A group of Essendon players, coaches and officials, including Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Kyle Langford, Michael Hartley and Courtenay Dempsey, have landed in Darwin for the start of the Bombers annual pilgrimage to the Top End.
The week long trip includes remote community visits to Essendon's Next Generation Academy Zones, Tiwi Islands and West Arnhem, as well as clinics, education and leadership sessions at the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre in Darwin.
Essendon Chief Marketing Officer and Long Walk Board Member Justin Rodski said the Club had a long and proud history in the Northern Territory.
"Essendon has played a pioneering role when it comes to the AFL and reconciliation," Rodski said.
"We are really proud of our history, our partnership with The Long Walk and our commitment to supporting remote Indigenous communities.
"For our players, coaches and staff, this trip is like a right of passage - we have such a deep connection and strong relationship as a football club with the NT."
The travelling party also includes the cultural exchange program Taking Flight. In partnership with Anglicare Victoria, the Taking Flight program is in its second year with students from country Victoria travelling to Darwin with the Essendon group.
Michelle Murray, Essendon's Head of Community, said the Taking Flight program had expanded this year to include students from both the Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Cooperative and the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative.
"The Taking Flight program aims to connect young Indigenous people with their heritage, experience cultural activities in a variety of communities and discover their own strengths and leadership potential," Murray said.
"Students aged 12 to 15 are selected to attend the trip to Darwin to hear first hand the stories of the different pathways Indigenous leaders, Board members, athlete role models and staff have trodden to reach where they are today. The aim is to help students visualise a better future for themselves and their community, help drive their ambition and strive to achieve their goals."
The first stop on the itinerary was a visit to the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre for a cultural awareness session facilitated by Long Walk General Manager Leanne Brooke.
Brooke said the Long Walk's flagship education program was an important message for all Australians.
"The Walk the Talk program tells the story of Michael Long and his walk to Canberra, it is an education program focusing on cultural awareness and reconciliation," Brooke said.
"The Long Walk vision is to deliver the Walk the Talk program to every primary school and local sporting Club in Australia.
"We have come a long way in many respects as a nation but then we still have so far to go in other areas, we need our kids to understand about our cultural history.
"We want all future generations of Australians to have equal opportunity when it comes to health, education and employment."
