Belinda arrives at Parliament House accompanied by 300 supporters
Seventy days, 3,500 kms, four pairs of shoes and thousands of signatures later, Belinda Teh has completed her walk across Australia in support of Western Australia introducing Voluntary Assisted Dying laws.
Her journey began from the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on 28 May, culminating at the steps Perth’s Parliament House on Tuesday.
"I wanted to take the message of the compassionate VAD legislation that has been recently introduced in Victoria, and bring that back to WA," she said.
The 27-year-old, who grew up in Perth’s southern suburbs, carried a white rose every step of the way in memory of her mum Mareia who died in agony from aggressive breast cancer in 2016, and was refused assisted dying after two requests to doctors as a patient in a specialist palliative care facility.
"This is a once-in-generation chance to change the law in WA so that what happened to my mum doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Belinda said.
Her final day of walking began at Murdoch Hospital where 30 nurses turned out in support as she departed for Parliament.
Belinda called for Western Australians to join her on the final leg of her journey from Kings Park to Parliament. More than 300 did so in an emotional trek that included high profile supporters Andrew Denton and Adam Gilchrist.
At Parliament House, Belinda was welcomed by the Premier Mark McGowan, Deputy Premier Roger Cook, Opposition leader Liza Harvey, Alana McTiernan, Amber-Jane Sanderson and other MPs who will soon vote on WA’s Voluntary Assisted Dying bill that was presented to Parliament on Tuesday.
Belinda presented a basket of white roses to the Premier, who added his rose to acknowledge his support.
Parliamentary debate on the bill will begin at the end of the month.
“This is a bill that would give dying Western Australians the option of avoiding unnecessary pain and suffering. And I expect it is a law that would have helped my mum,” Belinda said in her speech outside Parliament House.
"My message to WA politicians is this: the next few months will define the future of voluntary assisted dying in this country, and what happens next is up to you. This is your chance to make Australia a more compassionate place.
“To my fellow West Australians in particular, my message is this: be brave. Change is possible, but we have to be brave enough to speak up. The single most powerful thing you can do is to talk to each other, and to your local politicians who represent you. Don’t do it for me - do it for the people in our community who can’t,” she said.
Belinda said people must make their voice heard if they want the choice not to suffer.
"There are real indications that MPs are not listening to the 86% of people who want this law or the evidence supporting the urgent need, heard by the 18-month parliamentary inquiry,” she warned.
Belinda completed her 70-day journey as an ‘assisted walk’ – where she had a support vehicle and called on help from supporters along the way.
She walked through towns in Victoria and South Australia, crossing into Western Australia at Eucla on 22 June. She passed through regional WA locations in the Great Southern, Goldfields, South West and Peel region on her way to Perth, meeting supporters and collecting signatures for her petition along the way.
Belinda said memories of her mother and words of encouragement from supporters had helped her stay focused over the past 70 days, along with several pairs of new shoes.
“Along my journey I met so many people with similar stories. Their willingness to share their experiences continued to inspire me and give me the strength to walk to the end to bring this important message to the West Australian Parliament,” said Belinda.
For more information visit at BelindasBraveWalk.org.au and the @Belindasbravewalk Facebook page.
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Media contacts
Natalie Cameron – WA Publicist 0411 740 570 [email protected]
Steve Offner – GGA Communications Manager 0426 283 865 [email protected]
Download images of the journey, arrival and footage HERE
Additional information: Belinda’s Walking Trail from Melbourne to Perth
28-May Depart Melbourne -Parliament House, Spring St
28-May Melton South via Footscray
29-May Ballan
30-May Ballarat
31-May Beaufort
1-Jun Warrak
3-Jun Stawell
5-Jun Horsham
8-Jun Kaniva
9-Jun Bordertown
11-Jun Keith
12-Jun Tintinara
13-Jun Coonalpyn
15-Jun Tailem Bend
17-Jun Mylor
18-Jun Parliament House, Adelaide
20-Jun Port Augusta
22-Jun Eucla
24-Jun Norseman
26-Jun Higginsville
27-Jun Widgiemooltha
28-Jun Kambalda West
29-Jun Somerville
30-Jun Kalgoorlie
2-Jul Esperance
3-Jul Dalyup
4-Jul Ravensthorpe
5-Jul Hopetoun
6-Jul South Coast Highway
7-Jul Ravensthorpe
8-Jul South Coast Highway
9-Jul Jerramungup
10-Jul Bremer Bay
11-Jul Cheynes Beach
12-Jul Albany
13-Jul Denmark
14-Jul Denmark
15-Jul Bow Bridge
16-Jul Walpole
17-Jul Northcliffe
18-Jul Pemberton
19-Jul Manjimup
20-Jul Nannup
21-Jul Brockman Highway stop
22-Jul Augusta
23-Jul Margaret River
24-Jul Margaret River
25-Jul Dunsborough
26-Jul Busselton
27-Jul Peppermint Grove Beach
28-Jul Bunbury
29 Jul Bunbury
30-Jul Harvey
31-Jul Waroona
1-Aug Mandurah
2-Aug Rockingham
3-Aug Armadale
4-Aug Fremantle
5-Aug Murdoch Hospital
6-Aug Parliament House, Perth