Deadly Vibe Issue 106, December 2005
Step by Step
Australia walks together to help bring about change.
On Sunday, December 4, thousands of Australians will gather at Princes Park in Carlton, Victoria, to join Michael Long in The Long Walk 2005. Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend.
The walk will commemorate the final leg of Michael’s now legendary Long Walk in November 2004, which saw him set off on a trek from Melbourne to Canberra to speak with the Prime Minister about the plight of Indigenous people. Thousands of people offered Michael their support, either by walking with him, offering resources and assistance, or posting messages of support on his website.
The Long Walk 2005 is the start of a new tradition. It’s about walking for change, walking to support Indigenous leadership, and walking for a unified Australia.
“We want to lead ourselves in a new beginning,” Michael says. “Don’t give us pity, give us hope, give us help, give us education, give us goals, join with us”
All Funds raised by The Long Walk will go to the Sir Douglas Nicholls Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership.
For more information about The Long Walk, go to www.thelongwalk.com.au
(story date December 1, 2005 end)
Deadly Vibe Issue 95 January 2005
The Long and winding road
It took two weeks’ worth of blistered feet and sore muscles, but Michael Long achieved his goal – the Prime Minister finally agreed to meet Michael after the former AFL legend walked 400 kilometres of the 700-kilometre distance from Melbourne to Canberra to discuss issues important to Australia’s Indigenous population.
Michael began the Long Walk in mid-November last year, after attending the funeral of yet another friend who had died a preventable death. He decided that it was time to stand up and do his bit in an attempt to address the problems of poor health, low education and employment opportunities in Indigenous communities.
“All we ask of Mr Howard is the opportunity to work with him to build a better country,” Long said as he began his journey, “This isn’t about Indigenous Australia and white Australia – this is about all Australia.”
He vowed that he would walk all the way from Melbourne to Canberra in the hope that the Prime Minister, John Howard, would meet him to discuss ways in which they could work together to tackle the problems that Indigenous Australians face every day.
Michael also asked people to join him on his Long Walk, saying: “I welcome anyone to come and join us. It will be an opportunity for all of us to talk about how we can create opportunities and stop this senseless loss of life.”
When word came that the Prime Minister was willing to meet Michael and a selected group of elders, the team was thrilled. But any joy was tempered with the gravity of the situation and the need for something to be done quickly.
“This Walk isn’t about me,” Long said. “This is about achieving the right outcomes for all Australians – black and white.
“The sooner this meeting is held, the sooner we can start talking about ways to stop the continuing loss of life among Aboriginal people in Australia. We need to ask the Prime Minister to put us back on the agenda – to give us his vision for Aboriginal Australia now and into the future.”
When Michael reached Canberra on December 3, more than 300 people joined him as he marched through the city’s central business district on his way to Parliament House.
His website, www.thelongwalk.com.au, was also inundated with messages of support written by people of all ages from all across the country.
Michael was accompanied to the meeting by his cousin John Cusack, Victorian Aboriginal leader Paul Briggs, former AFL player Alan Thorpe, and Patrick Dodson, who is often referred to as ‘The Father of Reconciliation’.
Afterwards, Michael said he was pleased with the outcome.
“We discovered that we held some common ground with the Prime Minister,” Michael said. “We both believe that we need to focus on individual communities’ needs and to let our elders lead the way forward.”
He also welcomed the Prime Minister’s offer that he would be interested in further discussions with Indigenous spokesmen.
“We look forward to seeing the Prime Minister visiting more Indigenous communities and speaking with our elders,” Michael said. “Call me old-fashioned, but I believe the answers to many of my people’s problems can come from listening to what our elders have to say.”
But Michael also warned that this was only the first step in a long journey towards reconciliation.
”My long walk was the start of the journey, but the journey for all Australia has only just begun.”
(story 1/1/2005 end)
Deadly Vibe Issue 95 January 2005
The Long and winding road
It took two weeks’ worth of blistered feet and sore muscles, but Michael Long achieved his goal – the Prime Minister finally agreed to meet Michael after the former AFL legend walked 400 kilometres of the 700-kilometre distance from Melbourne to Canberra to discuss issues important to Australia’s Indigenous population.
Michael began the Long Walk in mid-November last year, after attending the funeral of yet another friend who had died a preventable death. He decided that it was time to stand up and do his bit in an attempt to address the problems of poor health, low education and employment opportunities in Indigenous communities.
“All we ask of Mr Howard is the opportunity to work with him to build a better country,” Long said as he began his journey, “This isn’t about Indigenous Australia and white Australia – this is about all Australia.”
He vowed that he would walk all the way from Melbourne to Canberra in the hope that the Prime Minister, John Howard, would meet him to discuss ways in which they could work together to tackle the problems that Indigenous Australians face every day.
