On its 191st anniversary, Western Australian Governor Chris Dawson AC APM issued a formal apology for the actions of the state's first Governor Sir James Stirling at the Pinjarra Massacre.
By the banks of the Murray River, where the murder of many innocent people took place in October 28, 1834, Governor Dawson stood on the same ground as his predecessor and said sorry to the Bindjareb Noongar people, and the wider Aboriginal community of Western Australia.
"As Governor of Western Australia, I come to you today to say: I am deeply sorry for the actions of my predecessor and for the pain and suffering he caused," Governor Dawson said.
"I say sorry to the Bindjareb people, who still feel the trauma of the punishment inflicted on their ancestors that day, when so many innocent lives were taken.
"The time has come - and the time is right - for the Governor to acknowledge the truth of the past actions of a predecessor."
The Governor said he holds "a deep hope and faith that a process of healing and growth will follow".
"I believe this action will be a significant step along the pathway to meaningful reconciliation," he said.
The apology was issued after the Governor was invited to attend the annual memorial service, held by Traditional Owners, at the Pinjarra Massacre Memorial site.
The Governor continued to consult closely with Traditional Owners following their invitation.
He also researched and viewed original primary source documents referring to the massacre, with the assistance of the WA State Archives and Aboriginal History WA.
Binjareb woman Karrie-Anne Kearing was present at the event, and told National Indigenous Times there were "no words" to describe her feelings in that moment.
"My aunties and my father fought ... just to be recognised, and for the Governor to come down and actually do it is a big step for us as a community," she said.
"My fight has been 20 years now. When I think about my father who passed away... he'd be very proud of me.
"I'm still coming to terms with it. What happened today was a big step for us"
Following his speech and apology on Tuesday, and as a symbol of ongoing reconciliation, the Governor presented the Traditional Owners with an Olive tree, propagated from the Olive tree planted in the ground of Government House by Governor Stirling around 1835.
That tree will be planted on Bindjareb land in due course.
In return, the Traditional Owners presented the Governor with a Jarrah tree taken from Bindjareb country.
That tree will be planted at Government House in the coming months.
Those gathered at the memorial ceremony were also presented with a printed version of the Governor's address, and a commemorative medallion produced for the occasion by The Perth Mint.
The medallions depict a Pinjarra tree, with the words karnadjil, wungening and boordiya. The reverse depicts the Government House Olive tree and the same three words in English: truth, healing and growth.
Those words represent the Governor's stated intention in his apology, his office said on Tuesday.
"My call to all Western Australians, is that we speak the truth. That we do as much as we can to assist in the healing of our community between all people," the Governor said.
"That we grow in unison to make us stronger, resilient and be a land and a people of faith, hope and love for our present and our future generations."
