Anniversary of Michael Long Beginning The Long Walk

21 November 2004

A walk to put First Nations concerns on the agenda

On 21 November 2004, Michael Long began a walk from Melbourne towards Canberra to seek a meeting with Prime Minister John Howard about the circumstances facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Long Walk organisation and Essendon Football Club record this departure date. This entry marks the original action, rather than the changing date of the annual walk associated with Dreamtime at the ’G.

From personal resolve to public action

Long had retired from football but continued to use his public profile to speak about First Nations concerns. The walk created a direct way to seek attention to issues affecting communities and their futures.

The planned journey was to Parliament House. It should not be described as a completed walk of the full Melbourne-to-Canberra route: the action ended after a meeting was secured. The departure and its political purpose are the milestone recognised here.

Supporters joined and the action attracted national attention. The Long Walk later developed into an organisation with education, community programmes and public events intended to keep First Nations voices on the national agenda.

A distinct part of Michael Long’s story

Long’s challenge to racism in football is recognised separately in this calendar. The 2004 walk deserves its own entry because it involved a broader political demand and led to an enduring movement.

An anniversary activity can examine different forms of advocacy: a public statement, a sporting stand, a walk, an organised campaign and direct discussion with government. Ask how each creates opportunities to be heard and what changes people seek beyond the event itself.

Read the organisation’s own account alongside contemporary reporting. Keep the original departure date separate from later commemorative walks and avoid assuming that the route, participants or purpose of every later event are identical.

The story recognises persistence, public leadership and people acting together. Its continuing relevance lies in listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities and considering what meaningful responses require, rather than treating participation in one event as the end of that responsibility.

Sources and further reading

• The original walk: 21 November 2004 — The Long Walk
• The Long Walk: original departure date — Essendon Football Club
• Our origin story and continuing movement — The Long Walk
• Contemporary reporting, 23 November 2004 — The Australian, preserved by Kooriweb

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.