Michael also asked people to join him on his Long Walk, saying: “I welcome anyone to come and join us. It will be an opportunity for all of us to talk about how we can create opportunities and stop this senseless loss of life.”
When word came that the Prime Minister was willing to meet Michael and a selected group of elders, the team was thrilled. But any joy was tempered with the gravity of the situation and the need for something to be done quickly.
“This Walk isn’t about me,” Long said. “This is about achieving the right outcomes for all Australians – black and white.
“The sooner this meeting is held, the sooner we can start talking about ways to stop the continuing loss of life among Aboriginal people in Australia. We need to ask the Prime Minister to put us back on the agenda – to give us his vision for Aboriginal Australia now and into the future.”
When Michael reached Canberra on December 3, more than 300 people joined him as he marched through the city’s central business district on his way to Parliament House.
His website, www.thelongwalk.com.au, was also inundated with messages of support written by people of all ages from all across the country.
Michael was accompanied to the meeting by his cousin John Cusack, Victorian Aboriginal leader Paul Briggs, former AFL player Alan Thorpe, and Patrick Dodson, who is often referred to as ‘The Father of Reconciliation’.
Afterwards, Michael said he was pleased with the outcome.
“We discovered that we held some common ground with the Prime Minister,” Michael said. “We both believe that we need to focus on individual communities’ needs and to let our elders lead the way forward.”
He also welcomed the Prime Minister’s offer that he would be interested in further discussions with Indigenous spokesmen.
“We look forward to seeing the Prime Minister visiting more Indigenous communities and speaking with our elders,” Michael said. “Call me old-fashioned, but I believe the answers to many of my people’s problems can come from listening to what our elders have to say.”
But Michael also warned that this was only the first step in a long journey towards reconciliation.
”My long walk was the start of the journey, but the journey for all Australia has only just begun.”
(story 1/1/2005 end)
Deadly Vibe Issue 95 January 2005
The Long and winding road
It took two weeks’ worth of blistered feet and sore muscles, but Michael Long achieved his goal – the Prime Minister finally agreed to meet Michael after the former AFL legend walked 400 kilometres of the 700-kilometre distance from Melbourne to Canberra to discuss issues important to Australia’s Indigenous population.
Michael began the Long Walk in mid-November last year, after attending the funeral of yet another friend who had died a preventable death. He decided that it was time to stand up and do his bit in an attempt to address the problems of poor health, low education and employment opportunities in Indigenous communities.
“All we ask of Mr Howard is the opportunity to work with him to build a better country,” Long said as he began his journey, “This isn’t about Indigenous Australia and white Australia – this is about all Australia.”
He vowed that he would walk all the way from Melbourne to Canberra in the hope that the Prime Minister, John Howard, would meet him to discuss ways in which they could work together to tackle the problems that Indigenous Australians face every day.
Michael also asked people to join him on his Long Walk, saying: “I welcome anyone to come and join us. It will be an opportunity for all of us to talk about how we can create opportunities and stop this senseless loss of life.”
When word came that the Prime Minister was willing to meet Michael and a selected group of elders, the team was thrilled. But any joy was tempered with the gravity of the situation and the need for something to be done quickly.
“This Walk isn’t about me,” Long said. “This is about achieving the right outcomes for all Australians – black and white.
“The sooner this meeting is held, the sooner we can start talking about ways to stop the continuing loss of life among Aboriginal people in Australia. We need to ask the Prime Minister to put us back on the agenda – to give us his vision for Aboriginal Australia now and into the future.”
When Michael reached Canberra on December 3, more than 300 people joined him as he marched through the city’s central business district on his way to Parliament House.
His website, www.thelongwalk.com.au, was also inundated with messages of support written by people of all ages from all across the country.
Michael was accompanied to the meeting by his cousin John Cusack, Victorian Aboriginal leader Paul Briggs, former AFL player Alan Thorpe, and Patrick Dodson, who is often referred to as ‘The Father of Reconciliation’.
Afterwards, Michael said he was pleased with the outcome.
“We discovered that we held some common ground with the Prime Minister,” Michael said. “We both believe that we need to focus on individual communities’ needs and to let our elders lead the way forward.”
He also welcomed the Prime Minister’s offer that he would be interested in further discussions with Indigenous spokesmen.
“We look forward to seeing the Prime Minister visiting more Indigenous communities and speaking with our elders,” Michael said. “Call me old-fashioned, but I believe the answers to many of my people’s problems can come from listening to what our elders have to say.”
But Michael also warned that this was only the first step in a long journey towards reconciliation.
”My long walk was the start of the journey, but the journey for all Australia has only just begun.”
(story 1/1/2005 end)
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