Residents, workers, families, students and Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover
Moore braved the rain to watch the speech via a large outdoor
screen set up in the heart of the notorious Block, the setting of the 2003
Redfern riots.
After the speech a teary Ms Moore stood and addressed the
crowd.
“Parliament House in Canberra is a long way from the streets of
Redfern, but the apology made this morning must resonate here in our hearts and
minds,” she said.
David Page, 46, composer with the indigenous dance group
Bangarra Dance Theatre, said he liked the fact that Mr Rudd made a personal
apology.
“It was very moving to see a prime minister with a bit
of heart. I loved it when he said he was sorry. There was just something
personal about it. It’s very hard for a prime minister to be personal,” he
said.
“It’s a long road but it’s a great beginning.”
Enid Williams, 72, who was brought up on a mission in
Warrabinda in north Queensland after her father was forcibly removed from his
family, said she was happy with Mr Rudd’s speech, but said it was now important
to look to the future.
“We’ve been put down so many times,” she said.
“I’m 72. The main thing is the young people, to give
them a better future.”
The reception was not so warm for the speech delivered by
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson, and the crowd booed at file footage of former
prime minister John Howard that was
broadcast before the apology.
Michael Kirby, 36, a resident of Waterloo who grew up in rural NSW and whose
father had been removed from Swan Hill to be raised at the Kitchener Boys Home,
said he was pleased with the turnout at the community centre.
“I was so proud to be walking down here today with
non-indigenous Australians,” he said.
“Now we have to move together to try and build Australia
bigger and better as a whole.”
An entire day of activities has been planned at the community
centre, including an afternoon smoking ceremony, repetitions of the speech and
a barbecue.
Melanie Giuffre of Surry Hills said she and her husband,
Remo, brought their children Lola, 13 and Roman, 9, to Redfern to mark a
historic national event.
“Roman was doing something at school but we thought it
was important to be here as a family,” she said.
“[The speech] was really wonderful. It felt we’ve seen
the Prime Minister we voted for.”
Source:
www.smh.com.au/news/national/speech-gets-standing-ovation-in-redfern/2008/02/13/1202760352322.html