National Reconciliation Week 2025: Reflections, insights and inspiring First Nations leaders 2.0
Justice & Advocacy
Uncle Milton Walit from NATSIAC and The Parish of Laidley, The Rev’d Eleanor Mancini from the Cathedral and Joanne Stone from the Finance and Diocesan Services Commission reflect on their National Reconciliation Week highlights, what this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme “Bridging Now to Next” means to them and which First Nations person inspires them the most and why
Uncle Milton Walit from NATSIAC and The Parish of Laidley, The Rev’d Eleanor Mancini from the Cathedral and Joanne Stone from the Finance and Diocesan Services Commission reflect on their National Reconciliation Week highlights, what this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme “Bridging Now to Next” means to them and which First Nations person inspires them the most and why.
For me, this year’s NRW theme “Bridging Now to Next” was about reminding people to respect that Reconciliation is important for us to be healed and united. We can only move forward together if we are honest about the past,” says Uncle Milton Walit (image taken in May 2024 at St Saviour’s, Laidley)
Uncle Milton Walit — Elder, Saibai crocodile chieftain clan; Executive Member, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council; and, Synod Representative, The Parish of Laidley
I was invited to several National Reconciliation Week government and school events in my capacity as a Saibai crocodile chieftain clan elder. At one of the schools I visited, students from Grades 7 to 12 asked me questions in a large classroom as they sat in a semi-circle around me. One of the best questions I was asked was by a First Nations student who said she was shy about talking about being an Aboriginal kid and asked my advice about how to talk about her Aboriginal background. I explained that it’s important to know who you are and to be proud of it and I agreed that it does take bravery.
For me, this year’s NRW theme “Bridging Now to Next” was about reminding people to respect that Reconciliation is important for us to be healed and united. We can only move forward together if we are honest about the past.
“The First Nations person who inspires me the most is my cousin, Aunty Dr Rose Elu. This is because she is so compassionate, loving and wise when she delivers messages about the need for Reconciliation, including in her choice of words and body language,” Uncle Milton Walit
The First Nations person who inspires me the most is my cousin, Aunty Dr Rose Elu. This is because she is so compassionate, loving and wise when she delivers messages about the need for Reconciliation, including in her choice of words and body language. I often speak with her about Reconciliation, and she always deepens my thinking.
This year’s NRW theme “Bridging Now to Next” is dear to me as an Indigenous woman from the Pacific Islands. It is important to know the story of my own identity. We have to recognise Australia’s full history, which starts with the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples,” says The Rev’d Eleanor Mancini (she is pictured outside St John’s Cathedral in June 2025)
The Rev’d Eleanor Mancini — Retired priest and Tongan community leader
My National Reconciliation Week highlight was reading these words by Bianca Manning, a Gomeroi woman and Common Grace’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator:
“For too long the burden of reconciliation has fallen on our mob. Our hands have been outstretched and our voices have cried out for justice. There is still such a long way to go, but when our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters respond, when they say yes, when they sit with us in the joys of our culture and faith and the lament of our grief and pain, when they sit at our table — then we can see God’s beautiful vision of reconciliation come to pass. Will you come to the feast?”
This year’s NRW theme “Bridging Now to Next” is dear to me as an Indigenous woman from the Pacific Islands. It is important to know the story of my own identity. We have to recognise Australia’s full history, which starts with the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Professor Jackie Huggins AM FAHA, a Bidjara and Birri-Gubba Juru woman, inspires me. She said at the Truth-telling and Healing conversation in the Darnell Room during National Reconciliation Week that the story of our identities needs to be crystal clear.
We have to embrace Reconciliation together for the sake of the present and next generation.
Through his music Troy brings forward hard truths about our history in a way that shapes deep connection — connection to family; to elders; to Country; and, to community,” says Joanne Stone (she is pictured outside Old Bishopsbourne in June 2025)
Joanne Stone — Chief Financial officer and Executive Director of the Finance and Diocesan Services Commission
This year’s National Reconciliation Week took me back to 2008, listening to the formal apology given to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on behalf of our nation. I recall the place I was, the people I was with crowded around a small TV. I recall the words, the hope and the inspiration. That day is a point in time that is firmly fixed in my mind.
“Bridging Now to Next” marks a new point in time. A time to deliver on the vision of “A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia”.
I am inspired by Troy Cassar-Daley, a Graftonian, and proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man. Through his music Troy brings forward hard truths about our history in a way that shapes deep connection — connection to family; to elders; to Country; and, to community. Troy was inspired by the Freedom Rider, Dr Charlie Perkins. Fittingly Troy’s reflections on the Freedom Ride are applicable to his own work. The connections shaped through Troy’s music are “an important part of our progression as a people and a culture”.
Editor’s note: NAIDOC Week will be celebrated from Sunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July in 2025. The NAIDOC Week theme this year is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”. Visit the NAIDOC Week website for more information and for educational resources, a “Supporting NAIDOC Toolkit” and posters, as well as to find out what events are happening and how to register your event.
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