I speak on behalf of the churches which established homes to which Aboriginal children removed from their families were taken.

First, on behalf of the churches, I wish to acknowledge the pain, and the profound hurt, experienced by many of the children removed from their families into the care of church-run homes.  The churches were involved in the implementation of these cruel and misguided policies.

The pain must have been profound.

The hurt must have been deep.  We grieve with you as best we are able.

Second, I wish to acknowledge and honour those carers of removed Aboriginal children, both indigenous and non-indigenous, who worked in the church-run institutions.

In the vast majority of cases, their genuine care softened the impact of the inappropriate policies of removal.  Many people, indigenous and non-indigenous, gave their lives to the care of Aboriginal children.

We acknowledge that care and the love.  In spite of this, we know that some of the Stolen Generation were abused by those who should have protected them.
In many cases, these wrongs have still to be dealt with.

Christians understand the ambivalent nature of human life – good in the midst of misguided policies; yet policies which were profoundly wrong.

This memorial assists us all to move forward.  It helps us to be honest about the past.  It gives us the gift of being able to live lives of healing for our future walk together.  It affords us the opportunity to move forward to a fuller shared life one with another.