First leg: Walk for Dementia campaigner Mick Simpson leads teachers, students and community members from Merrigum as he arrives in the town to complete the first leg of his 12-day and 184km walk from Kyabram to Parliament House in Melbourne.
Leading the way: Mick Simpson (left) with state Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and McConnell First National Real Estate’s Brendan McConnell.
Mick Simpson has never considered himself an inspirational figure, and he squirms uncomfortably in his seat at any suggestion his campaign to raise awareness of dementia is anything other than something anyone could have done.
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This year’s response to his fifth annual Memory Walk — the original working title of his bid to increase understanding of the disease that has changed his own life — has, however, given him a little perspective on just how much of an impact he has made in the space.
He started the walk after his 2018 diagnosis, but never imagined being thrust into the limelight like he has been — recognised by Campaspe Shire Council this year and also with a Victorian Senior Citizens award.
“It has got a bit overwhelming this year, the work of the girls at KC&LC (Kyabram Community & Learning Centre) has seen it gather some momentum and there is a bit more to it this year than just walking from Kyabram to Melbourne,” he said.
Mick started his walk from the Allan St Memorial Gardens in Kyabram on Friday morning, flanked by the region’s two key political figures: Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh.
He was actually wearing shoes that were donated to him by the state Nationals leader after a pledge was made by Mr Walsh’s wife, Liz Spicer, at the January Australia Day ceremony where Mick was named the 2023 Campaspe Shire Citizen of the Year.
Mick, the quietly spoken former truck driver, is now the face of a movement that is continuing to draw attention to the plight of both adults and children who suffer from dementia.
He will spend 12 days on the walk, which will — for the second time — end on June 21 on the steps of Parliament House in Spring St, Melbourne.
If the shoe fits: State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh presents Mick Simpson with his new shoes — after an Australia Day promise was made to sponsor his footwear when Mick (tongue in cheek) suggested he needed a shoe sponsor in his Citizen of the Year acceptance speech — as Susie Bennett from Intersport Kyabram completes the fitting.
It is a 184km journey, but this year will involve several stops and a variety of speaking engagements that have been organised by dementia campaigners and Mick’s support network to spread the message and impact on the eventual fundraising tally.
Mick hopes to more than double the $8000 he raised last year and has events at Merrigum and Nagambie that will help along the way.
At the finish line: Mick Simpson meets with state Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and former state Member for Euroa Steph Ryan at Parliament House in Melbourne last year.
There will even be a Blessing of the Walk completed by Kyabram P-12 Chaplain Liz Spicer.
“There are going to be a lot of people at this event who have done a lot of work to make it happen,” Mick said.
Mick said one special guest was Sonie Wilson, from Bendigo, a key figure in Victorian dementia programs, who had assisted him immensely in recent times.
Mick was the man chiefly responsible for the establishment of a dementia group in Kyabram, which now attracts people from the Loddon, Goulburn Valley and Campaspe regions.
Team Simpson: Dementia campaigner Mick Simpson at Friday’s early morning launch of his 12-day walk from Kyabram to Parliament House in Melbourne. He is with (from left) Steve Pyrvis, Kyabram Community and Learning Centre’s Claire Pirella, Kyabram Lions Club’s Sandi Donaldson, Quinton Hall, his nephew Steve, KC&LC chief executive Jen Savage, Dementia Australia’s Sonia Wilson and Melissa from Warramunda Home Care.
The group, originally dubbed Don’t Dementure It, now identifies as the Shepparton and Campaspe Dementia Group and, in February, conducted an awareness walk around Victoria Park Lake at Shepparton.
Funds raised during Mick’s walk will assist the work of this group, along with also assisting research and support work by the Victorian childhood dementia organisation.
In keeping with Mick’s increased status, he will have two vehicles alongside him for the almost two-week trip, along with police and SES involvement.
He will also have a series of “support walkers’’ making the trip with him.
“There are six or eight walking to Merrigum with me. Then three or four have promised to walk with me to Tatura and I have people from Nagambie who will do the leg to Seymour with me,” Mick said.
A street party and breakfast kick-started the campaign last week and at the first checkpoint, Merrigum, the Lions club staged a community fundraising event and barbecue, which involved the primary school.
First stop: Stage one of Mick Simpson’s Walk for Dementia ended at Merrigum.
“I’ll come back and sleep in my own bed that night, then walk to Tatura,” Mick said.
“That night will be my last at home and Nagambie is the third leg.
“I will be talking about dementia that night to a group of people.”
Seymour is next, but Mick is still waiting to hear back from his Kilmore connection on what is happening on day five.
“There is a break between Wallan and Campbellfield, because of safety, and then we’ve joined forces with the childhood dementia research team. We will meet with them in Melbourne and finish the walk together,” he said.
Mick’s stay will be extended by one day due to a special Parliament House event on June 22.
Mick said his Shepparton and Campaspe Dementia Group was continuing to grow and had recently entered into a partnership with Zoos Victoria to use the Kyabram Fauna Park as home base.
“With all the Rochester activity it was hard for KC&LC to give us a room every month,” he said.
“We were always trying to find somewhere which had a bit more of a relaxed environment and, after talking to Lachie (general manager Lachlan Gordon) at the fauna park, we are now using a room there to meet once a month.’’
Mick said word had spread through the region and there were now 30-plus regularly at the meetings.
“We also have an alliance with health and carer groups from Bendigo, Echuca and Shepparton, while Dementia Australia is always in the background,” he said.
