Harvey Elder Lesley Ugle highlights National Reconciliation Week as a chance to move forward together

This week marks National Reconciliation Week which will see towns and cities across the country hold events with the 2024 theme of Now More Than Ever.

Reflecting on the week ahead, Harvey Elder Lesley Ugle highlighted the importance of reconciliation and the need to move forward in a positive direction as a community.

“For myself personally, it’s investing in our people because I’d like to see our people flourish — in particular our family, because we are bonded for life. It’s a lot of truth telling and history, and it’s something that we can’t do alone,” she said.

“You can feel a change in the air because that’s a big word at the moment (acceptance). It’s also a big feeling, accepting us — accepting that some people or others are different.”

A recent survey of 559 people by the University of Adelaide said the public was becoming more open to the idea of changing the date of Australia Day and highlighting other historical milestones such as Reconciliation Day on May 27.

Ms Ugle said she would support initiatives which encourage reconciliation and recognise important milestones within Australia’s history, with a focus on the experience of First Nations’ people.