Where were you when the Rudd government formally said sorry to the stolen generations?

Today's long-awaited apology to the children and families who suffered under the policy of forced removal will go down as the day the nation stopped.

Schools, businesses and councils across the Illawarra will turn on their televisions, radios and computers to watch and listen to the live broadcast of the event at Parliament House from 9am.

NSW Education and Training Director General Michael Coutts-Trotter has urged schools across the state to stop lessons and take part in the momentous day - and many Illawarra schools have heeded his advice.

Illawarra Sports High School Principal Dr Peter Bailey likened it to the lunar landing of 1969, when most people with a TV stopped to watch those magic first steps on the moon.

"But unlike the moon landing, the apology affects every Australian watching it," said Dr Bailey, who has arranged for all students and some parents to see the broadcast at the school.

At Mt Ousley's Eleonora Montessori School, children will take part in traditional Aboriginal dances and paint a mural to mark the day.

Wollongong City Library will open its doors early at 8.45am for the apology, which will be aired on a large screen in the foyer.

The council has also invited indigenous artist Kevin Butler to bring along a large canvas and traditional paints so visitors can leave behind their handprints as a reminder of the day.

In Shellharbour, a flag- raising ceremony will take place outside the council chambers at 8.30am with Aboriginal elders.

Yesterday, two packed 40-seater buses left the Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Wollongong to take Aboriginal elders and young people to the Converge on Canberra event.

The centre is projecting the live broadcast on to a large wall and is expecting a big crowd and a lot of tears when Mr Rudd says the much anticipated words.

"Hopefully we will have a full house and we will celebrate and there will be tears, it will be very emotional," said co-ordinator Rhonda Rawiri.