By MARIE LOUISE
On the 27th of April, Marie Louise flew on a route from Wollongong NSW, Australia, through outback Australia, through Northern Territory and over to and around Western Australia, down to South Australia — to be a voice to lift the silence on abuse. She was flying in a Van RV6 to help raise awareness for White Ribbon and Bravehearts, two incredible organisations facilitating grassroots prevention, education and action against abuse.
This is her story…
What an epic adventure, where my personal passions were integrated with purpose to take to the skies in this little aircraft, so beautifully titled the ‘Phoenix’. This project is with full intention support the work of ‘Bravehearts’ and ‘White Ribbon.’ It all started with an invitation to co pilot across Australia, circumnavigating the West Coast makes its way over the Great Australian Bite, to cross a couple of deserts to return 10000km later back at the east. My friend Bill didn’t really know what he invited into his flying Phoenix, but the great phantom of the project, did everything he could for its success.
I am passionate about lifting the silence of abuse so we can take action and come up with creative solutions for the chaos that exists in society today. Highlighting the existence of organizations like Bravehearts and White Ribbon, is an integral part of contributing to global change in a topic, which for centuries, been so oppressed. One in three will experience abuse and one in five is sexual abuse. This figure blows my mind and I was left with the question of, “How can I help?”
Preparation of the flight was underway and our journey began. Our flight headed out into the great blue yonder from Wollongong to travel over the Australian Desert to see the sea on the Western coast of Australia in Carnarvon. Anyone who has had anything to do with aviation would of come to know the importance of predicting the weather. Yes, I am hearing you, good luck with that one. Weather is the mover maker and shaker of how comfortable, possible and able you are able to get from A to B. Overall the flight went well a few modifications to our flight plan was necessary, a couple of alternate landings on dirt strips due to weather and the need for adaption to take place mid flight on many occasions, to find ourselves back in the Gong three and half weeks later.
