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Monday November 12, 2007

News from HQ - Gary's update

Today saw the return of warm temperatures and the wheelchair’s pushers felt that heat as we knocked over another good 15 laps.
The walk headquarters seemed quiet today compared to the hustle and bustle of yesterday afternoon’s excellent walk with over 300 people.
One highlight was a lovely piece of art left on the track by an anonymous artist that said “Power to the Pushers” and this week will see a broad variety of people and organisations drop in to take advantage of the last few days of this epic journey. We welcome Pam Langley from Macksville, NSW who has travelled all the way down to help out for the last few days to become one of the walk site groupies.
Don’t forget the MIX 106.3 team are broadcasting live again from Lennox Gardens this Fri 16th Nov between 6 – 9 am. Come join the fun !
Many people have been asking how much money has been raised so far….as of today the total stands at $26,500.00

Sunday November 11, 2007

900miles down with the help of 300+ people

Today ended with the 900 mile mark being reached at the end of the 1 mile course for the 1000 people walk. Unfortunately we didn’t get the 1000 (we always knew it was a tough ask…even before we realised that it clashed with the “walk against warming” event in Civic). We did however, have over 300 people turn up for a stroll in the sunshine today….it was quite a spectacle as the sizable snake of people wound its way around the course. Once some photos are available I will post one on the site.
Thank you to all 307 people who took part today….it was a great turn out.

Saturday November 10, 2007

How far we have come.

After all the rain and cold weather of the past few days, today was lovely and warm with very little wind. With a constant stream of willing “pushers” today saw the 1400km mark passed. I am reliably informed that this is equal to the following distances:

*Brisbane to Cairns

*London to Rome or

*New York City to Florida.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is the 1000 people walk. We need everyone to come along and spend an hour or so at Lennox Gardens tomorrow afternoon. Registration starts at 2pm with the walk commencing at 3pm.
All walkers will be given a numbered certificate of participation ….hope to see you there.

Friday November 9, 2007

Todays update by Gary Moran

While today was a tad warmer than most of this week rain threatened on a couple of occasions
We did not get to complete our 15 laps today because Val was feeling ill and she was taken home for some rest and recuperation, Apologies to any volunteer wheelchair pushers who came down to assist after lunch. We will make up the extra few laps on Sunday with the 1000 pushers coming down to Lennox Gardens for the 1000 walkers
A visit by ACT Boxing was welcomed as they came down to drop in over $1000 in donations collected at recent boxing events led by our friends at Winnunga Boxing. Big thanks to Dick and Chappo for all their support
Dont forget to finalise your tables for what is expected tp be the highlight on the Canberra Social scene on the 17th Nov, the ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ Charity Dinner. A night of fun, dancing and some fantastic auction items that have to be seen to be believed. You also get to rub shoulders with the woman herself, Val Moran

Thursday November 8, 2007

What happened to Gourmet Thursday?

After all the fun and frivolity of the trivia night last night it was hard to get up this morning…I’m told that for the first time since the walk began, Gary made it out of bed before Val who was very tempted to roll over and get a bit more shut eye! The trivia night however was a great success raising in excess of $2500. A special thank you to Ross Solly from 666ABC for MC’ing the night for us…he did a wonderful job.
Everyone was re-energised by the time I got down there and the first 10kms were in the bag. I did my first lap with Pat and Louis, two die hard walkers and came in with a respectable time of 21m15s. However, I then made a huge mistake…I was thinking that I would really like to do a sub 21m lap and apparently said it out loud! Silly thing to do as you are about to embark on a lap with these two seasoned walkers…...we finished that lap in 19m44s – I was very proud but totally exhausted!
As it was supposed to be gourmet Thursday, Doug turned up with the best cake yet (far too much cream cheese icing however so I scraped mine off and gave it to Pat). However, despite making a fab cake, Doug has a long way to go before he is forgiven for the slanderous remarks he has made about me on his blog along with the recipes for the cakes!!!
Today saw a range of new faces lakeside with visits from both the Departments of Finance and Administration and Justice & Community Services. The guys from Dept. F&A had previously held a walkathon, donating the proceeds to the 1000milewalk…so thankyou to everyone who participated in that.
Today also saw Suzy Balough, the Olympic Gold Medal Winning Shooter drop by for a lap with Val….thankfully she wasn’t there for target practice.
Don’t forget the 1000 people walk this Sunday at 3pm with registration at 2pm…...come and join us on rememberance day and walk to remember all the precious babies and young children we have lost over the years.

Wednesday November 7, 2007

Melbourne Cup and the aftermath

Yesterday saw a great crowd out at the lake in the morning making the most of a day off courtesy of the ACT government. I must admit that I am not a fan of the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday…..I missed the chicken and champagne lunch, the sweeps and the search for the perfect screen on which to view the big race at work…however I guess it was as productive as in previous years (ie. no work got done!) It was however, business as usual at Lennox Gardens and with lots of volunteers at hand the days laps were in the bag with plenty of time for everyone to get back to see the big race….not sure if anyone won any money however…but I’m sure all winnings will be donated to the cause!

Today saw the hangover from the fun and frivolity of yesterday with less volunteers braving the windy and cold conditions…however undeterred the journey continued. The highlight today was a surprise appearance by Ross Solly from ABC666…he’s been threatening to drop by for ages and today was the day. Tonight will see him reappear as MC of the 1000milewalk trivia night at the Hellenic Club. This promises to be a great night even for those of us who are considering names such as “the no hopers” and the “what was the question agains”..... Never mind – you can’t be good at everything now can you!

