Yoorrook Commissioner to begin historic walk from Portland to Parliament

On Sunday Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man Travis Lovett will begin a 400km walk from Portland in southwest Victoria to Parliament House in Melbourne.

Commissioner Lovett, a Deputy Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, is embarking on the Walk for Truth as a way to bring Victorians together to listen, learn and better understand Victoria’s shared history since colonisation.

Thousands of Victorians have already registered to join public sections of the Walk, which will pass through Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Colac, Geelong and Footscray on the way to Melbourne.

The historic 25-day Walk will begin with a ceremonial event at the Portland Drill Hall, a short walk from where Edward Henty landed in 1834 to establish the first permanent European settlement in what became Victoria.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the launch including First Peoples Elders, Community, celebrities and politicians.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: The launch event will commence at 9am on Sunday May 25 at the Portland Drill Hall on Bentinck Street before the Walk for Truth formally begins at 10am.

The launch event will include:

• A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony
• The Koondoom Yarkeen Dance Group will undertake traditional ceremony
• Speeches including Commissioner Lovett and local Traditional Owners
• Display of a banner created by children at Reservoir East Primary School

Commissioner Lovett will be available for interviews between 8am and 9am or during the Walk.

The first day of the Walk will include a stop at colonial monuments in Portland (around 10.15am) to hear from Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta woman Keicha Day. Walkers will head east to the Convincing Ground massacre site, where a Smoking Ceremony will be held. This is where the public section of the walk will end for the day.

Deputy Chair of Yoorrook, Commissioner Travis Lovett said:

“The first day of the Walk for Truth will be a historic moment in Victoria’s truth-telling journey. We are humbled by the incredible support we have seen for the Walk, with thousands already registered to take part.

“This Walk is an opportunity and an invitation to all Victorians to join together and be part of a better, shared future – not only for First Peoples but for everyone.

“Walking on Country is something our ancestors have done for thousands of years. Since colonisation it has been an important way to advocate for change. Today we begin another important and historic walk – to bring Victorians together to listen, learn and move forward united.

“As Australia’s first formal truth-telling process led by First Peoples, Yoorrook has heard powerful truths from people right across Victoria. We have documented the true history of the past to better understand how this connects with the present. The Walk honours these truths.”

There are 17 sections of the walk the public can join, as well as seven events. To find out more and register go to the Walk for Truth.