BY BELINDA PALMADA @filmfreakrevie1 AND TATIANA PAK @TheatreMusicon
Former Sydney TAFE Media and now music student, Pollyanna Thomson, performed the Sorry Song live at the Ultimo campus on National Sorry Day, May 26.
Pollyanna said it was wonderful to be given the opportunity to perform at such a momentous event.
The day kicks off National Reconciliation Week that concludes on June 3, the 25th anniversary of the landmark Mabo decision that paved the way for the Native Title Act. The week also marks 20 years since the Bringing Them Home report, and 50 years since the May 27, 1967 referendum that gave Aboriginal people the vote and allowed them to be included in the national census.
“It was great because it means a lot to the people in the audience and across Australia,” Pollyanna said.
“It’s great to be able to deliver something that means so much. When I first heard the song and looked at the lyrics to learn it, I was quite shocked because it was about the fact children were stolen.
“It’s quite powerful and it felt really nice to perform for that audience. I hope it helps them get through it.”
She said for her the day represented an acknowledgement of Australian history, what had happened and “saying sorry”.
“It’s all about knowing what was done, knowing that things are wrong.”
Pollyanna, who finished high school last year and is now studying for a Diploma of Music at Ultimo, only had two days to prepare the song.
“I’m happy with how I performed and I’m happy it went well. I got good feedback from everyone and I really enjoyed it,” she said.
“We had ceremonies at my school acknowledging Sorry Day but I had not performed before for an event like this. It’s nice to be a part of it.”
Listen to the Sorry Song and our first podcast commemorating Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2017 here.
