Living Black video journalist Yalda Hakim travelled to Bomaderry Children's home, where thousands of children from the stolen generation were housed during the 1900s.

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TRANSCRIPT

KG: Hello and welcome to Living Black. I'm Karla Grant. Australians have marked the first Sorry Day since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology speech in February. National Sorry Day is held each year to commemorate the history of forcible removal and its effects on members of the stolen generation. But there are renewed calls for governments to develop a compensation fund. Video journalist Yalda Hakim travelled to the Bomaderry Children's Home in NSW for its 100th anniversary, kicking off celebrations for National Reconciliation Week.

Reporter: Snatched from their parents, they arrived as babies, and never lost the burden of their stolen identities. Bomaderry Children's Home, 160km south of Sydney, became one of Australia's most recognisable institutes for Aboriginal people, housing thousands of stolen children between 1908 and 1980. Hundreds made the emotional journey back to Bomaderry to mark 100 years since the shelter opened. Among the tears and anger of past experiences are the sounds of laughter as friends and family reunite. For some, it's the first time they've returned to the place that holds traumatic memories and shattered dreams. Memories of being separated from their families still haunt them.

Harold Harrison, Stolen Generation Member: My father used to visit me here and when I got sent to Kempsey, Kinchela - too far for him. He went down the coast. Later on I found out that he died of a broken heart because he lost everyone, he lost his wife, where they said that he was a single man, the papers. They couldn't understand us Aboriginal people in those days.

Reporter: Memories of harsh discipline linger.

Nancy Hill Wood, Stolen Generation Member: There was four of us girls who used to wet the bed and we'd be standing naked and we'd get belted with the razor strap, you know that belt that the men used to sharpen to shave.

Reporter: Despite the pain, and memories of it, they say they're trying to be optimistic and have come here to celebrate. As a baby, Nancy Hill Wood was removed from her family and taken to Bomaderry.

Nancy Hill Wood: There wasn't any hot water, we used to have a cold bath. and you know, I don't know how everyone else went through their lives, but it was horrific and very cruel to have children like that, which it was a sad thing to do.

Reporter: At 12, Nancy was sent to the Cootamundra Girls' Home, like hundreds of others, to be trained as a domestic - or what Nancy described as a child slave. Despite her efforts, the Aboriginal Welfare Board was never satisfied with her work.

Nancy Hill Wood: They put on terrible reports. They would say, "She was dirty, she was untidy," and of course we've never been untidy in our own lives, but of course that's what racism is all about, discrimination.

Reporter: The Board removed her again, this time putting her on a train to Woodenbong, on the NSW North Coast, to stay with her uncle.

Nancy Hill Wood: I looked out the window and seen Aboriginal legs there and was petrified because they said that the Aboriginal people killed the white. Now that I speak up and everything, I say, "It's not true!" (Laughs)

Reporter: Nancy's story of life on the move isn't unique. Thousands of other Aboriginal children were removed from their families with the promise of a better life.

June France, Stolen Generation Member: And they took us away from our parents only to come to live in oblivion and get nowhere. Oblivion - you might as well have left us where we were.

Reporter: Many here say that the time has finally come for healing and reflection.

Kevin Rudd, PM: As Prime Minister of Australia, I am sorry.

Reporter: While the long-awaited 5-letter word was widely welcomed, many Indigenous groups say compensation is well overdue.

Tom Calma, HREOC: All States have a responsibility and the Commonwealth has a part responsibility in this process. If they all pull together they can get a scheme up that is fair and equitable for those people who were removed.

Reporter: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has ruled out compensation, but he marked National Sorry Day at Parliament House by unveiling a manuscript of his historic apology speech. Hundreds of Sydneysiders marched through the city's streets after raising flags at State Parliament. School children witnessed a traditional smoking ceremony. Crowds also gathered at Melbourne's Federation Square, where traditional dance added a festive atmosphere. Despite past injustices, many members of the stolen generation are trying to remain positive. Nancy Hill Wood says she has no regrets and wants to focus on the future.

Nancy Hill Wood: I don't judge anybody. We're all the same and I want to try to make our people get stronger, because there is still a barrier there.

KG: And that story was filmed and reported by Yalda Hakim. Still to come on Living Black - tackling the alcohol epidemic in the Western Australian town of Halls Creek.