7. Walk for truth-telling

2025-06-14

Have you ever told the truth but it felt like no one listened? This episode is all about truth-telling.

Hey History! follows Travis Lovett, a proud Gunditjmara/Kerrupmara man and Commissioner at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, on a 400km 'Walk for Truth' across Victoria.

Who is Travis Lovett, and why is he going on a really, really long walk?What is the Yoorrook Justice Commission?What is 'truth-telling', and how can it happen with history?

Host Axel Clark and students from St Patrick’s Primary School join Travis on his Walk for Truth through Port Fairy.

Hear:

Why telling the truth is important—at school, at home, and in Australian history.That 'history' isn’t fixed — it changes when new voices and stories are heard.What is a 'commission'?What difference does it make when we tell the truth about history?How the Yoorrook Justice Commission has gathered stories and evidence over 4 years.
VoicesTravis Lovett, Yoorrook Justice Commissioner 2021-2025Olga Lyons, Principal, St Patrick's Primary School, Port Fairy VictoriaDr Matthew Keynes, Research Fellow, Faculty of Education, University of MelbourneAunty Nellie Flagg's testimony to the Yoorrook Justice Commission (excerpt)Uncle Henry Atkinson's story shared with the Yoorrook Justice CommissionYear Three and Four students of St Patrick's Primary School, Port Fairy VictoriaRosa Ellen (voice actor for news report)
CreditsHosted by Axel Clark. Made on Gadigal and Gunditjmara Country by Jane Curtis.Executive producers are Clare Wright and Anna Clark. Production assistance from Alexandra Morris.Thanks to all the students whose voices you hear in this episode and their schools and teachers: St Patrick's Primary School, Princes Street Primary school, Marrickville West Primary School, La Perouse Primary School, and Yirrkala Bilingual School.

Hey History! is produced by the Australian Centre for Public History at UTS and UTS Impact Studios.

Impact Studios' executive producer is Sarah Gilbert.

Thank you

This episode was made possible by Dusseldorp Forum, a family foundation committed to a just and equitable Australia, one that is caring, ethical and honours our First Peoples.

Special thanks to Principal Olga Lyons and St Patrick's Primary School Port Fairy, Rosa Ellen, Rachel Fyfe and the Yoorrook team.

No. of episodes

17

Latest episode

2026-04-29

Where can you listen?

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For kids age 8-12, a series on Australian history with stories and music. For teachers, a professional learning series called Hey History Teacher!

Season 1 follows Stage 2 and 3 of the Australian curriculum, and of NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. Students can listen in class and use our Learning Materials designed and road-tested by a primary school educator.

Go back in time to the Gold Rush. What happened at the meetings between Captain Cook and First Nations people at Kamay Botany Bay? Experience life as a convict kid, and hear how First Nations people learn on Country.

Season 2 is for teachers, teacher-educators and pre-service teachers. hear conversations and advice about over 8 episodes, including teaching difficult histories, creative history teaching, approaching First Nations histories with care and confidence, complexity in history teaching, advice for new history teachers, great history teaching, and teaching the Australian Wars.

These eight PD episodes are grounded in current research and features fifteen classroom educators and academics from around Australia.

Hey History! is made by history professors, so you'll hear from Australia's top historians and experts. It's produced by The Australian Centre for Public History and Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, in partnership with La Trobe University.

Hey History Teacher! series is made with the support of the History Teachers Association of New South Wales.