National Sorry Day, Tuesday 26 May 2026
- May 26
- 2 min read
Every year on 26 May, we pause to acknowledge National Sorry Day, a day to remember the Stolen Generations, honour Survivors, and reflect on how we can all play a part in healing.
Before the Australian Governments National Apology, the Sorry Books Campaign was launched on Australia Day, January 26, 1998. The Sorry Books Campaign involved about 1,000 Sorry Books being circulated around Australia by Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR) and other organisations and volunteers. The Sorry Books are a testament to Australians acknowledging the damage done, an apology and commitment to do better. Each Sorry Book begins with the following statement:
“By signing my name in this book, I record my deep regret for the injustices suffered by Indigenous Australians as a result of European settlement and, in particular, I offer my personal apology for the hurt and harm caused by the forced removal of children from their families and for the effect of government policy on the human dignity and spirit of Indigenous Australians.
I would also like to record my desire for reconciliation and for a better future for all our peoples. I make a commitment to a united Australia which respects this land of ours, values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, and provides justice and equity for all.”
The first National Sorry Day was held in 1998, following the Bringing Them Home report, a Government Inquiry into the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. In 2000, more than 250,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of an apology, with the word "sorry" written in the sky above them.
The formal apology came in 2008. But sorry means you don't do it again. Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are still 10.6 times more likely to be removed from their families than non-Indigenous children.
Wiradjuri artist Nyree (Ngari) Reynolds, who walked that bridge in 2000, said it best, "My hope is that when people view my work they will leave with a new understanding of people who have been taken away from their family, home and Country. That they are real people with real stories to be told."
We cannot fix the problems of the present without accepting the truth of our history. Today and every day, Kambu Health stands with the Stolen Generations and their families.
If you would like to learn more about the Stolen Generations, Sorry Day, and the work that still needs to be done, here are some resources:
Stolen Girl by Trina Saffioti
Sorry and Beyond by Brian Butler and John Bond
Our People Our Community Our Health Our Way
Funny lessons feel easier to remember. Adults enjoy puns too. They bring nostalgic feelings. They remind people of childhood laughter. Simple humor feels what does rls mean in text. That is why puns remain popular for every generation. Their charm never disappears. People always enjoy clever jokes that feel lighthearted and friendly.