Around 300 people gathered in Armidale on Sunday, May 31, for the 15th Annual Reconciliation Bridge Walk, braving a forecast of “cold with intermittent rain” to take part in the community event marking National Reconciliation Week.
The annual walk, now firmly embedded in the local calendar, is part of a broader national movement encouraging reflection, understanding, and meaningful action toward reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Armidale event is co-hosted by ANTaR Armidale and the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place, and has continued to grow as a community gathering focused on respect, truth-telling and connection.
The walk itself was inspired by the historic Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2000, when ‘Sorry’ was written across the sky and an estimated 300,000 people crossed the bridge in a defining moment that helped spark similar reconciliation events across Australia.
Participants began the Armidale walk at Curtis Park, where they were formally welcomed by Elder Hazel Vale with a traditional Welcome to Country. The gathering then moved through cleansing smoke prepared and introduced by Bob Blair, creating a reflective and ceremonial start to the journey.
From there, the crowd proceeded toward Stephens Bridge, continuing through surrounding parkland and across the creek, with many families, community members and local organisations taking part despite the damp conditions.
Once the walk concluded, participants returned to the central gathering area where the Lyāmbay Aboriginal Dance Group from Armidale Secondary College performed, dancing in light rain to a strong and appreciative audience. Their performance was a highlight of the day, bringing energy and celebration to an otherwise reflective occasion.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Fiona Lovelock, who spoke about reconciliation as an ongoing, lived process rather than a single event or gesture. She emphasised the importance of listening and confronting uncomfortable truths as part of that journey.
Lovelock said reconciliation “lives in people and in community… in uncomfortable truths … in the moments where someone chooses to listen instead of turning away.”
She also reflected on the everyday nature of reconciliation work, stating: “Quietly. Consistently. Honestly. Chipping away at denial and making space for truth to be heard. And if we get it right, it won’t just change relationships, it will change this country.”
Following the address, Armidale’s 2026 Citizen of the Year Michelle Wheatley formally thanked the dancers and Lovelock, encouraging attendees to continue engaging with community stories as a pathway toward inclusion and understanding.
As formal proceedings wrapped up, the weather finally eased, with blue skies breaking through and participants staying on to share food and conversation. A community meal featuring sausages prepared by Homes North and chicken curry provided by headspace was served alongside fruit, tea and coffee, offering a relaxed space for connection and reflection.
Organisers say the continued strong turnout demonstrates the importance of the Bridge Walk not only as a commemorative event, but as a living expression of community commitment to reconciliation and shared future building in Armidale.
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