Denmark-based Accredited Mental Health Practitioner and Clinical Social Worker Ricky England will be walking 250km from Dwellingup to Perth over 10 days starting this Saturday 24 May, until 2 June.
The Big Jarrah Walk, which aims to raise funds to stop the strip mining of Northern Jarrah Forests in WA, will be launched at 8am this Saturday 24 May at the Dwellingup Visitors Centre, ‘Where Trails Meet’.
At this stage, 12 walkers will start the walk from Dwellingup on Saturday, with many more joining Ricky and his supporters for the leg from Kalamunda to Parliament House on 2 June - WA Day – starting from 7am at the northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track.
The walk, supported by WA Forest Alliance, the Conservation Council of WA, the Wilderness Society, and End Forest Mining, will culminate with a public rally at Supreme Court Gardens on WA Day starting at 2pm.
Ricky said he was making the 250km trek to bring WA people together to End Forest Mining by Alcoa and South32 in Perth’s backyard.
“Alcoa and South32 have mined cultural sites and water catchments with impunity and want to extend their operations by the equivalent of 6,800 footy fields. The walk is about letting people know what’s happening in their backyard,” Mr England said.
“When I talk with people, they are shocked. While you can walk in water catchment zones like Serpentine Dam, is it ok to mine it? Most people think Lane Poole Reserve is a national park, but they don’t realise that 35,000 hectares of bush is not protected, with plans for increased mining in this reserve.
“They don’t realise the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trails are under attack, with relocations of these tracks happening regularly and more planned. Bush walkers are not happy and there are a lot of us.
“That’s why I’m offering Premier Roger Cook, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn, and Chair of The EPA Darren Walsh to join me on the walk.
“I want to show them the precious places they are happy to destroy. What could be more Western Australian that our Jarrah Forest,” he added.
The Walk and campaign has the permission of Bindjareb Noongar people, with a shared call for an end to destructive practices on country that has taken place since colonisation.
Bindjareb man Theo Kearing will welcome the walkers at the launch from Dwellingup Information Centre.
“We stand with the Big Jarrah Walk and support an end to forestry mining. Mining companies have made a lot of promises, but have left us with nothing and continue to destroy our beautiful country without consultation or remuneration,” he said.
“We are all about our kids and the future generations.”