Monday November 5, 2007

Well and truly on track!

Yesterday saw the Echelon BBQ take place in rather nasty conditions, however, it would take more than a bit of wind and cold weather to dampen the spirits of those down at the walk….. even a pasting from a bunch of kids during a touch footy game didn’t put Tim off who was back to do his morning laps early this morning.
I’ve been asked to stop mentioning the food….apparently reading about it is affecting waist lines so today is a food free zone especially for Gary Moran.

Steve Whan (Member for Monaro) joined Val early this morning. Luckily he had checked out the website and realised that Val is sleeping in now that she has caught up on the laps lost at the time of her fracture diagnosis – as of today its a 7am start. From now on its a lazy 15 laps a day and we will be right on schedule for a late morning finish on 17 November.

Just a quick reminder about the trivia night on Wednesday at the Hellenic Club….there are still a few seats left. If you would like to come along there are plenty of great people who need some extra trivial brains!

Sunday is the 1000 people walk and you MUST register for this to receive your numbered participation certificate…..be part of this unique event…forms can be downloaded from the “Get Involved” page.

Saturday November 3, 2007

A wet day at the office.

Today saw the 700 mile mark passed before lunch however I am not sure of the actual ending miles for the day as the update was provided by a metric Moran…who gave me the Kms instead of the miles! So for those good at conversions we hit 1147kms today…apparently this is equal to the distance from Lennox Gardens to the Hahndorf pub in the Adelaide Hills….lets stop for a drink….on me…..

I was woken this morning by a text message from Doug informing me that the “unhealthy muffins” I requested last Sunday were on the way. The problem was that I have Saturday’s off and its the one day I don’t go to the lake at all….yet another conspiracy to keep me away from the cakes I believe…hopefully someone took pity on me and saved me one…I’ll have it for breakfast tomorrow. Apparently the muffins were up to the usual standard leading to Doug receiving a marriage proposal….from Pat Fisher (whom I believe is not only the father of 6 but happily married…its amazing what good food does to a man).

The dragon boat regatta took place out on the lake which caused quite a distraction to the pushers…who kept stopping to watch…luckily no one was distracted enough to push Val into the lake to join them.

Paul Moran let the side down today….taking no heed of the challenge to take on the race walkers for the fastest time (currently sitting with Lachie who apparently walked it in 15M56S) set the slowest time today (29M18S)......come on Paul – speed it up a bit…
Tomorrow is being sponsored by Echelon Consulting and I understand that there may well be a beer BBQ lakeside…..now who told me that????

Despite the weather a marathon was completed today – 17 laps. Finally, for those early risers who drop by first thing, as of Monday we will be starting the push at 7.00am instead of 6.00am…. I must admit that I’m not sorry about that!!!

Friday November 2, 2007

Gourmet Thursday and Frightening Friday!

Well Gourmet Thursday began in fine style – I was summonsed to the lake via text message from Doug on the promise of a gluten free Black Forest Gateau…now since the disaster that was the healthy muffin on the weekend (others loved them I should add) I was not particularly impressed at the thought of a gluten free anything…..anyway I had to eat my hat….and cake come to that! Doug produced his best cake yet and that is saying something!
Lunch was again provided by buffetexpress from Buzz Cafe….there is quite a crowd at walk HQ at lunchtimes on Thursday….I wonder why?????

Friday produced less food (unfortunately) but there were several cameo appearances….Val’s dog Gilmore came for a visit, as did some fine members of the local Fire Brigade and YES I was actually there this time….I have to admit that the experience was not quite as I’d hoped, they all had their shirts on! Richard Asher also turned up and pushed a lap (taking a leaf out of his dad’s book who has pushed a few laps now).

Now the reason that this update is entitled “Frightening Friday” is because it was noted today that Lake Burley Griffin has a resident crocodile…..whilst I am sure that this will start some hysteria around the place….we have a photo to prove it….

Finally, remember the trivia night takes place next Wednesday night and tables are booking up fast….get in quick to book yours…for more details see the “Get Involved” page.

Wednesday October 31, 2007

Past the 1000km mark...

Now if Val had done as I once suggested and turned the walk metric…it would have been all over today! However, she did not even entertain that idea for one second all those months ago when we were first discussing this mad idea of hers!!

So as it is we still have just under 400 miles (600kms) left to go – which is just as well because otherwise we’d have some pretty disappointed people who have yet to make the ranks of “primary pusher”!

Today saw the return of the guys from the fire brigade….and AGAIN no one thought to ring me so that I could just happen to drop down to Lake HQ! Although I’m told they have now teed up a time but not a date for their big push…I think its all a conspiracy to keep me away from all those hunky firefighters! I will find out when they are coming back and I will be there waiting!!!

Brian Marriott from the SC Cruiser, excelled himself today, no doubt spurred on by his meeting with the girl herself yesterday morning….apparently the cheer from the boat today could be heard on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

All thats left to say is…guess what tomorrow is? Yep Gourment Thursday. I will have my lunch order in bright and early so that it goes in with all the other orders to buffetexpress. If all the planets are aligned tomorrow, the firefighters wil turn up whilst we are all at the lake at lunchtime indulging in our specially delivered Gourment Thursday lunch…..what a life!!!