Wayne Jansson

Wayne Jansson

Chief reporter & photographer at No Fibs
Wayne Jansson is an Australian citizen journalist and photographer. He covered the seat of Indi during the 2013 federal election and since has covered the growth of the community independent movement.
Wayne Jansson

AFL LEGEND AND anti-racism campaigner, Michael Long on Monday told a crowd gathered at Marmungun Rock (Apex Park), Wangaratta a “contingent” will be sent to London seeking support for the ‘Yes’ campaign from, King Charles III.

I’m gonna call on the head of the Commonwealth, I’m calling on King Charles.

Your mother was a great leader of so many different nations. You’re the head of the Commonwealth. You’re our King. Well, it’s time.

If you are the leader you say you are, support the ‘Yes’ campaign. Support the change.

Michael Long

Long is currently walking from Melbourne to Canberra to raise awareness of the Voice to Parliament referendum and was joined in Wangaratta by former Olympian, Nova Peris and ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer.

Michael Long, Pat Farmer and Nova Peris at Wangaratta campaigning for a Voice to Parliament. Photo: Wayne Jansson
Michael Long, Pat Farmer and Nova Peris at Wangaratta campaigning for a Voice to Parliament. Photo: Wayne Jansson

In 1996 as part of the Australian Women’s Hockey Team, Peris became the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic gold medal. In 2013 she won preselection for the Australian Labor Party in the Northern Territory and became the first Indigenous woman elected to Federal Parliament.

Our parents and our grandparents were all subjected to the Aborigines Protection Act. So, when people talk about class and laws, we should all be the same, we should all be equal in a perfect world and in 2023 we’re still talking about equality.

When you think about 1788, the Union Jack being planted, this country being declared terra nullius, no mans land, non-existent. To deny us is to deny the world around you.

My grandfather had chains around his neck, you know, that’s not 100 years ago. This is in our lifetime. He was so ashamed of how he was treated, so ashamed and that’s in our blood memory.

Nova Peris

Nova Peris’ full speech (audio).

Farmer is running 14,400km around Australia to raise awareness, support and engagement for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. He won the seat of Macarthur in 2001 for the Liberal Party of Australia which he held until 2010.

Not everybody agrees with this referendum and what’s coming up in this point in time and for the life of me I can’t possibly understand why they are like that, I don’t think they can understand either.

Because on the odd occasion when somebody presents to me a ‘No’ case, basically what they do is run across the road or they drive very fast past me and yell out, ‘I’m voting no’.

When I say can I have a chance to talk with you and ask you your reasons why, they’re already gone. They just want to yell out and take off, they don’t want to be educated, they don’t want to learn anything, they don’t want to know anything.

Pat Farmer

Farmer started his run in Tasmania then flew to Perth to begin his run up the West Coast and around the top end, down the East Coast and will finish at Uluru, where the Statement From the Heart was gifted to the Australian people.

Victorian Nationals member and state Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy was also at the event.

Nationals Party member and state Member for Oven Valley, Tim McCurdy at Michael Long’s Voice to Parliament event in Wangaratta. Photo: Wayne Jansson

In 1995, Long took a stand against racism following an on-field incident with another player. He was one of the driving forces behind the AFL’s adoption of a racial abuse code.

We’ve gotta close the gap. We have to close the gap. It can’t go on anymore in this great country of ours. We are all accountable – black, white, everyone.

We can fly to the moon, we can do amazing things, invent amazing things, but we can’t fix what’s in the back of our nation and in our cities and in our country towns. It’s time.

It can’t happen another 20 years and I’m not walking with Peter especially if he won’t listen to Slim Dusty or Charlie Pride.

Michael Long

Long is inviting members of the public to join him on one or more legs of his ‘Long Walk to Canberra’.

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