Brian Butler’s grandmother was taken from her family by government officials in 1910. She was 12 years old. Twenty years later her daughter, Brian’s mother, was taken. Thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, like Brian Butler’s, have been coping with the impact of child removal for more than a century. Sorry and Beyond describes the growth of the grassroots movement that exposed the truth about Australia’s removal policies and worked for healing and justice.
Born in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the movement was joined by nearly a million non-Indigenous Australians in the Sorry Day and Journey of Healing campaigns, which paved the way for the Federal Parliament’s unanimous apology in 2008.
As these campaigns have shown, community initiatives have played a vital part in overcoming the immense damage done. The journey isn’t over. Sorry and Beyond is a call to continue the work of healing this national trauma.
‘This book will go a long way to healing our nations. I encourage you to read it, and reflect upon your own journey to reconciliation.’ Professor Aunty Kerrie E Doyle, RN, PhD, Associate Dean, Indigenous Health, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney
‘You’ll find not a word of theoretical jargon in this passionate narrative by two of the leading players working right at the coalface. This is one ripping yarn.’ Professor Peter Read. Co-Founder, Link-Up NSW Aboriginal Corporation
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