Erle Levey
With the roar of the surf in the background and a following south-easterly breeze, Noosa hinterland’s Gary Cooper has been on a six-day walk to aid children impacted by violence.
And he doesn’t let being visually impaired as well as non-verbal get in the way of helping others.
Gary’s Heart and Sole Challenge has seen him walking more than 100km along the Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway from Pelican Waters to Tewantin.
Gary, aged 39 and from Cooran, aimed to raise $20,000 for Zephyr Education Inc, to assist children who have been affected by domestic violence.
His mother, Roz Cooper, could not be more proud of his effort and was walking beside her son every step of the way.
She said it was important to Gary that all children have an equal chance at life and that the money raised will go directly to supporting local children’s participation in extra-curricular activities such as school camps, music lessons and sporting equipment.
At Peregian Beach on Wednesday afternoon, they were about to start the leg of the walk into Noosa.
Joining them for the day was good friend and supporter Lauren O’Neill.
“It’s been a beautiful walk,” Roz Cooper said. “It’s a magnificent pathway.
“We have met so many wonderful people along the way.
“It has been an amazing mix of nature and humanity.”
Their walk started early Saturday, February 6, at Jensen Park, Pelican Waters, and was to finish at Noosa Marina in Tewantin on Thursday, February 11, with a fund-raiser evening and silent auction.
Along the walk they encountered all weather conditions – a bit of rain as well as the heat and humidity on the Sunday while walking the Kawana section of the coastal pathway.
Roz said Gary tried not to let the things he can’t do get in the way of doing things he can do.
Even though he is blind and non-verbal, he thoroughly enjoys the satisfaction of being able to help others.
And it is not the first walk they have been on for charity.
Gary and Roz walked from Noosa to Brisbane in 2002 along the beach, and then two years later from Brisbane to Noosa, including the full length of Bribie Island.
That was to raise funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation to tackle eye disease and preventable blindness.
“We really wanted to try the coastal pathway out,” Roz said, as they rested in the shade at Peregian’s beachfront park.
“It’s a physical challenge to raise funds … a platform.
“We went looking on-line for the pathway but found little information, so we thought we would give it a bash.”
The section over the cliffs and headlands from Yaroomba to Coolum Beach, was a real surprise.
Spectacular scenery but times they thought they had got lost because the path wandered through foreshore bushland.
“For someone who is blind it’s more challenging,” Roz said, “but we are not unaccustomed to that.
“We have climbed Mt Cooroora seven times.”
The walk through the conservation parklands at Currimundi was another highlight.
Yet the section from Marcoola to Mt Coolum was a stunning walk, Roz said, especially with the canopy of trees much of the way.
About five years ago Roz and Gary completed a walk at Broome in the north-west of Australia – 88km up the William Dampier Peninsula on an indigenous song line … but that was just for pleasure.
Established in 2013, Zephyr Education Inc supports the educational needs of children in 96 shelters and family services organisations throughout Queensland from the Gold Coast to Weipa and west to Mt Isa.
Zephyr Education Inc’s co-founder and president, Isabella Bevan, said that in 2020 the organisation helped 1150 children start school and it was estimated that will be higher this year.
More than 1000 school packs had been assembled before the end of November last year that included textbooks, stationery, lunch boxes and school bags.
Gary’s Heart and Sole Fundraising Event at the Harbour Wine Bar from 5.30pm Thursday, February 11, will include live music, a silent auction and go into the draw for a lucky door prize.
Donations can also be made directly to Zephyr Education Inc by visiting their website zephyreducation.com.au/support-us/donations/ and reference ‘GARY’ so that progress can be tracked. People will also be able to keep up to date with his progress by checking his Facebook page www.facebook.com/garysheartandsolechallenge
