As we stand on the cusp of a new year, we’re told it’s a chance to start fresh - a moment to break cycles, make new choices, and leave the past behind. But can we ever truly leave the past behind? Each year’s end pulls me into reflection, a space to question where we’ve been and where we’re going.

I often feel a rush of frustration at how quickly the years pass and how much remains unchanged. But then I stop. I let the thought settle. What if, instead of yearning for time to rush by, we chose to see each moment as a call to act - to do better, to think differently, to move forward in a way that truly makes a difference?

We live in a remarkable country, yet so much of its beauty is overshadowed by outdated thinking and systems that continue to harm. If we want to embrace the idea of a fresh start, it has to be more than individual resolutions. It has to be a collective decision to challenge the way we treat each other, the way we treat the land, and the way we honour its First Peoples.

As an Aboriginal woman with English heritage, my life embodies both sides of this land’s story. My mother, with her English roots, born in Sussex, defied the status quo. In the 60’s she was 16 years old and had been living in Australia since she was 12. She chose love over prejudice, standing by my father who was fresh out of “Colebrook Home” where he was placed at 9 months of age, stolen from his parents. My mother a white woman, chose our culture with a strength that ensured it would survive in us and into the generations still to come. Her courage reminds me that heritage isn’t about where you come from - it’s about the values you carry forward.

This is the lesson I hold close: we are not defined by the actions of our ancestors but by the choices we make today. I honor the English side of my heritage, but I cannot ignore its painful entanglement with the colonisation of my people. Acknowledging this doesn’t diminish my pride in my mother’s bravery or my connection to her lineage. Instead, it strengthens my commitment to truth and justice.

My father’s culture - the culture of this land - survived because of people like my mother, who chose to honour it, and people like my father, who refused to let it be erased. It survived deliberate efforts to silence us, to sever our bond with Country, to erase everything sacred. It survived because of love, resilience, and an unbreakable connection to this land. That survival is a testament to the enduring spirit of this place and its First Peoples.

Moving forward doesn’t mean abandoning one heritage for another. It means weaving them together with respect, truth, and action. My life is proof that you can honour your history while acknowledging its harms. You can love fiercely and still fight for justice.

When I think about the current state of the world, I think about reconciliation at large. Reconciliation isn’t about guilt or shame; it’s about responsibility.

The apology for the Stolen Generations was a step, but it was just that, a single step. It’s not enough to say sorry and move on, not when the systems of injustice built on the backs of my people are still standing. It’s not enough to feel no guilt for the past while continuing to benefit from it today. The real work lies in dismantling those systems and creating a future where all of us can thrive. This is true for the whole world.

Colonisation wasn’t a war between equals. It was a deliberate effort to erase everything sacred to us - our knowledge, our languages, our connection to the land. Yet here we are, still standing. Still connected to Country. Still holding onto our culture despite everything that was taken. That’s not just resilience - it’s a reminder that this land’s spirit, and the spirit of its First Peoples, can never be destroyed.

If we truly want to move forward, we need to start with truth. Not the convenient or partial truths, but the whole truth: this land wasn’t empty when your ancestors arrived. Sovereignty was never ceded. The harm didn’t end in the past - it continues today. Moving forward requires more than reflection; it demands action. It means standing with us, supporting our sovereignty, and challenging the systems that hold us back.

It’s not about giving up your heritage - it’s about understanding it fully. Recognise where it comes from, what it’s built on, and use that knowledge to create a future where everyone has a place. Love your history enough to make it better.

Reconciliation isn’t about letting go of the past. It’s about ensuring the past informs how we move forward.

Together, we can build something stronger, but it starts with honesty, respect, and the courage to act. My life stands as a bridge between two worlds, proof that we can walk forward together - on a path of truth, justice and respect for everyone!

Nina Wright, Kokatha and Narungga, Artist, Writer, Healer