Mr Munro said he knew the late Charles Perkins well and knew if he were to see the town’s changes and growth he would be very happy.

“The colour bar was first broken when we decided to host an Aboriginal ball in Moree. I organised an Aboriginal band to play on the night and Aboriginal people were invited to spend the night dancing and enjoying the evening,” he said.

Soon after, interest was sparked by the ABC radio which grew bigger when the first Aboriginal woman was employed by the council.

“I’ll never forget it when the ABC played the song ‘You’ve Come Along Way, Baby’ and then a sign was erected and in big white letters it had ‘Moree: A town on the move for Aboriginal people’,” he said.

For Mr Munro, his family and many of his friends, those few small steps were the start of a big change, which is present in today’s culture of Moree.

“Now Moree Plains Shire Council has an Aboriginal employment rate of 21 per cent, we have an Aboriginal acting general manager, they fly the Aboriginal flag along with other nationalities and Aboriginal people are respected and represented by council members,” he said.

Mr Munro said many streets, avenues and special places are named after Aboriginal community members, including a new section of the Gateway project which now has an avenue named after his late wife, Carmine May Munro.

“Many prominent people in Moree, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and the council supported the decision to honour Carmine which really fascinated me. There are also units in Tycannah Street named after myself and Bruce,” Mr Munro said.

He said organisations such as the Yaama Ganu Centre and Cafe Gali employed Aboriginal residents and across the road, the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre honoured the history of Aboriginal families.

“We have Aboriginal employment services, Aboriginal police and liaison officers, schools have Aboriginal people in charge and special programs for Aboriginal students, our RSL club honours the Aboriginal men including Trooper Stanley and they employ Aboriginal bar staff,” he said.

Mr Munro said Pius-X Aboriginal Corporation was a successful organisation Moree residents should be proud to have.

“They turned over a large profit during the past year and they are extending the facilities. They bring specialists to the town so Aboriginal people do not have to travel for their health needs, and there is an Aboriginal pre-school attached to the service as well. Many Aboriginal people are employed to run the services,” he said.

He also pointed out that sport did not discriminate in Moree.

“There are successful Aboriginal cricket, soccer, bowls, touch, rugby league, golf, boxing any many other players in Moree. The Moree Boars have three Aboriginal people coaching, and soccer also has an Aboriginal coach. We have Australian champion Aboriginal boxers who’ve represented our town on many levels. 

“And we have many Aboriginal horse trainers including Martin Fernando and his son, and I know of another six Aboriginal people who own race horses and take part in the sport,” he said. 

Mr Munro said the golf club was also a place where many Aboriginal residents felt comfortable going to play a game and catch up with friends and family afterwards.

The Moree Boomerangs are a standout of how far Moree has come, as Mr Munro said his whole family were members of the club.

“The A-grade side has won two premierships, and the second grade has won also. Mitchell Johnson is not only the president of the club, but also vice-president of Group 19.”

Mr Munro said there was no longer such a thing as a colour bar in any sort of shop or pub in Moree.

“There has been an improvement in housing, and the land council has been doing a great job purchasing land,” he said.

“We also have people who continue to help young Aboriginal women like coaching them to get into modelling and how to make a career out of it.”

He said Sunday was a big day for Moree and those who attended the opening commemorations.

“The 300 people, children and the mayor, and council payed a big tribute to change in this town. The mayor did a wonderful job and there has been many compliments about the way she conducted herself which is great,” he said.

He acknowledged the commemorations as a chance for education, but also a chance to close the gap.

“I know of an Elder who refuses to go to the celebrations as her painful memories still exist. I believe if the council said sorry it would help heal her wounds,” he said.

Mr Munro said the point of an apology was not to point the finger at anyone, but for Moree Plains Shire to recognise the discrimination made towards Aboriginal people when the motions were in place, and to lead the way in reconciliation.

“We couldn’t swim in the pools, we couldn’t use public toilets, we couldn’t sit up the back at the picture theatre, we couldn’t even walk on the footpaths. 

“A lot of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people did not know those facts, but it’s true, and I think it’s important that during this week, we set the record straight,” he said.