Australia

Frank Muldowney in Bargo on his 6000-kilometrewalk across Australia for world peace.

By Michelle Fenech

IRISHMAN Frank Muldowney is walking across Australia for world peace – but he could not resist stopping at the Bargo pub. He began walking from Perth to Byron Bay in April last year, pushing an orange wheelchair carrying Harvey, an imaginary figure for peace and kindness. He had covered 4926 kilometres when the Advertiser met him on the freeway last Thursday. Mr Muldowney said he is spreading the word on how we can achieve world peace by 2015 and that Harvey was a reminder that the world will
remain disabled until we have peace.

‘‘Harvey is whatever you want him to be – he is your own dream for peace,’’ he said. ‘‘If you think about it, all of the peaceful people like Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa are still alive, you just can’t see them anymore.’’

Mr Muldowney has completed walks for charity in France, Spain, Ireland and Peru since 1989 – millions of steps and each one part of a pilgrimage of peace. ‘‘The Camino de Santiago is the oldest pilgrimage in the world with 20,000 walkers a year, and the wisdom and peace that grows into the hearts of every pilgrim spreads to others,’’ he said.

‘‘This is why I am trying to create a pilgrimage of peace here in Australia, then link this walk to Ireland, the UK and beyond. ‘‘I like to use an Albert Einstein quote: ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge; knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the entire world’. ‘‘I believe it is time to start thinking this way, as imaginations, visions of peace, are the way to become a reality.’’

EDITORIAL

Frank’s walking does the talking

WORLD PEACE - It’s the professed ambition of past and present world leaders – and beauty pageant contestants. But can it be achieved by 2015?
Frank Muldowney believes it can be done and he is walking across the country to spread the word.

It was Thursday when I received a call from a friend of mine who works at Bargo Hotel. She told me about the interesting Irishman who visited the pub on his way from Perth to Byron Bay, ‘‘walking for world peace’’. When I first spoke to Frank I was intrigued by the imaginary figure he had created. Frank has pushed ‘‘Harvey’’ across the country in a wheelchair and says that Harvey serves to remind us that the world is disabled until we achieve world peace.

What makes Frank even more interesting is that he suffered
from a life-threatening brain haemorrhage when he was 19. He said that since then he has wanted to inspire as many people as he could with his philosophy of peace – that it is here. Frank also told me that he was inspired by people like the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Terry Fox, Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa. After speaking with Frank I was inspired by his determination to complete his walk and achieve his ultimate goal. He told me that by announcing a year for world peace – 2015 – people would be more focused.

Is he onto something?

When I think about all of the bad news we see in the media every day I amreminded of how far we are from any sort of peace. But perhaps if our attitudes changed. . . I understand that walking across a country is different to running one, but maybe if the leaders of the world thought more like Frank we wouldn’t be in such a mess. Because although world peace seems so far away, to Frank it
is not.

Maybe Frank is right, and if everyone believes that peace is as close as 2015 then it will happen. Gandhi once said you must ‘‘be’’ the change that you want to see in the world – and that’s exactly what Frank Muldowney is being.

mfenech@mail.fairfax.com.au

Happy days with Namaste parked as resturant, shower, accommodation and a advertising board!

It is a short message that Namaste 'the headquarters' of the journey for the last 5 months has come to an end. She has gathered a lot of technical problems on the journey, and the costs were mounting. Nathan and I knew it was coming to an end, but Andrew and Daphne are now taking care of this lovely vehicle in Newcastle, and just as we were leaving back to Sydney, the engine started blowing smoke out of the engine and the bus called it a day.

The best of friends, Nammy and Harvey.

Daphne drove us to the train station to send us back to Sydney where the walk had ended in Liverpool, and now I will be making a base in the city to make a new trailer behind me, so I can bring all the essentials with me for the rest of the last journey to Byron Bay - very like the way I walked around Ireland 14 years ago. If I get a decent deal for a 2 berth van is also an option where Nathan can still be with me to Byron Bay, which would be great for both of us.

So it seems a little sad that I will not be living in Namaste when I end this long journey, but there is a great feeling of understanding and achievement between Nathan, myself and 'Nammy' which we lived in for approx 1,600km of driving for 2 months, and the number of people we met is now part of our lives.

Thank you Nathan for covering the longest drive of your life so far, and thank you Namaste for getting us to Sydney which was our aim from the beginning.

Namaste to Namaste!

