The ‘long walk’ - in the footsteps of shipwreck survivors
By Alex Rea
Denis Nagle is on a long walk – from Gippsland to Sydney.
The 68 years old started at 90 Mile Beach and aims to end the walk at Wattamolla Beach near Sydney, following in the footsteps of 18th century shipwrecked sailors from the Sydney Cove, of which only a few survived.
Denis became aware of the story of the wreck of the ‘Sydney Cove’ just 18 months ago, after reading a novel based on the story – Preservation by Jock Serong. The Sydney Cove was shipwrecked on Preservation Island in Bass Strait in 1796 and 17 of the crew set out to get help from Port Jackson. They were then shipwrecked a second time somewhere on the Ninety Mile Beach.
Denis, who has a local relatives, brother Bill Nagle and Marie Zuvich, only quite recently learnt of the monument ‘Our Friends’ that is on the Moruya riverbank near the bridge. The monument commemorates the local indigenous people who assisted the shipwrecked sailors walking to Sydney in 1797.
After a trip to Flinders Island, Denis learnt more about the wreck and the ‘Long Walk’ at the museum there and at the Launceston Museum,
“I also have read Mark Mckenna’s account of the story from his book ‘From the Edge” said Denis.
“So, in September last year I set out on the first of my staged walks starting from Woodside on the Ninety Mile Beach and walked to Lakes Entrance then to Cape Conran then Mallacoota, Eden, Tathra and Mystery Bay.”
Taking each stage separately, Denis passed through the Eurobodalla last week.
After visiting the sign in Moruya, Denis crossed the Moruya River with a paddleboard with help from Marie and brother Bill, referencing the help given by the local indigenous people to the original sailors on ‘the long walk.’
Setting off from Mossy Point last Sunday Denis was once again helped by brother Bill to cross the Tomaga River to Tomakin by paddleboard. That evening, Denis was ferried across the Clyde by Michael Lawrence Taylor, where he walked on to the Shoalhaven.
As part of the Walk, Denis is raising funds for the Orange Sky campaign ‘Walk The Walk 2025’
Orange Sky is a non-profit organisation providing free mobile laundry and shower services to people experiencing homelessness.
Donate here: https://www.walkthewalk.org.au/fundraisers/denisnagle/walk-the-walk-25
