2025 Winter Clothing Appeal

Please help our Indigenous people stay warm this winter. 

The man pictured is Douglas Multa, Senior Elder of the Ikuntji community.  He’s looking to the future!

Since the launch of the Cross on Memory Mountain over Easter 2023, Walk a While Foundation has continued to provide skills and training for the Ikuntji community of Haasts Bluff, and provide accommodation facilities for visitors. Our Indigenous people are rising to the challenge of learning new skills and adapting to the needs of more visitors.

But the weather is getting cooler and your help is needed now!

As in previous years, we are again appealing for blankets and warm clothes to go out to the Ikuntji and surrounding communities of the NT western desert region.

As autumn approaches, the desert days are still warm, but the nights will soon begin to get very cold. In fact, overnight temperatures often go well below zero in the desert. And most of our Indigenous brothers and sisters are once again lacking warm blankets and winter clothing. It’s not easy for them to go to a store for these items – the nearest one is over 200 kms away. And much of the clothing and blankets we sent them last year, will have been shared with friends and family in more dire circumstances. As visitors come for the Sorry Camp in Haasts Bluff, they are given blankets.

So, we are specifically asking for new (or clean, second-hand) blankets, doonas, warm winter jackets, fleece pants, warm tops & beanies for all ages. Please ensure all donated items are clean and in good repair.

Your donations can be delivered to one of our collection centres listed below. Closing date for donations is Tuesday 1 April, 2025. 

Or, if you’re not close-by for a drop off, please consider a cash donation to Walk a While so we can buy some good quality clothes. To make a cash donation, just click on the button below and write “Winter Clothing Appeal” in the Additional Information box. Then our team of volunteers will hit the stores and scoop up glorious bargains on your behalf.

The wonderful people at Northline Transport have offered - yet again - to freight the packed boxes free of charge from the NSW Central Coast all the way to Alice Springs. From there, they will be delivered to the communities by truck.

Walk a While truly appreciates all your donations – and so do our Indigenous brothers and sisters of the remote NT western desert region. You are helping families in genuine need - who don’t have access to much of what we take for granted.

 

Blankets and warm clothing are needed for babies, children and adults. Let’s keep our Indigenous friends warm and cosy this winter!

Your donations need to be received by Tuesday 1 April. Then our volunteers will get them all sorted, packed and ready to be collected by Northline Transport, to go out to the red centre.

 

Blankets and warm clothing (clean and folded, please) can be delivered to:

  • JoJo’s Party Hire, 310 Mann Street, Gosford (open Mon-Fri 9am to 5.30pm and Sat 8.30am to 5pm)

  • Ken Duncan Gallery, 414 The Entrance Road, Erina Heights (open 9am to 4pm Monday to Sunday

  • Living Waters Hope Central Church on Sundays from 9.30am to 12.30pm up to and including Sunday 31 March

 

 If you have any questions, please call Janet on 0419 257 030.

Thanks in advance on behalf of the Indigenous families of the NT western desert communities. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

And please remember, if you are not close to one of our collection centres, but you would still like to help, you can make a cash donation. Just click the button below.

On behalf of the Indigenous communities of the NT western desert ...

 

Thanks and blessings, 



Ken Duncan, OAM

Chairman,

Walk a While Foundation 

 

e: walk@walkawhile.org.au

w: www.walkawhile.org.au 

Dani Watson