What an incredible day at the 2026 Aunty Betty Memorial Reconciliation Walk yesterday — and our biggest turnout yet!
The rain held off and hundreds of people joined us at beautiful Dicky Beach to walk together in the spirit of reconciliation, connection and community.
It was wonderful to see so many local schools, community members and leaders in attendance, including Mayor Rosanna Natoli, Cr Tim Burns Division 3 Councillor Taylor Bunnag – Division 8, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Cr Maria Suarez, Division 9, and Cr Jenny Broderick – Division 1 SCC
A heartfelt thank you to Lyndon Davis for sharing culture, music and storytelling, and to the Gubbi Gubbi Dance for their powerful cultural performances and Welcome to Country.
The guided walk on Country with Traditional Custodians provided an opportunity to connect more deeply with the stories, history and cultural heritage of this place.
We also paid tribute to Aunty Betty McMahon, whose tireless work, generosity and commitment to community created lasting change and left an enduring legacy across the Sunshine Coast region. Since becoming the Aunty Betty Memorial Reconciliation Walk in 2019, it has continued to celebrate the life and enormous contribution of this much-loved Elder and community leader.
We would also like to sincerely thank our sponsors and supporters whose generosity helped make the day possible:
UnitingCare, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Relationships Australia Queensland (RAQ), Capital Party Hire, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Sunshine Coast Council, Women’s Legal Service Queensland, Youturn, Suncare Community Services
Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, supported and walked alongside us. This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, calls on all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day — and the day felt like a beautiful expression of that spirit.
Photos: Paul Zellerer