Frank Muldowney

img=http://www.travellerspoint.com/photos/46130/Harvey%5Fposter%2Ejpg]
Harvey's poster by Jennifer Watson

Harvey has now reached the big city. The walk ended just past Liverpool, just 33k short of the city centre. I will be based here for a while now looking for publicity when Harvey crosses the Harbour Bridge.

It will be the last drive with Namaste (the bus), due to the problems and cost that occured in the last 2 weeks, and the road after Sydney being a fast dangerous freeway. The last part of the journey will be the old way, me and Harvey, a trailer and tent. This will make the last journey safer, cheaper and a touch of freedom as I will not be able to do any internet publicity work - a blessing in disguise). I am in no rush now. Namaste is now parked not far from Newcastle where Andrew and Daphne (close friends of Jacky and I) will take care of our sick little bus that was our home for a long journey.

Memories of the beginnings in Perth and the Nullarbor

A special thank you to Nathan, who has driven over 1,500km (forward and backwards as the back up team), and spreading awareness in the towns on the way. I think Nate will stay in Sydney for a while to see his next adventure, maybe continue seeking for 'Happy Guy' who you can read about him on Nathan's Facebook web page. It was a tyring journey as the traffic was hectic from Melbourne, and I believe we only had a handful of nights where we could just relax parked in nature. On the way, we met over 40 inspiring people on the way from Violet Town to Bowral, shook hands with Dalai Lama and the Irish Ambassador, gave out over 500 fly letters and had interviews with local radio stations and ABC Life Matters and Triple J. There were several excellent articles in the newspapers, Canberra Times, Southern Highlander, The Goulburn Post all accurate and impressive articles which will spread the story forward. The journey from Melbourne to Canberra to Sydney was a success.

Now a time to wait, and find the best route and plan to Byron Bay.

Namaste having a word with Harvey...

Just on the last walk to Goulburn, and the bus 'Namaste' (or Nammy) decided to have a little snooze in the morning.

Nathan and I both thought is was a battery problem, but no, it is the started has just gone 'kaput' and Namaste is now being taken care of by the mechanic's of Goulburn.

This means a day of leisure for me to rest my feet, but still things to do. Nathan is giving blood to the Red Cross, we were intervied by the Goulburn Post also, and we alert the local radio stations, and the school. It is a little frantic to do so much in one day, not forgetting to eat and wash ourselves when we have a chance.

Nathan's brave donation. Bill's family in Goulburn.

Nathan has come to be 'The special one', as after his blood donation he is B positive! Me being Irish and common, my blood wasn't really wanted as I am from the 'mad cow disease' part of the world, thus Nate is a much more wanted person in this funny town. Well done Nate :-)

NEW SHIRTS

We are both modelling the new T shirts -

I was asked, 'if its 2015 for world peace then what time and date?' I replied, 22nd January, 1pm. Nathan believes it will be 1.03pm but we will try not to argue of those 180 seconds.

It all looks like a joke, and yes I am smiling, but jokes aside, if one believes in peace then what are you doing about it, and if so, then when? I hope this way of thinking will persuade people to act more rather than just talking about it.

It has raised a few eyebrows, and gets even more confusing when people asked who announced world peace by 2015. I just say, Harvey announced it, the peacemaker, who else can.

Well into the journey across Australia, something new has comes across my path.

Believing in Harvey has a certain purity about it, with complete goodness in it's intentions. I made a decision to make no profit on this journey, this is why I gave away most of my possessions on the journey, as the message was the point, some never understood this. That purity however came to be contagious and popular, and as Harvey became 'wanted' so did the UPF (Universal Peace Federation) and The Church of Scientology (CoS I will call it).

I was invited to meet both organisations, and looking back I made a mistake by dragging Mick and his family into the situation. Before I even met the 2 organisations, I did a little bit of research on Wikipedia on the internet, and more importantly, why do they wish to meet me?

It didn't take long for me to find out, that it was nothing to do with creating World Peace, or promoting what I was doing, but instead both organisations were trying in the nicest and intellectual way as possible to buy my popularity and has me as a member of their organisations.

If anyone knows a little about salesman approaches, charisma, and neuro-linguistic programming, then you will know a little how you can change peoples minds to do things that you do not really wish to do. The CoS seem to be masters at this, giving free IQ tests, but then point out your weaknesses and how their organisation can make you a better person. The young lady made a fatal mistake when she was present when I agreed to have a IQ test while in Adelaide a few months back. She had a well planed text book approach to convince anyone that their brilliant ways of improving yourself through their courses, books and DVD's. I completed the test, watched the video and listend to everything what she said.

