Bridging Now to Next: Forgiveness in Action
As Reconciliation Week approaches, Eddie’s reflects on forgiveness, truth-telling, and our role in building a more united future
Each year, National Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day provide an opportunity for reflection, healing, and recommitment to justice. They challenge us to confront our past and work together to shape a better future.
National Sorry Day, held on 26 May, remembers the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly taken from their families under government policies. This is a time to recognise the pain caused, honour the strength of survivors, and accept the responsibility we all share in reconciliation. At St Edmund’s, this moment calls us to reflect, listen, and acknowledge.
From 27 May to 3 June, we mark Reconciliation Week, with the 2025 theme: “Bridging Now to Next.” This theme urges all Australians to reflect on where we’ve come from, where we are now, and where we’re heading. It’s a call to action—to move beyond words and into meaningful progress. Drawing on past lessons, we’re encouraged to shape a future built on truth, equity, and unity.
At St Edmund’s, this message is deeply relevant. Through classroom discussions, assemblies, and pastoral reflections, we’ve explored how forgiveness is more than saying “sorry”—it’s about restoring trust, building understanding, and showing respect through action. We are learning that reconciliation is a long journey, not a one-time event. It requires humility, courage, and constant reflection.
What’s one message you’d like every student at St Edmund’s to remember during Reconciliation Week?
How can students at St Edmund’s actively support reconciliation in their everyday actions?
Forgiveness is at the heart of this journey. Whether we’re confronting personal failings or national injustices, it takes strength to admit when we’re wrong—and even more to change. Reconciliation asks us to remember without resentment and to forgive without forgetting. It is about moving forward together with empathy and integrity.
The anniversaries we commemorate during Reconciliation Week—the 1967 Referendum and the 1992 Mabo Decision—remind us that progress is possible. They remind us that change comes when we listen, learn, and lead with justice.
As young men at St Edmund’s College, we are part of the next chapter. Bridging Now to Next is not just a theme—it’s our responsibility. It means showing leadership by standing beside First Nations people, engaging with their stories, and actively supporting the movement for truth and treaty.
Let us use this Reconciliation Week to commit ourselves to action—not just in words, but in how we treat others, how we speak up, and how we live the values of justice and respect every day.
Together, we can build the bridge from now to next.
Lukas Bathgate
O’Brien House Captain