The historic Walk for Truth across southern Victoria passed the halfway mark yesterday on the 450 km-plus journey from the place where colonisation started in Victoria in 1834 to the State Parliament.
The walk is part of the final events of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Victoria’s formal truth-telling process and the first of its kind in Australia. The four-year commission winds up on 30 June.
“The body is sore but my heart is full,” said Yoorrook Deputy Chair and proud Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man, Commissioner Travis Lovett, who has walked 253 kilometres in the first 11 days of the walk.
“I am overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and interest of people from all walks of life in this journey, that has been 191 years in the making,” he said in a statement released today by the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
“Together we have walked to massacre sites and ancient meeting places, to former missions and sites of global significance, including shell middens and an ancient fireplace with the potential to re-write our understanding of human history.
“The Walk is about coming together to listen and learn about the past and move forward together, and that’s exactly what we are doing. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved. I hope all Australians will join us on the walk.”
The Walk for Truth includes 17 public sections along with at least 10 events. Find out more and register to join the Walk for Truth here.
More than 2,500 people participated in the walk or related events during the first 11 days, and a further 6,600 people have registered for upcoming sections or events. More than 2,300 people have registered for the final day, from the Shrine of Remembrance to Parliament House on June 18.
Watch the video below, compiled by Croakey members who joined the first two days of the walk.
Watch the video
See Croakey’s archive of articles on the #WalkForTruth