At the end of her 'speech' with all the ways she can make me a confident and more intellectual person in the future, I just smiled and said, "Actually, I am very happy with the way I am". She was a little surprises and she started to say the 'but' word on each sentence, which to me means, that my words are not as important as hers. Now I was smiling inside as bit by bit, her well trained technique was beginning to fall apart, and I couldn't stop smiling. I eventually saved time on both of us by saying. "As I said, I am very happy with the way I am, and the proof is, I am the one who is smiling."

It actually took me quite a time to figure out how I handled the situations so well. I had to make a speech in front of 30 people at the CoS in Melbourne and later on with the UPF who I never heard of, who came out to be the Moonies. So how come my thoughts and beliefs were never changed by these highly intellectual gentlemen and women. I thing part of it is, when you have brain damage, and my own comprehension works in a very different ways, I guess they found it very hard to persuade my own thinking, as effectively I do not understand all the words in each sentence. So methods like, changing the unconcious mind, or even hypnosis doesn't work because I have created my own unique way of communicating. I never thought that brain damage and comprehension problems came out to be my own defensive mechanism, and thus Harvey strolled on with the pure message still intact.

I did have to make plans after Melbourne as the CoS had kept note of the people involved, so I was a good time to protect Mick and his family as they could be a target in the future, as they are Australian citizens. My recent driver Nathan is from Melbourne and I asked his openly, that it maybe a problem in the future and I want him to be aware of the possible hassle from these organisations in the future. I was impressed when Nathan said, he was a free spirit and he would make his on decisions and at the time he wanted to continue on the journey, knowing how difficult it may become.

I had enormous respect and admiration to Nathan. I had met Nathan's mentor months ago, Dean Frenkle, who spoke so highly of this gifted guy and it seemed fate that we ended on the journey together.

Here is the current video, the UPF DVD, and make your own judgement, if this organisation is genuine with genuine intentions. It does not mention Mr Moon who is the person who runs it, and their logo is a similar copy of the United Nations, but they are not connected with the UN direct.

O

Dalai Lama's visit in Canberra, I was privileged to be there.

June 10th-11th

It was a very exciting time for Nathan, myself and Harvey of course, when we finally reached Canberra. We were greeted by Jessica Wright of the Canberra Times who wrote an accurate atricle which was published on the second day. She asked me a very good question, 'what was you main personal aim of this walk?' My reply was 'several', to see peace across the world, to have Harvey known as a world figure for peace, and the most personal one for me, to make friends with everyone I meet on this journey regardless of personal differences, which so far I have achieved. You cannot create peace when you cannot make friends.

Annette giving me a few pointers, before she interviewed me for the camera

Annette (film director) and her family and friends joined us on our walk down the Anzac Parade, and she recorded an hour of the events of the day at the War Memorial Museum. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak freely and openly about this Walk for Peace and Harvey, and its true meaning. Annette has some very good ideas of a documentary of the number of peace walks across the world, and plans to see if there is a way to unify these walkers. Thank you Annette for the work you have done for us on the journey from Violet Town to Canberra.

June 12th

Nathan drove us to a press conference not far from Capital Hill, where Dalai Lama had a brief speech before answering several questions for the press. After, the Dalai Lama had a tight schedule but still had a few minutes to greet some of the other people at the conference, before he was ushered to the sports complex on the other side of the city.

Nathan listened to every word of the peacemaker, and took that picture as the Dalai Lama walked on after the handshake

Nathan and myself were very honoured by shaking hands with his holiness, but the best for me was he did not look at me when we shook hands he smiled and had a large grin when he saw Harvey between of us. I like to think that he saw more than just an orange wheelchair, and saw Harvey himself and 'peace' oozing outwards of this imaginary peacemaker.

June 13th

Because of the article about the Walk for Peace in the Canberra Times, we were invited to attend a peace rally 'Where doves fly...peace follows', a walk to Parliment House with about 60 people carrying eye catching huge doves. This was a peaceful demonstration with a simple message that Australia should have visions of peace rather than practicing war games. We went past the Aboriginal Embassy (a protest) where we had been honoured by the 3 men who live there. They allowed us to stay there for two nights. The rally was a complete success, with several speakers, including Senator Kerry Nettle, former Senator Lyn Allison, other citizens of Canberra, myself and rally organiser Sue Andrew, who heard about me through the media.


