Ivor's journey across Australia raising money for refugees

Ivor's story began a few years ago when he met a friend in India, and it sparked in him this desire to walk across Australia at the same time his friend would walk across America. But it wasn’t until Ivor’s family welcomed a family of refugees from Malaysia, that Ivor knew that he wanted to do this walk to raise money for others.

“The idea really kicked off when my family opened their house to a refugee family that live with us,” he explains, “they’ve lived with us for two years now, and they’ve really become my family. I’ve got an extra brother and sister because of it, they’re a family of four. Just seeing their situation, hearing their stories and hearing what they had to go through made me want to give back.” 

Ivor walked an incredible 4,000km, from Perth to Sydney. He began in May 2021 and arrived at Bondi Beach on 28th November. He started his trip with a swim in the Indian Ocean before walking, camping and eating roadside through WA, SA and NSW, where he sealed his journey with a dip in the Pacific Ocean. 

Ivor humbly concedes that his trip felt vastly different to the trip a refugee may have to make.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think because it’s been six months, but it is really crazy that I can walk 4,000km across the country and not be fleeing gunfire, or not be able to leave my house without fear of persecution and imprisonment just because of what I believe in or what my religion is or whatever it is.”  

Ivor chose to raise money for both the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group and Act for Peace. So far has raised $26,220. Supporters were able to follow his location each day of his incredible journey via his website On Foot Across Australia.

For his last 10km, Ivor was joined by some refugees from Afghanistan who walked with him to the finish line. They shared their stories with him for the last leg of his journey.

“The stories that Nasim and Ali told me as they walked the last 10km with me of those fleeing Afghanistan and the struggles that they went through – here I was thinking I just walked km, yes it’s far, but thinking about the rough times I had and then expecting a crowd and an applause — it just didn’t make sense and it never will."

Act for Peace met Ivor at the finish line along with a gathering of his family and friends for a very emotional morning, where many gathered to celebrate his journey and achievements.

                            _{^{Ivor was met by the Act for Peace team, his family and friends at Bondi Beach. Ben Littlejohn / Act for Peace}}

We are so incredibly grateful he has chosen to stand in solidarity with refugees and other displaced people. Thank you Ivor, for sharing your journey with us. 

Read the full story: Ivor's journey across Australia raising money for refugees on the Act for Peace website.