THE Coffs Yacht Club was buzzing bright and early on Saturday 9 August as more than 50 locals gathered for a celebratory breakfast to send off Andy Hope and his trusty four-legged sidekick, Scrubby, on a mission like no other.
A year’s planning came down to this: Andy’s 60th birthday, and the first step of a very long walk.
But there was no wild celebratory party for him.
Instead, he laced up his walking shoes and set off to circumnavigate mainland Australia on foot, raising awareness about the impacts of gambling harm.
Andy isn’t just taking a long walk.
He’s launching “Walk Against Gambling” (WAG), a two-year solo trek around mainland Australia, raising vital awareness of gambling harm and supporting Lifeline North Coast.
His journey is very personal.
His 42-year battle with gambling almost claimed his relationships, and almost his life – and at times, his sanity.
Yet here he is, gamble-free now for over a year, determined to make change possible for everyone, not just for himself.
It was an emotional send-off and Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams spoke directly from the heart, saying what a proud moment it was to wave Andy and Scrubby off as they set out on this incredible adventure.
“It takes a huge amount of courage not only to take on such an ambitious challenge, but also to walk into an organisation and ask for help when you’re struggling,” she said.
“This journey reminds us that community isn’t just there for the wins, but for the asking, for when things get hard.”
Lifeline North Coast CEO Angela Martin also offered words of encouragement and gratitude for Andy’s walk – a mission that isn’t just physical but symbolic, a call for conversation, support, and kindness on a long-overlooked issue.
After hugs, speeches, and a few warm chuckles at Scrubby’s growing canine fan club of cavoodles, the pair quietly began their trek in a surreal moment where the crowd suddenly realised they wouldn’t see the pair again for a long time.
At the time of writing, Andy and Scrubby had already reached North Haven.
You can follow them on their Facebook page, Andy and Scrubby’s Big WAG.
By Leigh WATSON
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