These personal events can give us the opportunity to rejoice, to reflect and to revitalise both our friendships and our dreams.

The opportunity to celebrate with friends on their "special occasions" gives us the opportunity to affirm what they have meant to us.

We each need encouragement and support.

Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week are all coming up soon.

These are special times for us all.

The first is National Sorry Day on May 26, 2017 – the 20th anniversary of the handing down of the "Bringing Them Home" Report.

Devastation at all levels of personal, family and community life was caused by these policies of forced removal.

This terrible impact is continuing to have unimaginable widespread effects.

"Sorry" has been said, but are we activated to be personally involved in trying to understand with out hearts the great continuing injustices experienced by the First Peoples condoned or inflicted by us and our predecessors, and then to act

More anniversaries are coming.

National Reconciliation Week on May 27 – marking 50 years since the 1967 Referendum – to June 3 – marking 25 years since the Mabo Decision.

The theme of Reconciliation Week 2017 is "Taking the Next Steps".

We all know that another referendum is being planned.

An important meeting is taking place at Uluru at present to make further recommendations re the questions which the First Peoples feel vital to consider.

We in the Manning Valley have the opportunity to act now!

Do we want the Manning Valley to be a place where all people have equal opportunity in life – education, housing, work, health, etc.

This can happen.

Are you, am I personally committed to becoming more involved so that this can happen?

Events are being arranged that all can be involved in.

Please let me know your thoughts.