Alwyn Doolan is a man with a mission. A mission to "heal our nation, heal our land and heal our people."
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Doolan is on a 7000km Message Stick Walk along the east coast, past Melbourne and Tasmania en-route to Canberra. Along the way he hopes inspire younger generations and raise awareness of reconciliation by engaging with as many communities as he can upon his journey.
A crowd of local Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous community members, including Eden Marine High school principal Adrian Bell and students, gathered at the keeping place at Twofold Aboriginal Corporation's Jigamy Farm to officially welcome the walker on Tuesday.
Carrying three message sticks signifying history, colonisation and healing Mr Doolan endeavours to reach Canberra at the end of May 2019. He plans to deliver the sticks personally to Parliament House and call upon the Australian government to renegotiate treaty with Australia's First Nations People.
"I wanted to cover as much of the coast and rural communities as I could. The more ground I cover the more the more the message is heard. The walk is not about me it's about us all - our sovereign nations and about our fellow Australians standing together with compassion to live and work together under the law of the land," he said.
Upon arrival at Twofold Aboriginal Corporation, Mr Doolan was welcomed to country with a traditional smoking cleansing before a flag raising ceremony.
Elder Uncle Ossie Cruse welcomed Mr Doolan as an extended family member saying "you come as our nephew, we are all one people when we are here, our love will go with you - treaty is everywhere".
Just after midday a small group of young locals joined Mr Doolan walking in solidarity from Jigamy to Eden carrying the Aboriginal Australian flag bearing the message stick logo.
Mr Doolan said he was proud of the local youth who walked alongside him.
"It’s really gives me determination and encouragement to push on even further to inspire more and more younger generations because I feel they are so important for our future of the decision we make for a better now," he said.