By Margaret Maccoll
For the past 13 years Claude ‘Mowerman’ Harvey has pushed an old motor mower across the country to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and raise funds for services and education programs to prevent it.
The Mowerman began his pilgrimage after his two granddaughters aged just three and four years were sexually abused by a 16-year-old boy.
The retired Gold Coast landscaper said he could have just walked but no one would have taken any notice so he decided to push a mower.
Last week Claude pushed his mower around Noosa Shire to spread his message and raise money for child protection organisation Bravehearts and the funding of a school program they deliver to primary schools called the Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show.
“They have to be taught at an early age to say no,“ he said.
The 74-year-old estimates he has walked about 23,000km and has raised about $1.6 million.
Last year Claude was recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his contribution.This year Covid-19 restrictions curtailed Claude’s walks but he has still managed to walk this year on a 27-day South Australian tour earlier in the year before embarking on a Queensland tour which included Noosa, contributing to his goal of raising $2 million for the charity by 2022.
“If I can save just one child from this crime that harms 1 in 5 Australian children, I will have achieved what I’ve set out to do,” he said.
Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston said Bravehearts was fortunate to have the support of such an avid contributor like Mr Harvey.
“Claude has made and continues to make an extraordinary contribution to child protection in Australia, with every dollar raised devoted to Bravehearts’ child protection programs,” she said.
Bravehearts provides child protection training and education initiatives; specialist child sexual assault counselling and support services; as well as research and reform campaigns to work holistically to prevent child sexual assault in our society.
