On Friday I addressed the Sorry Day ceremony at the Wollundry Lagoon, and took the opportunity to acknowledge the deep trauma and disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

National Sorry Day commemorates the anniversary of the 1998 ‘Bringing them Home’ report.

During the ceremony, Luke Wighton played the didgeridoo masterfully, and Aunties Gail Manderson, Kath Withers, and Christine Hughes ceremoniously lit candles with three local indigenous students.

: Pictured with me is Jade Tapfield, who is doing a school-based Traineeship with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, to become an assistant in nursing.

Jade is currently in year 12 at Kooringal High School, and is a finalist in the Aboriginal Student of the Year for New South Wales Training. Good luck to Jade!