Tears were shed and emotions ran high on the first day of a two-day Reconciliation Conference hosted by Wollongong City Council.
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But Richard Weston, one of the guest speakers on Thursday, couldn't help but be impressed by the "strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people".
Mr Weston, NSW's Deputy Children's Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People, joined with about 30 Aboriginal elders at The Grange Golf Club in Kembla Grange, to seek a "deeper understanding of reconciliation".
"I was invited to come and share some of my story and tell people about some of the things I've learned on my journey," he said.
"I've been working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for 25 plus years.
"There's just a great energy in the group and just some wonderful elders participating and supporting the conference today.
"The main thing I've taken away is the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"There was a lot of talk about stolen generations and trauma.
"These are really important issues in our community but at the same time there is a lot of people who have really achieved and succeeded in spite of what has happened in the past.
"Uncle Richard was telling us his story about getting work and being subjected to racism in his younger days but it didn't stop him.
"There is a lot of that inspiration and inspiring young people in the crowd.
"We dealt with some very emotional moments. There has been tears shed and there has been a lot of laughter but overall it is positive and it is uplifting.
"I called on people to work hard and understand it is important to keep supporting our children to get a good early education, make them strong in their culture, strong in their identity, so they have more opportunities later on in life.
There has been tears shed and there has been a lot of laughter but overall it is positive and it is uplifting.
- Richard Weston
"Reconciliation is led by communities such as this one in the Illawarra. That is where the leadership is coming from because we are not getting that sort of leadership from our governments."
The Reconciliation Conference continues on Friday.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said it's important everyone in the community embraces the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal heritage.
"As a Council we have a key role to play in creating an inclusive community built on respect," he said.
"As a community we need to engage and continue to work together with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"We are taking steps in the right direction to facilitate community respect, appreciation and positive relationships, and we need to continue to build on this work into the future. Events like this one are a positive way to build and share knowledge."
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