MX

THU 12 APR 2001, Page 031

Stars speak out

Nicole Kidman is one of 35 Australian celebrities who have rallied to assist a fund-raising campaign to support Reconciliation Week. Wearing a specially designed T-shirt in this month's marie claire magazine, Kidman, along with names such as Natalie Imbruglia, Hugh

Jackman and Adam Garcia speaks out about why the country needs reconciliation immediately.

"The reality is shameful: Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders make up the most disadvantaged group in Australia when it comes to health, life expectancy, infant mortality, education and employment," Kidman says in the magazine’s May issue.

"We must ensure the original owners of the land are respected, honoured and cherished. Every one of us shares that responsibility."

Editor Jackie Frank says the stars squeezed in the project between rehearsals, tour dates and film commitments. Kidman shot her photo despite a nagging leg injury, Collette Dinnigan was photographed a few hours before showing her designs at the Paris collections and Rose Byrne posed the night before she trekked in South-East Asia.

Actor David Wenham says: "Small gestures, simple gestures are often the most powerful and significant gestures. Sorry: small, simple." Ben Mendelsohn says: "The real question is not 'Why to reconcile' but 'Why on earth not to?'"

Using a football analogy H.G. Nelson said: "It's half-time in the game of reconciliation. We need to push on in the second half and score a big win for all Australians."

T-shirts are available at General Pants stores from today or through marie claire, with all profits going to Link-Up - an organisation that helps members of the stolen generation trace families.