What it means to be sorry
TO mark National Reconciliation Week, which runs until June 3, a new childrens’ picture book on the national apology to the Stolen Generations has been released by two Jewish friends who joined forces to shine a light on the subject.
Stories for Simon, authored by Lisa Sarzin and illustrated by Lauren Briggs, follows a boy’s exploration of stories, history and culture – as he discovers just what it means to be sorry.
It was launched by Indigenous AFL star Adam Goodes and former player Michael O’Loughlin on Tuesday, which was National Sorry Day.
“After hearing the national apology to the Stolen Generations in February 2008, I was deeply moved and felt inspired to write a children’s story that shone a light on the Stolen Generations, showed the value and power of saying sorry and created a positive vision for the future,” Sarzin told The AJN.
“My good friend, Lauren Briggs, a graphic designer and artist, felt as passionately as I did about transforming these big social issues into a picture book for children. So I wrote the story and she created the stunning illustrations, filled with symbolism to complement the depth of meaning in the text.”
Sarzin added, “Our job as mothers was to teach our children about what happened to the Stolen Generations and remind them that we all have a part to play in creating a respectful, harmonious and inclusive society.
“We decided to take these big issues and break them down into a story that our children could easily understand. We began to see that the story could help other children talk about these challenging social issues with their families and teachers.”
Sarzin said because the story is told from a non-Indigenous perspective and through the innocent eyes of children, “it is a story for all of us – about acknowledging the past in order to create the best possible future”.
Sarzin noted many commonalities that unite the Jewish and Indigenous communities.
“These include attachment to land, storytelling traditions, a sense of humour, kinship ties, and sadly, the experience of persecution, marginalisation and genocide,” she said.
Published by Random House Australia, Stories for Simon retails for $24.99. Royalties will be donated to the GO Foundation, run by Goodes and O’Loughlin, which focuses on educational opportunities for Indigenous Australian children be built.
EVAN ZLATKIS
From left: Adam Goodes, Lisa Sarzin, Michael O’Loughlin and Lauren Briggs at the book launch on Tuesday. Photo: Noel Kessel
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