National Reconciliation Day ceremony held at Civic Green, Warrnambool on May 27

Warrnambool performer Lynny Mast sang her own personal sorry song during reconciliation week activities on Warrnambool's Civic Green.

In line with the week's theme, 'Be Brave. Make Change', Ms Mast said small steps had been made but history needed to be taught in schools.

The week is held annually from May 27 to June 3. "Right from the start, our children need to learn the true history of Australia," Ms Mast said.

The theme challenges all Australians to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so change could be made for the benefit of all Australians. The week, which included National Sorry Day on Thursday, also encourages people to start making changes in their daily lives.

Ms Mast began writing Sorry Song in 2003 and finished it in the past couple of years. "It took a long time to get the words right, for me, because it's my sorry song," she said.

"The hope is that other people might be able to sing the chorus or also feel like they can say sorry for what's happened in the past."

Warrnambool mayor Vicki Jellie said the city council was doing everything it could towards reconciliation.

Cr Jellie said 20 years ago acknowledgement of the region's Aboriginal history wasn't there.

"We're starting to see more physical acknowledgement of our Aboriginal peoples and heritage around our city at Swan Reserve, Cannon Hill, Moyjil (Point Ritchie) and Wilmot Way (after indigenous man Wilmot Abraham)," she said.

"Other encouraging signs can be found in our kindergartens, in many ways we adults are playing catch up in the learning about our First Nations people - back in my day at school and kindergarten, we heard nothing.

"We've got a long way to go, but again, the steps forward have started to happen."

The day included an Australian and Aboriginal flag-raising ceremony, cultural dance and music performances and speeches.

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