Former Essendon champion and Norm Smith medallist Michael Long has ended
his walk from Melbourne to Canberra after Prime Minister John Howard
agreed to meet him to discuss Indigenous issues.
Long crossed the Murray River at Albury on the New South Wales border
this morning and will drive to Canberra tomorrow ahead of a meeting with
Mr Howard on Friday.
Long started his walk last week to raise awareness of Aboriginal issues
and the plight of the Stolen Generations.
He says he will use his meeting with Mr Howard to urge him to take time
to visit as many Aboriginal communities as possible.
Long says the Federal Government needs to consult Indigenous elders
about measures to improve the welfare of Aboriginal people and improve
the prospects of Aboriginal children.
"We just want to be a part of it, just like you," he said. "We say to
the Australian public, please come with us, please embrace us." |