Honour for footy great’s long walk

NAIDOC Week will run from Sunday until July 13. The theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy. A highlight of this year’s event will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to former footballer Michael Long, an Anmatjere and Marranunggu man.

Born and raised in Darwin, he played 22 games for West Torrens in the SANFL and 190 matches for the Bombers in the AFL. He was a two-time premiership player for Essendon and a Norm Smith medallist.

His other achievements include the annual event known as The Long Walk, a community walk in Melbourne that attracts thousands of participants. The event is aimed at supporting indigenous health, education and life opportunities.

The National NAIDOC Committee says the week “celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.” 

Meanwhile, Jeremy Morgan Worrall has designed the official 2025 NAIDOC Week  poster.

On the NAIDOC website, the committee says “Jeremy’s work honours the knowledge, care and cultural strength passed down through generations — from Ancestors Lucy, Enoch and Nonie Wright to his Nanna Audrie and his mother Vanessa. The artwork is set beneath the swirling clouds and moonlit skies of Tenterfield, where the next generation gathers around the fire — to listen, to learn, and to lead.”

Jeremy added, “When I look back at my mob, it helps me see towards the future. This piece tells the story of our knowledge — of lore, care, hunting, weaving, and love — being passed on through time. My hope is that it speaks to young people and shows them that they come from strength. They come from a legacy of survival and brilliance. And that gives us all vision for what comes next.”

More details from: www.naidoc.org.au

Second image: The 2025 National NAIDOC Poster incorporating the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag is licensed by the Torres Strait Island Council.

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