On 21 November 2004, Essendon champion Michael Long embarked on a historic trek, walking from his home in the suburbs of Melbourne all the way to Parliament House in Canberra – more than 650 kilometres away.
After returning home from yet another Aboriginal funeral, Long decided that something needed to be done about the plight of his people. He took it upon himself to get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues back on the national agenda and resolved to meet with then Prime Minister John Howard to discuss his concerns, even if he had to walk all the way to Canberra to do it.
Long was joined on the road by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal supporters from all over Australia. Some walked in support for an hour, some for a day and some took the journey all the way to Canberra. As the walkers passed through the Victorian countryside, local people came out to meet them, offering encouragement, support and assistance.
Seeing both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people rallying together, Michael’s Long Walk became a mission of hope. The troupe started walking out of frustration and pain but as they walked they began to understand that Australians from all walks of life had been looking for a way to express their support for Aboriginal culture for a long time.
In 2024, The Long Walk has blossomed from an event to a long-lasting cause. Every year before Essendon's Dreamtime at the 'G match, Long replicates his famous walk to the MCG with tens of thousands of others to continue the conversation about the inequality First Nations people face.
