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On the road with a champion of his people

By Tony Stephens

27 November 2004 - The big kangaroo leapt across Michael Long's path. One, two, three bounds and into the bush.

"I would have caught him, except for my blistered feet," laughed his friend, Paul Briggs.

Cockatoos whirled overhead, screeching at the sun. A goanna scuttled southwards. "He's going the wrong way," Mr Briggs said. "We're walking to Canberra."

Mr Long, Mr Briggs and the other indigenous Australians who have joined "The Long Walk" from Melbourne to Canberra are at home here, among the gum trees. Their ancestors have walked the land for 40,000 years or so.

Mr Long knows the continent from the Arafura Sea to the Great Southern Ocean. His people, the Anmatyerre and Warlpiri, were taken from their parents in the red centre to a mission on the faraway Tiwi Islands. Michael Long made his name in Melbourne, playing football famously for Essendon.

Now 35 and retired from the game, he works "on the other side of the football fence" among his Aboriginal people. Much of what he sees saddens him.

He has been to too many funerals - of black people dying too young and old black people dying heartbroken because there is no one from their next generation to whom they can pass the wisdom of their culture.

Last week Mr Long went to one funeral too many. He decided to walk from Melbourne to Sydney to see the Prime Minister about his people's problems. He set out on Sunday with his cousin, John Cusack, walking 30 kilometres to Wallan. They sat down and had a think on Monday.

They called Mr Briggs, a Yorta Yorta elder, and other friends, black and white. The Australian Workers' Union sent a support vehicle. Sharon Gibbard, a nurse and organiser, joined. A website, thelongwalk.com was set up and soon attracted messages from around the world.

A core of about 20 sympathisers walked about 70 kilometres along secondary roads to Seymour on Tuesday, with locals joining in for an hour or two, and about 55 kilometres to beyond Euroa on Wednesday.

They slowed as the temperature rose on Thursday but covered about 31 kilometres to north of Violet Town, bathing blistered and swollen feet in ice and taking advice from John Quinn, the Essendon trainer. They walked nearly 40 kilometres yesterday, to north of Benalla, often led by Bunj-l Lovett, 11, who looked ready to run to Canberra.

John Howard has said he would be happy to see Mr Long. Peter Costello, the Treasurer and Essendon's No.1 supporter, was happy to make introductions. The walkers were waiting for an appointment but ready to finish the 700-kilometre journey.

Critics say Mr Long's walk is symbolic and the plight of many Aborigines is beyond symbolism and in need of practical measures.

He said: "This walk is about the life and death of our people."

Linda Burney, the NSW MP who is helping to organise the route in NSW, said: "We have all been to too many funerals. This is a solid, humble act which fires the imagination. It's a ray of inspiration at a time when we really need it."

The football champion whose people once owned the country wants to say to the Prime Minister: "We just want to be a part of this country, Mr Howard.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Long - The Long Walk

AFL hero Michael Long wants to sit down and talk with Prime Minister John Howard about how they can work together to take immediate actions on problems of poverty, ill health, alcohol, violence and malnutrition destroying Aboriginal communities.

And he's walking to Canberra to have the meeting!

In fact he's on his way now and he needs your encouragement and support as well as your company along the way.

Michael set off from Melbourne on Monday 22nd November and he's planning to be in Canberra by Thursday 2nd December.

The idea to walk was a spontaneous response to attending yet another funeral - another life lost, another preventable death. Michael has decided to set aside his publicly expressed differences with the Prime Minister which arose three years ago over denial about the Stolen Generation. His hope is that along with Aboriginal Elders they can tackle the issues - black and white working together.

You can show your support in the following ways:

• Walk with Michael and his team - join them for stretches of the journey particularly as they approach towns
• Organise a group of supporters to welcome Michael as he enters towns along the way
• Provide hospitality (food, drink, accommodation) to Michael and his team when they come to your town
• Spread the word about The Long Walk amongst family, friends and colleagues
• Contact your local media

The Long Walk has already attracted considerable media and public attention. We hope that you can add to this by promoting and supporting this important project.

If you want to find out more about how to help out or are ready to join in now, please contact 03 9419 3613

Source: Michael Long website

related links :

• Michael Long - The Long Walk
• Footy may have played possum for 40,000 years
  May 23 2002 - An Aboriginal game could have been the inspiration for Australian football, writes Richard Hinds. Michael Long, the former Essendon star who now works as a skills coach with the Bombers, talks about moments in games when coaching and training becomes irrelevant and instinct takes over.

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