Key details:
- The Long Walk’s ‘We Walk Together’ free community event featuring Casey Donovan begins at 1pm at Federation Square.
- The Long Walk will depart Federation Square at 4:15pm and converge on the MCG at 5:00pm.
The Essendon Football Club is proud to be a founding supporter of The Long Walk as it strives to ensure the lives of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are prioritised on the national agenda.
General Manager The Long Walk, Leanne Brooke, said promoting, developing and empowering Australia’s first nation’s people was the core focus of the charity’s work.
“The Long Walk encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians from across the country to show their support, walk side by side and respond to the call for unity and an equal place in society.
"The Long Walk’s ‘Walk the Talk’ cultural and education program is delivered to over 15,000 students across the country each year.
“The enduring support and commitment of the Essendon Football Club in raising awareness to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, wellbeing and life opportunities through programs such as Walk the Talk is immeasurable.
“It’s important that our actions and programs are presented in a way that honours and respects the richness and diversity of Aboriginal people and culture.”
The Long Walk’s ‘We Walk Together’ free community event at Federation Square will kick-off at 1:00PM with a range of entertainment including a performance by Casey Donovan. There will be a flag raising ceremony at the Swanston St forecourt where Aunty Gail Mabo will assist in the permanent flying of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags.
As the biggest Reconciliation event in the country, The Long Walk will see over 15,000 people join Michael Long as well as the nation’s leaders, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews depart Federation Square at 4:15PM and converge on the MCG at 5:00PM for the 12th time since the initiative began in 2005.
Throughout the week, the Club has celebrated its commitment to Indigenous communities with a number of events, educational programs and social inclusion initiatives, including;
ART INSTALLATION AND DREAMTIME GUERNSEY
This week, the Bombers unveiled a new Indigenous art installation at the entrance to the Club’s training facility.
Designed by local Aboriginal artist and proud Willam woman of the Kulin Nation, Mandy Nicholson, the artwork is a symbol of the Club’s connection to Australia’s first nation people, acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land and commitment to Reconciliation as a Club.
The theme of the artwork is ‘Kirrip marram-nganjin’ meaning we are all friends featuring five carved poles and a fire pit. The carved poles represent the five Kulin language groups of Melbourne (and respective homelands), including; Woiwurrung (manna gum leaves), Boonwurrung (water), Taungwurrung (rain), Wathawurrung (scar tree), and DjaDjawurrung (two rivers).
The Bombers also launched its 2017 ISC Dreamtime Guernsey designed by Chern’ee Sutton – a proud Kalkadoon woman from Queensland.
Sutton’s painting depicts boomerangs representing the battle that will take place on the field with a kangaroo representing the Bombers’ speed, strength and agility that will take them to victory.
The circles and travelling lines represent the many communities, culture and history that come together and travel to the game to support the mighty Bombers at the MCG.
Chern’ee has been awarded the 2017 Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Artist Scholarship. As part of the Scholarhsip, Chern’ee has travelled to Melbourne to visits the Club this week, share her story and culture with players and staff, meet Gavin Wanganeen and will attend the Dreamtime at the ‘G match tomorrow to see her design adorned on the players’ Guernseys on the big stage.
CULTURAL EDUCATION SESSION
Some of the most decorated Aboriginal sporting stars in Australia’s history shared their stories with the Essendon playing group on Tuesday afternoon.
The first Aboriginal athlete to win an Olympic gold medal Nova Peris, two-time Olympian Kyle Vander Kuyp, former North Melbourne star Phil Krakouer and Essendon Legend Michael Long detailed the challenges they faced throughout their upbringing and professional careers.
The sporting stars took part in a cultural education session with all members of Essendon’s playing group, coaching and administration staff.
The Koori Youth Will Shake Spears dance group also performed as part of the session as a preview to the celebration dance they will perform pre-game on Saturday night before the first bounce.
TIWI COACH EXCHANGE
The Bombers have this week been joined by two coaches from the Tiwi Islands as part of the Club’s Tiwi Coach Exchange Program.
Kevin Baxter and Mary Dunn arrived on Tuesday morning to spend the week engaged in team meetings, learning and development sessions and game planning ahead of the Bombers’ clash against the Tigers.
Both Baxter and Dunn have recently completed their AFL Level 1 Coaching Accreditation and will sit in the coaches’ box tomorrow night. Baxter is the Assistant Coach for the Tiwi Bombers, while Dunn is a member of the Tiwi Bombers Board and also a committee person for the local Tiwi Island Football League.
The Essendon Football Club works directly with the local Wurundjeri community as well as Northern Territory communities in Wadeye and the Tiwi Islands by providing both the Tiwi Bombers and Wadeye Magic Football Clubs with ongoing financial support and mentorship as well as continuing to engage directly with the local communities in both remote regions.
FOOTY MEANS BUSINESS
A select group of young Indigenous footballers sampled the elite training facilities at the Bombers’ Tullamarine high performance centre as part of the Rio Tinto Footy Means Business program.
Former Geelong and Essendon player, Mathew Stokes, guided the players through the week, including the players’ visit on Thursday and culminating in a curtain raiser at the MCG ahead of the Bombers’ game on Saturday night.
“It’s a program put together for kids aged between 18 and 24 who probably missed out on the chance to get drafted but we want to create opportunities for through work and education,” Stokes said.
“We use footy as a vehicle to get them here but it’s more to do with opportunities for life.”
Essendon CEO, Xavier Campbell, said the Club maintains a particular focus on nurturing and developing its existing relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities.
“We understand our role and responsibility in supporting and engaging Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities which is an important pursuit for us all,” Campbell said.
“We are committed to ensuring our programs align with those on the national agenda to ultimately contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy, education and employment opportunities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
“The Essendon Football Club’s vision for reconciliation is to commit to professional development, cultural competency and social inclusion by building on our existing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Since its inception in 2005, the Essendon Football Club has continued to work with the AFL, Richmond Football Club and MCC to acknowledge and celebrate the role Australian Rules Football has played in building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia.
