Subject: Peace walk Media Release
Hi all -
the following is a media release for immediate distribution. The Peacewalk
has received an amazing reception in dubbo and many people are really
supporting the need for real peace, healing and reconciliation. Please
distribute among your networks, and please consider coming and joining the
walk, especially for the walk from Canberra and Sydney as it is going to be
huge!!!
cheers, Peachy (A walker for Peace!)
MEDIA RELEASE
4th August 2000
Walking the Land for Our Ancient Right - Day 56
With 2000 kilometres now having been walked in less than 8 weeks, the
"Walking the Land - for our Ancient Rights" peace walk has now arrived in
Dubbo, and is well on schedule for arriving in Sydney in time for the
Olympic Games.
Over 100 Dubbo community members, including Wiradjuri Nation Elders and
families, warmly welcomed the peace walkers as they arrived in Dubbo
yesterday, and signals yet another testament to the growing commitment that
the Australian population is showing towards reaching reconciliation. The
representatives from the Wiradjuri nation led the walkers to the Talbraga
Mission, where the peace fire, that has come from the shores of Lake Eyre
was joined with the peace fire that has been burning at the mission for
over three weeks. It joins the growing number of sacred fires for peace
across Australia.
"These old fires are coming together, letting the country know as well as
the people. It is not only healing the hearts and minds of the people, but
it is warming the old country up too , because the whole country is
hurting, just like we hurt for different things, and the old country hurts,
the old mother hurts and we have to look after her, that is one of the big
jobs that we have got," said Kevin Buzzacott, Elder from the Arabunna
nation, who is leading the peace walk.
The walk has taken it's message of peace and healing through the
communities of Wilcannia, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Morree. Not since
the Freedom Rides led by Charlie Perkins in 1965, which travelled much the
same route as the peace walk, has there been such a colourful and vocal
display of support for the rights of the Indigenous peoples in Western NSW.
"First off I would like to thank you for the privilege of walking with you
across our land, the Kamillaroi nation, from Walgett to Morree and I am
going to walk on further with you all, " an Elder from the Kamillaroi
nation said after the peace walk into Morree last week.
There will be a Peace Walk into Dubbo this Saturday, 5th August, meeting at
10am at the Gordon Community centre on Brennan St, West Dubbo.The group
will walk to Victoria Park, where they will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor,
Jerry Peacock, followed by music and information sharing. >From there all
community members are invited to the camp at the Talbraga mission for a
Family Afternoon and BBQ and evening entertainment, starting at 3pm.
The peace walk will then aim to reach Bathurst by August 11, and will
arrive in Canberra at the tent embassy on 21st August. There the group will
be joined by the Native Indian Sacred Runners and many other groups of
people for the historic walk to Sydney.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Phone 0417838906, or 08 83404401 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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