MEMBERS of the Wimmera’s indigenous community shared a chat with former AFL star Michael Long during a leadership trip to Melbourne.
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Long founded The Long Walk, which happens in Melbourne each year during National Reconciliation Week.
The initiative started in 2004, when Long walked from Victoria to Parliament House in Canberra to speak to then Prime Minister John Howard to discuss Aboriginal issues.
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative health promotion officer Dean O’Loughlin said a group of Wimmera people participated in the walk this year and had the chance to meet Long.
He said Goolum Goolum organised for young indigenous leaders to travel to Melbourne for the event and other activities as part of reconciliation week.
“We have a partnership with Anglicare and the Essendon Football Club, so we had some of our future leaders attend a two-day course in Melbourne,” he said.
“They went to Essendon’s training base on Friday for a tour with Simon Madden.
“We had a formal dinner on Friday night, and then students went to the Richmond Boxing Club the next day for a lesson, and then to Tennis Australia for a session with Ian Goolagong, who is the younger brother of tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley.”
Mr O’Loughlin said the group went to Federation Square on Saturday, where Goolum Goolum had a stall to promote its Spot the Difference campaign.
The initiative raises awareness about passive smoking.
“Michael Long actually took a pledge as part of the campaign which was fantastic, and the kids got to meet him and do The Long Walk with him,” Mr O’Loughlin said.
“As part of that we walked onto the MCG during the Dreamtime at the G match between Essendon and Richmond on Saturday night.
“We also organised a bus for the young people’s family so they could be part of it, and another one for the students who are part of our Deadly Bike program.”
Mr O’Loughlin said people could visit www.goolumgoolum.org.au for more information about Spot the Difference or to sign the non-smoking pledge.