooktown though. Like it is for the rest of Australia, there are many in town who are apathetic, or feeling "whats the difference".

For me... for now it is that we have the"will" through leadership and it is up to us (citizens) to want to make a difference.

It is the task of Administrations to become engaged, at regional ground levels.

I need to see the public service workers engage broadly with community, and help ADVOCATE for what the Rudd Government and those who support the effort, are trying to do.

My own tears would follow those who "are tired" of the developmental experiements.

It is time to get real about the humanity at stake in our Australian society.

This is as Mr Rud said ' A Historical' if not the emotional life of a nation.

I would like to thank everyone who supported the making of the "Stolen Generations" Sorry Day. I feel it is very important... for all the real reasons.