At the site of the Aboriginal Embassy, the prostest continues.

PREVIOUS

On the journey to Canberra we met some truly supportive and inspirational characters on the way. Nathan and I feel very humbled by the generosity of so many people.

After leaving Melbourne, I experienced green fields, zero temperatures, heavy winds and consistent rain! It was a little like being back in sweet Ireland. Even so the journey was enjoyable as these people shown in these pictures made our journey a joy.

Each person had one's own gift for us, Ben - photographer, Helen - film director, Dizzy and Sjan - Bikers and more, Kevin The Reverend of Holbrook, Jennifer and Vincent - photograher and artist, and on the day eight people walked with Harvey through the Anzac Parade.

It was a pleasure and an honour to meet these people who have have given us so much of their time, and I feel even more inspired having heard so many of their own experiences and stories which I hope a piece of their hearts will combine with Harvey's.

The dream for peace is in everyone's hearts.

Namaste - Frank Muldowney

www.believinginharvey.com

Last 1km to Capital Hill

An Irishman accompanied by an imaginary friend and a fluro-orange wheelchair has found a unique way to push for peace.

Frank Muldowney, origionally from Dublin, plans to walk across the globe, pushing an empty wheelchair, to spread the message of world peace.

Mr Muldowney arrived in Canberra yesterday after setting out from Perth in April 2006. The wheelchair was symbolic of a world disabled by war, racism and injustice and carried an important load, according to Mr Muldowney.

"I created Harvey, an imaginary leader for peace and kindness, who you can only see by the presence of his orange wheelchair. harvey is the peacemakerwho can be a member of any race religion or creed," he said.

Mr Muldowney had visited several schools in Victoria in an attempt to raise awareness of human rights.

"These are the leaders of the world's future. I chat to them a little about the journey and they go crazy over Harvey. Kids have great imaginations and they are full of hope," he said.

Mr Muldowney said there had been people who had questioned his sanity.

"One of the most enjoyable parts so far has been walking across the Nullarbor. The trucks gave me a thrill and a bit more energy each time they passed, but more than once I was offered the number of a psychiatrist" he said.

His arrival in Canberra, had been timed to coincide with the Dalai Lama's visit and Mr Muldowney said he shared the Tibetan's philosophies.

At the press conference in Press Club, Canberra

"I live with a smile. I believe respect, humour, love and peace within are the roots of a perfect world"

The Walk for Peace is scheduled to finish in Byron Bay in September.

On this journey I have met some extra ordinary people. Since I walked from Melbourne on the journey to Canberra on the freeway, I have made new friends, bikers and members of Ulysses.

Dizzy and Sjan were the first of many bikers who have joined in with the happy feeling of being free on the road. I have been given so much advice and information that I now hope that the Ulysses bikers can be a major part of the Walk for Peace, as freedom, the right to travel, and expressing yourself is a major part of what Human Rights is all about on this journey.

I have contacted with about 10 of the Ulysses branch listings on the route from Canberra to all the way to Byron Bay, and I hope this will grow to be a popular site on the main road on the rest of the walk, which would make me feel considerable safer on the road being sheltered by the bikers.

Thank you for the bikers and members of Ulysses for helping me on the way into the Capital and I hope it continues.

Namaste

Frank Muldowney

Mick McHugh, on the cliffs of the Nullarbor.

For those who do not know Mick McHugh, well let me explain why he is a key role in making the path to Byron Bay.

I have walked with so many inspiring people during my charity walking years. Mick joned this journey to be my driver in Western and Southern Australia, and on the way he created over a dozen songs, aimed to inspire people on the way. Being a driver doesn't look that much of a role on a journey where so many think it's just like a holiday. Well, I will say this - I collapsed on this walk on the Nullarbor. It was a seizure, one that I never thought would happen, the worst I ever had. Mick was present when it happen, and it is a very frightening experinece, when one does not know exactly what to do. After over 30 minutes of the seizure, Mick played music and placed his hand on my back, talking and keeping my mind as alert as much as one can. I know those simple touches of love, brought me back from that dark alley. I did not know what happened.

Mick on the Nullarbor, and Mick with family and friends in Melbourne.

Mick and I were stuck in Caiguna for 4 days, trying to find out what is the best thing to do. At the end my health was no better, and Mick had the most heart breaking part of the journey when he had to drive me back over 1,000km to Perth where I had to fly home to Ireland for medical observation.

