Emu Trekkers celebrates first anniversary with $15,000 donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation

By Jody Hammond, Media Officer. ​

Sydney-based,100% not-for-profit, outdoor adventure operator, Emu Trekkers has donated $15,000 to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) to celebrate its own first anniversary. The donation brings Emu Trekkers total commitment to ILF to $20,000, or the equivalent of 2,000 culturally-appropriate books, delivered into the hands of children in remote Indigenous communities in Australia.The donation was presented to ILF Executive Director Karen Williams by Emu Trekkers co-founder and CEO, Tristan Harley and the team of volunteers.

Ms Williams expressed her sincere thanks to Emu Trekkers and its wonderful team of volunteers. “We are very much a grassroots organisation and simply could not achieve our work in remote communities without the ongoing support of organisations like Emu Trekkers who share our vision of equity of opportunity. This means that we are all working towards the bigger outcome of giving children in remote communities the same opportunities that children in cities have: access to education, jobs and wellbeing. It’s about choice”.

The donation from Emu Trekkers has been delivered on Indigenous Literacy Day, the Foundation’s national day of advocacy and one of its most important fundraising days.  

Tristan Harley said his organisation was thrilled to be meeting its primary goal of helping kids.  He explained: “We look for child-focussed organisations that raise awareness about important social issues in Australia. They are then talking points to engage our participants on our tours. We are finding there is a genuine demand for socially-responsible tourism.”

“With a small, but dedicated voluntary team, in our first year Emu Trekkers has guided 615 participants from over 35 different countries into the Australian outdoors and collectively hiked 7794 kms.”