Significant Dates /

Learn more about the significant dates throughout the year on Indigenous culture and history. 

January 26th

January 26 commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet. Specifically, it was the day commander Captain Arthur Phillip, rowed ashore at Sydney Cove, raised the Union Jack and proclaimed British sovereignty over part of the continent in 1788.

For some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the 26th of January represents the lived experiences of oppression and dispossession which began on the 26th of January. It represents the beginning of colonisation and a history of suffering, racism, death, the Stolen Generations, and more.

The NRL acknowledges that today represents a painful and sorrowful day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We pay tribute to the resilience and the enormous contribution our Aboriginal and Torres Strait brothers and sisters make to our nation and the greatest game for all.

To find out more information about January 26th please click here.

The 1965 Freedom Ride

Fifty-eight years ago, on the 12th of February the Freedom Ride began and embarked on a journey that paved the way for Indigenous people's rights.

What is the 1965 Freedom Ride?

The 1965 freedom ride was a fifteen-day bus ride through regional New South Wales with students from Sydney university who formed the group Student Action For Aboriginals (SAFA).   

The bus left on Saturday the 12th of February 1965 and returned on the 26th of February. Their aim was to shine a light on the marginalisation of Aboriginals in New South Wales towns. 

Ann Curthoys, one of the freedom riders kept a diary on their journey, these diary entries have become essential in Indigenous history by telling the story of the freedom ride through her perspective.

Click here to view her diary entries. 

Members of the 1965 Freedom Ride included Charles Perkins, Gary Williams, Ann Curthoys, Darce Cassidy, Jim Spiegelman, Pat Healy, Warwick Richards, Robyn Iredale, Aidan Foy, Alan Outhred, Helen Gray, Norm McKay, Louise Higham, John Gowdie, Machteld Hali, John Powles, Wendy Golding, Bob Gallagher, Chris Page, Sue Johnston, Paddy Dawson, Judith Rich, Colin Bradford, John Butterworth, David Pepper, Barry Corr, Beth Hansen, Derek Molloy, Brian Aarons, Sue Reeves, Hall Greenland, Ray Leppick, Rick Collins and Alex Mills. Gerry Mason also travelled with the group as a friend of Charles Perkins’, while Bill Pakenham and Ernie Albrecht drove the bus.

The Freedom Riders Impact

SAFA protested around regional New South Wales for indigenous rights by bringing attention to the issue of racial discrimination faced by Indigenous peoples and the disadvantages they had in society. This ultimately progressed indigenous rights in local towns such as Moree: home of the Gamilaraay People, which included the formation of a new motion by the mayor who was prepared to rescind the 1955 statute which prevented Indigenous people entering the Moree baths. 

After the fifteen-day journey Charles Perkins the leader of the group reported the events to a crowd of 200 people at the 1965 Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) conference in Canberra. This resulted in the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board publicly announcing that it would spend sixty-five thousand pounds on housing in Moree.

For more information on the 1965 Freedom ride click here.

National Apology Date- 13th February

February 13 marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. It is a significant milestone for healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who suffered because of past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation. 

The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both State and Federal Governments from 1910 to the 1970.

It is important that, as a nation, we commemorate and acknowledge the wrongs of the past, while reflecting on the work that still needs to be done to address the impacts of unresolved trauma. 

Events are run throughout the day to acknowledge the day as a day of significance in Indigenous history. To find out more information on some of the events being held on national apology day, click here. 

National Close the Gap Day- The Third Thursday Of March.

National close the gap day is held annually on the third Thursday of March. Close the Gap Day is a day of action aimed at closing the gap in health outcomes between First Nations and non-Indigenous people. 

On Close the Gap Day a range of events and activities are held across the country, including marches, rallies, and community gatherings. These events are designed to bring attention to the need for urgent action to close the gap in health outcomes, and to promote greater understanding and reconciliation between First Nations and non-Indigenous people. 

For more information on national close the gap day click here.

National Sorry Day- May 26th

Every year National Sorry Day takes place on May 26th. It’s a day to acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people who were a part of the stolen generation. It acknowledges the strength of the stolen generation survivors and reflect on how we can all play a role in the healing process for our people and nation. 

The healing foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander organisation that addresses the experiences of Stolen Generations and survivors by working with First Nation communities to create a safe space to tell their own stories. 

National Reconciliation Week- May 27th to June 3rd

National Reconciliation Week is from May 27th to June 3rd. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey. The successful referendum on May 27th and the High Court Mabo Decision on June 3rd.

The 2024 theme is Now More Than ever. The theme is a reminder that   no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue. 

To learn more about the reconciliation journey click here.

NAIDOC Week- 7th -14th July

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2024 NAIDOC week runs from the 7th to the 14th of July, the theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture with fire, a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Learn more about NAIDOC week here.