That was a turning point on the journey, as Mick has never lost faith in 'Believing in Harvey' and it is fitting now, that Mick and his family will be there in Byron Bay promoting now his own songs, and at the same time having their arms wide open to welcome 'Harvey' on the last day.

"Fun days in 2006"

Namaste to Mick Amanda and Kia

Frank Muldowney

Mick's web page is - www.myspace.com/mickmchugh

A day for myself and Nathan being educated through the expressions and imaginations of the youth from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus School. They were interested in what we were doing, but the invisible Harvey and vision of peace in the future, they just accepted it as common sense.

I briefly spoke about the Youth Human Rights International Organisation, and the students were keen to keep the booklet's that we left behind to the teacher. I hope these precious booklets will start a wave of awareness of Human Rights, to be passed on from generation to generation.

I was humbled by the guys of the class as if these are the future preformers, dancers, actors or acrobats, then the future looks very bright to me.

Thank you Valerie, it was a privilege to be allowed to speak to this inspiring class.

Frank Muldowney

Today Nathan and Frank introduced Harvey to the enthusiastic school children of the Springhurst Primary School.

The smiling faces of the students of the Springhurst School

We were grilled with intelligent questions, very good practice for us in the future when the media do the same. After a good 20 minutes explaining about Harvey and the orange wheelchair, then humour came in as Nathan showed his talent with throat singing. It was an impressive proformance however the school students had never heard such a strange voice before, thus they did not no how to react but laugh instead. The humour spread into all of us, and at the end we were all laughing.

It was a very enjoyable time with the staff and students, and we felt very touched by being welcomed so openly in this lovely town.

Frank Muldowney

Update :

Manny and Paula have informed all the primary and secondary schools on the journey ahead to Sydney, to pass out the booklets of Youth Human Rights International Org.

Michael and Amanda are now living their own individual dream, to create their own album and book, and we wish you well. They are on the way to Byron Bay where we all hope more than just one dream will be achieved.

Dean and Linda have contacted dozens of both local and national newspapers ahead on the walk, which makes my journey so much easier. I am now mostly interviewed on the phone before I even get their, and the towns are aware of the walk.

Dizzy and Sjan have passed the word to Ulysses, and its a new idea when coming into Sydney next month. I will update about this matter after the walk to Canberra.

Special thanks to Helen, Ben, Annette and Andie for open new doors to open a new documentary of the peace walks across the world.

Nathan & Harvey
After rain and stops in roadhouses and parking stops, Nathan drove into Violet Town, where he was welcomed with open arms and smiles.

A thunderstorm stopped Frank and Harvey on the road and because of it Violet Town came to be Harvey's home for 2 days, and Annette, Andy, Indigo and over 14 other friends made a night of it for all of us.

The Youth Human Rights booklet. Frank resting in Namaste (the bus)

We talked of what this walk is about, the importance of Youth Human Rights, and one's own importance and dreams of the future. These young people were a joy to be with. Each individual spoke of their own ambitions, aiming to be mechanics or musicians or lawyers, each dream was different.

Nathan, Indigo, Andy and Annette

It was one of the most inspirational nights for a very long time, and it was a humbling feeling to be welcomed with nothing more than positive thinking and the roots of friendships ahead.

Thank you to the people of the town.

Frank Muldowney

Harvey meets Nathan

I am a lucky human being to have Harvey beside me, but today a new person brings Harvey to the streets of Melbourne aiming north to Canberra. Nathan is his name and I am sure he will bring a lot of happy faces on the final third of the journey.

Harvey is a magnet to talented people, and now has met and loved the company of Dean Frenkel, Linda Lassi and now Nathan Sturdy.

Dean taking care of Harvey's wheelchair, and the Police girls protect and serve to Harvey.

Nathan, has joined in with the journey, bringing more humour throat singing and imagination. Dean the Guinness record holder for the longest continuous vocal note - 57 seconds on ABC TV's Enough Rope with Andrew Denton is also making a new path for Harvey's to be known across the country and beyond. Linda with a 'dreamlike' voice has also joined helping out with her experiences in the music line and all three have become a passionate group who adopted Harvey like a family friend. As for me it is just a privilige to be with them as friends.

No I did not forget my shoes, just respecting to the people of this land. On the right myself and Jacky Agosti, more to come about this inspirational woman.

The list of lasting friendships from Perth to Melbourne has grown. I hope this chain of friendships will expand across all the states of Australia, and to Ireland and other countries also.

