AFL legend and Aboriginal activist Michael Long has lent his support to the Close the Gap campaign, signing the campaign pledge on Monday 28 May 2007. The pledge calls on Australian governments to take action to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within a generation.
Michael is one of Australia’s most well known Indigenous AFL footballers. Since his retirement from playing, he remains prominent in the AFL, chairing the AFL Indigenous Foundation, which offers support for Indigenous footballers, and mentoring young Aboriginal sportspeople rising through the AFL ranks.
In addition to signing the pledge, Michael has committed to use his ‘Long Walk’ initiative to support and promote the Close the Gap campaign. The Long Walk began on 21 November 2004 when Michael embarked on an historic trek, walking from his home in Melbourne to Parliament House in Canberra. Michael believed that Indigenous issues desperately needed attention and, determined to put his people back in the national spotlight, resolved to meet with Prime Minister John Howard to discuss his concerns – even if he had to walk all the way to Canberra to do it.
The Long Walk has now become an annual event, with more than 3,000 people joining Michael on The Long Walk to the MCG for the Dreamtime at the ‘G’ football match in Melbourne on 26 May 2007.
Sign the pledge to Close the Gap
Find out more about The Long Walk
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