To celebrate 2024 NAIDOC Week, Essendon Fields brought the Little Long Walk back to the Fields for its fourth year in partnership with the Long Walk Foundation, an organisation started by AFL legend Michael Long in support of Indigenous education programs across the country.

Over 160 people came together on Thursday 11 July to raise money for the Foundation, to strengthen their relationship to country, walk together in solidarity and to keep the momentum going in the spirit of this years NAIDOC theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

Essendon Fields began this year’s Little Long Walk, as it has done every year, by respectfully acknowledging its traditional custodians the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, with local elder Aunty Di Kerr conducting a Welcome to Country ceremony. New to the schedule was a cultural dance performance by Indigenous Outreach Projects, an organisation who use the arts for change through the power of dance and music. Aunty Di’s daughter, alongside her daughters 4 month old daughter, conducted the smoking ceremony. Walk participants were able to move through the smoke, cleansing them before undertaking a 1km journey around Wurundjeri Woi wurrung land.

Essendon Fields CEO Brendan Pihan thanked all those who participated, noting the opportunity to support the Long Walk Foundation, come together as a community, and reflect on the deep history and contribution of traditional owners everywhere.

“This year’s NAIDOC Week theme Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud encapsulates exactly where we’re at – a point on the journey where it’s timely to renew our commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage of first nations people that enriches our nation,” said Mr Pihan.

Mr Pihan acknowledge Aunty Di’s generous welcome to country, marvelled at performance by the Indigenous Outreach Project dancers and thanked LaManna and Dutton One for their generous contributions donating the celebration BBQ and coffee cart that kept everyone warm on a good old-fashioned winter’s day.

This year’s Little Long Walk was supported by a host of tenants at Essendon Fields and their staff including Airservices Australia, Active Utilities, Blue Water Shipping, Fire Rescue Victoria, Hyatt Place Melbourne Essendon Fields, Linfox, Niddrie Gymnastics, TLC for Kids, The Y Australia, Visy, DFO Essendon, Winslow and Zagame Automotive. Essendon Netball Club were also in attendance, proudly sporting a new training top designed by the Australian Diamonds World Cup 2023 dress artist Alkina Edwards. The top was funded by a grant from Essendon Fields, provided as part of the Essendon Fields Friends Of The Fields community grants program in 2023. Alkina Edwards, is a first nations artist, and also a netballer herself. She calls the design Murrup Biik, which means Spirit country in the Wurundjeri people’s Woi Wurrung language.

CEO of the Long Walk Foundation, Leanne Brookes thanked all participants, sponsors and Essendon Fields for continuing to make the event such a success and not only raising funds for all the work which the Long Walk Foundation undertakes in indigenous communities, but for also raising awareness of NAIDOC week in Essendon Fields and the surrounding suburbs.

“This year’s theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity. We are black, loud and proud!” said the Long Walk Foundations CEO, Leanne Brookes.

To donate to the Long Walk Foundation go to: www.thelongwalk.com.au