When I first went to the Autumn Centre, I felt very uneasy about it because these were totally different people than I had never met before and I was not sure what they would be like. Once I met them I realised they were not much different to us – it was really just their skin colour and not their personalities. I really feel like we are helping them out because they don't see their families much and we do lots of fun activities such as painting mugs and plates. We have made great friendships especially with Archie, Auntie Amy, Auntie Alma, Veronica, Abigail, Rankin and Auntie Shirley and just this week we have met a new person called John who is very, very shy and I think he is pretty nice too.

Reconciliation means we are saying sorry to the Aboriginal people about what happened in the past. I feel we are doing something good and not just saying sorry and it is all over, because it is not - we have to do something about it. It makes you feel like a better person when you go there and help, because they don't get out much and they usually, eat, sleep, take their medications and go to dialysis and not much else. In the first week when we went there they were very shy, but now they get really excited to see us. We remind them of their children and grandchildren, so the more we go there the better friendships we get.

(John, 10/6/05)

I didn't know what to say and I didn't know what they would be like, but on the first day I learnt about them and what they were like. I talked to Auntie Shirley and she told me about her grandchildren and where she lives. I feel more comfortable now to talk to them. It is not so strange and I think for them they feel they have a friend and it brings them some comfort.

(Alysha, 10/6/05)

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