With the support of major sponsor BHP, Queenslanders from all walks of life joined together with Reconciliation Queensland at Parliament House on 27 May 2021 to celebrate the Statewide launch of National Reconciliation Week (NRW 2021).

NRW 2021 theme resonates

The theme for NRW 2021 was ‘More than a word: Reconciliation takes action’ and urged people supporting the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

The event was professionally produced and filmed by Brisbane audio visual hire company VideoData, which livestreamed the proceedings from the Parliamentary Annexe to regional launch events all around Queensland.

These included events in Cairns, Cooktown, Townsville, Mt Isa, Tully, Rockhampton, and Moranbah.

This inaugural National Reconciliation Week launch and breakfast event can be viewed in full below.

Among the distinguished guests in attendance and speaking at the launch were Reconciliation Queensland’s Co-Patrons Dr Jackie Huggins AM and Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, pictured above.

Other Reconciliation Queensland speakers included event host and former Co-Chair Uncle Bill Buchanan, current Co-Chairs Mr Leon Filewood and Mr Peter Jackson, and another former Co-Chair Aunty Heather Castledine.

Some of the speakers provided recorded messages. These included the then Queensland Governor, his Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC CVO and Reconciliation Australia CEO Ms Karen Mundine.

Opening entertainment was provided by acoustic duo 2 Za Crowd and the Tribal Experience Dancers.

Selected event photos

Representing the event major sponsor, Mr James Palmer, Asset President – BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, and Member of the BHP Global Inclusion and Diversity Council, also took to the stage.

Speaking on behalf of the Queensland Government were the Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, the Hon Craig Crawford MP, and Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, the Hon Curtis Pitt MP.

A comprehensive report on the event proceedings and pictorial tour, prepared by Reconciliation Queensland’s event planner Mr Philippe Foubert Ph.D is available for download below [PDF 5.6MB].

Supporters pledge to take action for NRW 2021

Prior to the event, many of the event attendees made a pledge to camera on the actions they would take in line with the NRW 2021 theme ‘More than a word: Reconciliation takes action’. Thanks to Phillipe Foubert and Simon Brooks for filming these videos.