Disability Access News

A WOMAN walking from Kalgoorlie to Perth to highlight the lack of disability services in regional areas passed through Merredin on the weekend.

Jo Russell, whose children Daniel (18) and Megan (4) suffer from autism, said people in rural and remote communities were considerably disadvantaged by the lack of support.

Ms Russell, who was born in Merredin but now lives in the Goldfields city, said the walk from Kalgoorlie had taken four months to prepare and had been tough on all involved, but would be worthwhile.

She will present a petition to Kalgoorlie MLA Matt Birney on the steps of Parliament House when she arrives in Perth next week.

Ms Russell attended St Mary’s Catholic School when she lived in Merredin and later worked at the Southern Cross Hospital as a registered nurse.

When she arrived in Merredin on Saturday, she was met by family and friends and said it was great to be back in the town.

She is being accompanied on the walk by her husband, John and 73 year old father, Cobber Roger who is a well known former resident of the district.

The walkers passed through Carrabin about 12 noon on Anzac Day on their way to a night stop at Mr Rogers’s brothers in Burracoppin.

Ms Russell left Burracoppin on Saturday morning to walk into Merredin and was met on the way by her cousin Dianne Grigson who escorted her into town.

She said she could hardly walk when they arrived in Southern Cross and had to replan some of their strategies.

“My feet have been badly blistered so I have spent some time cycling to alleviate the problem,” she said.

“But the support and encouragement from communities and motorists has been great.

“Every person we see agrees with what I am doing and we have collected an enormous amount of signatures.”

Any donations given to Ms Russell will be handed to the Royal Flying Doctors Service as Ms Russell said they are an organisation which provides a service to the country.