Celebrating Indigenous Wellbeing
The Long Walk grows to a four day program of events in 2009
25 April 2009
The LONG Walk on Saturday 23 May, 2009 will feature in a program of diverse events that are themed around Indigenous men, women, youth and footy. All are invited to get involved in these events as we celebrate Indigenous wellbeing.
The LONG Walk on Saturday 23 May has grown to a four day celebration of Indigenous wellbeing.
Actvities start on Monday 18 May when women from Palngun Warangat Centre and youth from The Lady of the Sacred Heart in Wadeye visit Melbourne for a cultural exchange with women and youth from Dandenong and District Aboriginal Co-op.
The group will be in Melbourne all week and will partipate in other activities throughout the week, but especially The LONG Walk and Dreamtime at the G. Other activities include the annual Talk Blak Melbourne Conversation, which this year focuses on the role of AFL Football and Indigenous wellbeing. One of our long time volunteers and supporters Meg Davoren-Honey exhibits her oil on canvas portraits of Indigenous women from around the country and the Victorian Indigenous Men's Network will hold its first gathering at the MCG.
Calendar of Events
Wed 20 May Forum: Footy, Social Justice and Indigenous Wellbeing
Thur 21 May Exhibition: Tribute to Indigenous Women
Fri 22 May Forum: Victorian Indigenous Men's Network Gathering
Sat 23 May Celebration: The LONG Walk
Footy: Dreamtime at the 'G
Fundraiser: Dreamtime at the 'G with Michael Long
MELBOURNE CONVERSATION: TALK BLAK 09
Talking the Walk: Footy, Social Justice and Indigenous Wellbeing
Football is big in Indigenous communities. Aussie Rules has perhaps done more for reconciliation that any other aspect of Australian society. Attitudes towards Indigenous people are changing. More and more Indigenous footballers and their clubs are establishing programs around game development, employment, education and other determinants of wellbeing. So what is it about football? Is it just a jumped up ticket out of the ghetto for the talented few? Is it all show and no go? Or does it really have an enduring role to play in achieving equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians?
MC/Moderator: John Harms
Guest speaker: Michael Long
Panel: Mrs Margaret Wirrpanda, Mr Alan Brown,
Dr Sean Gorman
John Harms
Writer/Broadcaster
John is a Melbourne-based writer and broadcaster. His books include Loose Men Everywhere, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Confessions of a Thirteenth Man and The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story. He writes The Fan column in The Age, is a panellist on ABC TV's Offsiders can be heard regularly on ABC radio around Australia. He loves footy and barracks for Geelong.
Margaret Wirrpanda
Yorta Yorta Elder
Margaret (nee Briggs) is a prominent Aboriginal activist and founder of many Indigenous organisations including the National Council of Aboriginal and Island Women. David Wirrpanda cites his two most important role models as his grandmother, Geraldine Briggs, and his mother, Margaret Wirrpanda for teaching him his culture and heritage which empowered him to succeed.
Alan Brown
Seniors Coach
Fitzroy Stars Football Club
Alan played for Fitzroy Stars and currently coaches the senior team. He has been a leader in the Melbourne Indigenous community heading up organisations as diverse as Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Koori Kollij, Bunjilaka at Melbourne Museum and running programs for Victorian Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation. Alan is currently the Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Dr Sean Gorman
Lecturer, Australian Indigenous Studies
Sean Gorman studies and lectures Indigenous Studies at The University in Melbourne and previously at Murdoch University and Edit Cowan University. His book entitled, Brotherboys: The Story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer was published in May 2005 by Allen and Unwin.
More info on entire program >
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