'We've still got gaps': More to do 20 years on from reconciliation bridge walk

Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine says there's still 'hard work' to do despite some progress since the historic Sydney Harbour Bridge walk two decades ago.

Twenty years ago more than 250,000 people walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge for reconciliation.

Over six hours the record crowd carried flags and banners and made their way across the Harbour, in what was called the largest political demonstration ever held in Australia.

It was a historic moment which Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine said inspired the nation, and set the mood for the next 20 years of reconciliation.

“Some of the great things we have seen over the past 20 years have been the apology to the Stolen Generations, we’ve seen this move that came out of the Uluru Statement and movements for greater self-determination and sovereignty, conversations about treaty, things that just weren’t on the table 20 years ago,we’ve seen all of those advances” she said.

“But it also shows up where we’ve still got these gaps. We’re still seeing the rates of child incarceration and also children being removed from home continuing to rise, we’re seeing some of our health statistics going a little bit backwards.

“We’re not pretending that there aren’t still challenges ahead but I guess what we take out of that from a reconciliation point of view is that there are so many more people that are out there willing to support us and walk with us on this journey.”

Hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the 'Walk for Reconciliation' as part of Corroboree 2000.
Source: NEG

But Ms Mundine said the significance of the bridge walk should not be forgotten.

“It was just such a game-changing moment, it just gave us so much hope on the cusp of a new century, of ‘what do we want to aspire to as Australians’,” she said.

“As an Aboriginal person I actually felt really supported by the broader community in a way that we hadn’t really seen before.

'Strive for reconciliation'

There will be no gatherings of thousands, no physical events, instead this year’s Reconciliation Week offerings have all gone digital.

The 2020 theme ‘In this Together’ has taken on greater significance. Ms Mundine said no one had any idea how prophetic it would be.

But she said, no matter what, Reconciliation Week must go on.

“Normally we would have that community in our immense activities, this year we’ve got those things happening virtually.

“I’d really encourage lots of people to get engaged and get involved.”

Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine.
Source: AAP

And it’s the work from our homes, schools and in our own communities that Ms Mundine said can be the most important.

“Moments like the bridge walk, like Corroboree 2000, are great moments to celebrate and come together as a big nation,” she said.

“But really the hard work of reconciliation happens in the places where we live, the places where we work and the places where we socialise.”

Funding secure until 2023

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, said Reconciliation Australia has been improving relationships for two decades.