Stepping forward together at the Mount Druitt Reconciliation Walk

Community members outside the Mt Druitt Courthouse during the Mt Druitt Reconciliation Walk.

On the sunny Saturday morning of 7 June 2025, the Mount Druitt Reconciliation Walk brought together people from all walks of life.

The annual gathering is always a great, family-friendly opportunity to get to know, be in solidarity with, and literally walk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations from Western Sydney. After last year saw a good turnout despite heavy rain, this year’s beautiful sunshine drew even more people out onto the streets of Mount Druitt.

Organised by the Mount Druitt & District Reconciliation Group, Blacktown City Council, and several partner organisations of the Diocese of Parramatta, the walk aligned with this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’. At a time when Australia faces uncertainty in its reconciliation journey, this theme calls on all Australians to step forward together.

Local community members during the Mt Druitt Reconciliation Walk.

How it all began

The Reconciliation Walk was initiated 28 years ago by a group of people who later started the Mount Druitt & District Reconciliation Group, including local Aboriginal icons, as well as members of Holy Family Parish, Mount Druitt/Emerton, including then Parish Priest Fr Paul Hanna, Pastoral Associate Sr Carlene Allen RSM, and religious education catechist, Maureen Freeburn.

Sr Carlene from Holy Family Parish took part in this year’s walk, joining a number of community representatives, including Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting, Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic MP, NSW Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali MP, along with local councillors and other respected community leaders.

Reflecting on the event, Sr Carlene noted one of the most heartening developments over the years has been the growing participation of people from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds. She also highlighted the strong support of political leaders, who walked alongside the community, showing solidarity and shared commitment.

A smoking ceremony during the Mt Druitt Reconciliation Walk.

A local choir called With One Voice beautifully performed Kev Carmody’s and Paul Kelly’s famous song From Little Things Big Things Grow, while Aunty Cassandra Ebsworth, who co-organised the Walk, echoed similar reflections on the significance of the event.

A meaningful walk

Aunty Cassandra is a respected member of the community, affiliated with Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation, which is based at Holy Family Parish, Emerton. She also serves as co-chair of the Mount Druitt & District Reconciliation Group and is an active member of the Parents Representative Council for Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD).

For Aboriginal people, it is so meaningful that we’ve got so many walking with us from many nations and faiths, as we are a multicultural country now.

We wanted to bring them all together to celebrate and just to share that we are people that want to bring healing together.

Aunty Cassandra

John Spradbrow shared that his involvement in the walk was a gesture of solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As the former principal of Holy Family Primary, Emerton, co-chair of the Reconciliation Group, and a Project Officer with CSPD’s Jarara Cultural Centre – a program dedicated to providing pastoral care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families – John expressed that the walk embodied a genuine attitude of care and commitment to reconciliation.

CSPD Library Technician Bernie Lentern also joined the Reconciliation Walk in a show of solidarity. She noted that this year marked 25 years since the historic Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge – a moment she personally experienced alongside her young son. Bernie reflected on the significance of this anniversary, emphasising the importance of remembering it and continuing the momentum for reconciliation.

Diocese of Parramatta representatives at the Mt Druitt Reconciliation Walk.

Lyndal Simmonds, Leading Teacher at Jarara Cultural Centre and a proud Aboriginal woman, brought her family along to this year’s Mount Druitt Reconciliation Walk: her two sons and husband, a non-Aboriginal man. She thought it was great to see many young people and kids join this “big family event”.

“I just want them to grow up to be proud of who they are,” Lyndal said, referring to her sons.

Aunty Cassandra would love to see many more people, groups, and organisations join the Walk in the future.

“Happy Reconciliation Week, and see you next year,” she said with a smile.

To find out how to get involved in reconciliation initiatives across the Diocese of Parramatta, visit Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.

Sebastian Salaske-Lentern is the Peace, Justice & Ecology Coordinator for the Diocese of Parramatta and a member of the Mission Enhancement Team.