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Bushwalker Leaves Latrobe With The Prom In His Sights Bushwalker Michael Mitchell said farewell to Latrobe City from Boolarra last Thursday, By Latrobe City Council - 30th April 2009 - Back to News When he and members of his support crew met with Latrobe City Councillor Darrell White; Eastern Region coordinator - Relay for Life, Judi Buhagiar; and Latrobe City’s Jill Hanley and John Smethurst, in the township.
Michael arrived at Walhalla earlier in the week after completing another section of his six-thousand kilometre walk from Australia’s northern tip, Cape York, to its southern tip, Wilsons Promontory – to raise money for the Cancer Council.
In recent weeks Michael tackled the 650 kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track from Canberra to Walhalla, declaring sections of the walk through areas affected by fires earlier in the decade, and now subject to massive regrowth, as "absolutely gruelling".
With Boolarra on the edge of the recent Delburn Complex fire, Michael is one of the first people whose charity work has taken him into Victoria’s more recently fire-affected regions.
Cr White said that when Michael started his walk almost a year ago, he had no inkling that Victoria could be so affected by bushfires in late January and early February.
"A few days after leaving Lithgow in NSW, where he spent Australia Day, he became aware of the devastation being experienced by communities across Victoria, but was determined to continue his trek," Cr White said.
"Since those devastating fires, many communities are well advanced with their recovery. Communities have been working together to help those in need, residents have started rebuilding and the countryside is regenerating. Perhaps Michael’s arrival in Boolarra signifies another step along those paths to recovery.
"It reminds us that when the immediate memories of the fires begin to fade there will still be plenty of challenges for us to overcome, such as the constant challenge to find a cure for cancer and support those affected by cancer," Cr White said.
Before leaving the municipality, Michael spoke to students at the Boolarra Primary School, explaining he’d been greeted by a rapturous welcome.
"For a moment I didn’t know what was going on. As I approached the school hall, the noise was deafening; but I was told it was the ‘Boolarra welcome’, where the children greet guests by thumping the hands and feet on the floor of the hall. I was then greeted with yells and high-fives," Michael explained.
"The children wanted to know all about the walk; asking me what I ate along the way, where I went to the toilet, what wildlife I’d seen and what was the favourite animal I’d encountered along the trail. And I explained why I was doing the walk and raising money for the Cancer Council. They were a very enthusiastic young audience and kept me on my toes with questions for a good hour. It was a great finale to my days in Latrobe."
Michael has raised almost $20,000 for the Cancer Council through his walk, and is now within a few days of his goal, which is to reach the tip of Wilsons Promontory.
To donate to the Australian Cancer Council in support of Michael’s walk, visit his website, www.thegreataustralianwalk.com.au.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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