Harvey on the road again, with a smile as usual.

Harvey's friends

Thank you from all of those in the pictures above and those who are not. The list who I wish to thank again is long, but bare with me, I will reply to all of those who have made these great moments happen.

Namaste

Frank Muldowney

It was on the 12th of April when a film crew from Channel 10 appeared to find out why is this Irishman, walking across Australia, with his invisible friend Harvey sitting in the wheelchair.

Mark Howard interviewed Frank and Mick, on the side of the road, on the way to Ballarat. They all enjoyed the conversations and the footage that took 30 mins work to make. Frank has his own film equipment and demo documentary that he put together before Christmas was then given to Mark.

Mark's Q and A

Frank and Mick then went on to a pub later at 5.30pm to see did it appear in the Channel 10 News. They were both delighted to see Mark's work and it was an enjoyable moment when scenes of the walk brought back sweet memories on the Nullarbor, with Mick's song being heard.

Thank you to the crew of Channel 10.

Harvey appearing on the front page.

To be Frank, this peace walk's on the wild side

Dubliner Frank Muldowney will march into Melbourne on April 22nd, two-thirds of the way through a peace-inspiring 6,000km journey, on foot from Perth to Byron Bay.
If all goes to plan, Mr Muldowney 41, will walk down Swanston Street flanked by police and supporters, just as he did when he walked into Adelaide.
The walk has seen him cross the Nullarbor Plain, and has earned Mr Muldowney a nomination for the inaugural Irish-Australian Achiever of the year award.
The East Wall resident is a charity walker of 16 years' experience, having completed charity treks in Peru, France and Spain in the past.
He circumambulanted Ireland in 1993 and received a special accolade from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for his charity work. But crossing Australia, pushing an empty orange wheelchair that reresents his hope for peace and "a perfect society" is his greatest challenge yet.

Mr Muldowney plods along during the daytime, covering 20km approx. per day, and so far he has covered more than 3,500km. "Actually it's 3,700, with 2,300 more to go, give or take a few hundred either way" he told the Echo. "I'm taking the longest way possible across Australia so that I can see as many towns as possible," he said.

Reflecting on the journey so far, the Nullarbor Plain sticks out as the toughest physical and mental challenge. Mr Muldowney suffers from epilepsy, sparked by a serious brain haemorrhage when he was 19, and his condition worsened as he crossed the plain, hospitalising him for a time. The pace took its toll, and Mr Muldowney's epilepsy kicked in, necessitating a trip to Ireland for treatment. When he finally resumed his walk, he slowed down to 20km a day, but began hearing voices as he struggled across the outback.

"That was the toughest," he said, "the two months of nothingness. It's a combination of nature, living as it is, and truck drivers." The voices he was hearing belonged to truckers on CB radios, drawing "the wheelchair guy" into their banter.

"They started talking to me on the walkie-talkie that I had with the wheelchair, and I never felt lonely. They made it easier for me and would give me more of the width of the road when they passed, which I took as a mark of respect."

Mr Muldowney's trans-Australian odyssey was conceived during a moment of clarity in a backpacker's hostel. "The idea came to me when I was in the Greenhouse Backpackers' in Melbourne. I was sitting there reading about Martin Luther King's speech 'I have a dream..' and there were 12 people sitting around the table, all different nationalities, trying to communicate with one another and sharing their plates. I realised that this is what Martin Luther King was talking about, all people being equal regardless of colour or race. It was the perfect society, there, in a hostel."

Like Dr Luther King, Mr Muldowney says had a dream, but rather than keep it as such, he decided to turn it into a reality. He dreamt of changing attitudes, one person at a time, and has embarked, like a latter-day preacher, to urge people to face life with a peaceful, positive attitude, and consider following their own dreams. "When I ask people I meet: 'What is your dream?', most people say it just never happened for one reason or another. I tell them it's still there. I met a 12-year-old who lives his life in a wheelchair whose dream is to be in the AFL. You can see his parents' heads drop when he said that, they knew he'd never play footy. I asked him had he ever thought of writing to newspapers or magazines with his ideas for tactics, or even working in commentary, and you could see his eyes light up at the idea that he could be part of it. You can't always do what it is you want to do, but you can do something close to it."

Although Mr Muldowney never had to use one, he pushes a wheelchair to symbolise the obstacles that everyone, even the apparently successful, have to overcome. "We all have problems," he said. "Everyone has their own wheelchair."