He may just be a humble teacher and tutor, but Glen Hammermeister is willing to go to hell and back to raise money for a cause he is truly passionate about.
Mr Hammermeister was in Port Macquarie from Thursday, July 7 until Monday, July 11 recouping some energy, sleep and sanity after walking here from Brisbane in the weeks prior.
He’s raising money for Oxfam (www.oxfam.org.au) to feed, house, help and educate poverty stricken families overseas.
In doing so, he has vowed to walk the estimated 1000km from Brisbane to Sydney in the hope of raising over $4000 for the cause, and set off on foot on May 29.
In doing so, he said, he had already had several “close calls” with deadly snakes, encountered and waded through flood stricken regions, pulled through bouts of fatigue, collapsed; and had even been robbed while camping.
But that’s not going to stop him finishing his journey, Mr Hammermeister said.
“I went to East Timor last year as a volunteer teacher and it was a real eye opener,” he said.
“What amazed me was the fact people were so nice and positive despite having nothing — literally: no clean water, no health care system, no education — nothing.
“You think you do it tough in Australia but that trip set me straight.”
His fundraising mission was three weeks in the making, Mr Hammermeister said, and he
was off.
Mr Hammermeister, 27, stumbled into town last Thursday, exhausted, after walking from Cresent Head, carrying a 35kg backpack.
He left Cresent Head at 6.30am and walked into the Independent’s office in William Street at 3pm, hoping to gain some public support for his cause.
But Independent staff, after hearing of Mr Hammermeister’s mission, went one step further.
National sales manager Mark Beal contacted Mantra Quayside general manager Leasa Harris who was more than happy to have Mr Hammermeister stay as a guest at the luxury apartments on the corner of Short and William Streets.
“We thought what he [Mr Hammermeister] was doing was just extraordinary,” Mrs Harris said.
“His fundraising for Oxfam is something we certainly support.
“We wanted to do what we could to allow Glen to rest and recoup.”
And Mr Hammermeister could not have been more grateful.
“It was like a dream, after everything I’d been through,” he said.
“Thank you all so much, I am really grateful.”
For now, it’s one foot in front of the other for Mr Hammermeister as he aims for Sydney as his final destination on August 20.
You can support Oxfam and his cause by going to the website www.everydayhero.com.au/glen_hammermeister or head to www.walkagainstwant.blogspot.com to follow Mr Hammermeister’s journey.
You can also make a donation to Oxfam by phoning 1800 088 110.
Story: Kate Yates
