Victorians invited to join Commissioner in Walk for Truth from Portland to Parliament

Yoorrook Justice Commission Deputy Chair Travis Lovett will walk 370 kilometres from Gunditjmara Country in Portland to the Victorian Parliament on Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Country in May and June 2025.

The walk, visiting communities including Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Colac, Geelong and Werribee, will draw attention to the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s final report, which includes an Official Public Record, and its call for Victorians to acknowledge the past and walk towards a shared and equitable future.

The walk will begin on Gunditjmara Country, in what is now known as Portland, where colonisation began in Victoria, bringing together people from all walks of life to build shared understanding. It will create a space for people to have meaningful conversations, share stories, experiences and knowledge, and learn and explore more about the importance of truth telling in the State of Victoria.

Commissioner Lovett, Kerrupmara Gunditjmara, said he hoped as many Victorians as possible would join and support the walk.

“Truth is the foundation upon which understanding, trust and empathy are built,” Commissioner Lovett said.

“In a time when misinformation and division seem prevalent, the walk seeks to remind us all of the power and necessity of truth in fostering a just and compassionate society.”

“Yoorrook invites everyone to join us on this powerful journey, to walk together toward truth, to be part of the positive change for Victoria and Australia, to celebrate the strength and resistance of Aboriginal people and to be proud to have the oldest living culture in the world as ours.”

“By stepping toward truth, we are not only shedding light on the historical and persistent systemic injustices that First Nations People have faced and continue to face. We are also embracing our shared responsibility to create a space where transparency, accountability and respect can thrive and where the true history of the State of Victoria is shared.”

Yoorrook Chair Professor Eleanor Bourke AM said:

“The walk will be a powerful way to bring the truths Yoorrook has heard to all Victorians. These truths form the basis of our final report, documenting the past and providing a roadmap to transform the future.”

“We invite all Victorians to join us as we walk with these truths to deliver our report to the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the State Government. We can’t change the truth of our past, but by accepting and understanding it, we can walk together to a better shared future. For First Peoples and for all Victorians.”

People can register for the walk or receive further information at www.yoorrook.org.au/walkfortruth