Travis Lovett reflects on Walk for Truth from Portland to Parliament

“The body is sore but my heart is full.”

That’s how Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man Travis Lovett described the end of his 400km walk along the southwest coast from Portland to state Parliament House yesterday.

While other attempts to settle in Victoria were made by the British, Portland became the first established colonisation site in the state on November 19, 1834.

Lovett, a Yoorrook Justice Commission Deputy Chair and Commissioner, began the Walk for Truth journey in late May. He passed through towns including Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Terang and Camperdown.

Along the way, hundreds of people joined in for a section of the walk.

“We’ve walked for more than three weeks, across Country and through all kinds of weather, carrying the truths of our people with us,” he said. “I am overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and interest of people from all walks of life in this journey, [which] has been 191 years in the making.”

The Walk for Truth was organised by the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Victoria’s “first formal truth-telling process”, as a commemoration of the commission’s work over the past four years, inquiring into “historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria”.

Since 2021, the commission has heard from First Peoples across Victoria about the lasting impacts of colonisation and systemic injustice, as well as stories of “survival, strength and resistance”. 

These stories now form the foundation of Yoorrook’s final report, due in the coming days, before the commission concludes its work on June 30.

Speaking to the Brolga, Lovett said one the highlights during the Portland to Camperdown legs of the walk was a warm greeting from Port Fairy primary school students, as well as learning of the support from travellers far and wide.

“School children in Port Fairy lined up along the school fence to welcome us. We walked past, kids had made signs in support of Yoorrook. People have travelled from as far away as Perth and New Zealand just to be here.

“Together we have walked to massacre sites and ancient meeting places, to former missions and sites of global significance, including shell middens and an ancient fireplace with the potential to re-write our understanding of human history.”

Shell middens are the remains of shellfish meals once eaten and gathered by Indigenous people.

Lovett said the walk “is about coming together to listen and learn about the past and move forward together, and that’s exactly what we are doing. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved”.

Header image credit: Cam Matheson