Garth Murray and his 8 year old Belgian Malinois assistance dog, Max, strolled into our great town of Kiama on 14 January, marking day 99 of their journey around Australia.

With their big trailer packed with essentials and giving them shelter, Garth and Max found Kiama so appealing that they decided to stay for two nights at Kiama’s Big Four Caravan Park - a break from their usual one night rule.

"The only time I’ve stayed more than one night has been when we needed repairs on the trailer or to catch up with family and friends," says Garth. "This is the first time I’ve taken a day just to look around."

Garth says he is quite impressed with Kiama and the wider Illawarra region. "I’d never been to this area before, and I’m blown away by how beautiful it is here. The locals, and some of the people staying at the caravan park, have been incredibly kind. The caravan park even gave me my first night for free, and I’ve had so many people offer me dinner, drinks, and donations for the fundraiser."

Garth and Max began their walk on 8 October from Townsville, and since then, they’ve covered over 2,760 km with 13,000 km still ahead of them. They are raising money for Mates4Mates, the Brain Foundation, and Act for Kids, with over $25,000 raised toward their $300,000 goal.

“These three charities are very personal to me,” says Garth. “I chose the Brain Foundation because I know several people with brain injuries. Act for Kids is close to my heart because I believe we must protect our children. And Mates4Mates supports veterans, and as a 15 year army veteran myself, this one hits home.”

In addition to supporting important causes, Garth is walking for his own mental health and to prove to himself that he can complete such a challenging journey.

“Last year, I discovered that hiking with Max was great for my mental health,” says Garth. “I hiked the Kokoda Track without him, but did most of the Larapinta Trail with Max. I also trekked to Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal without Max. 

“This year, I planned to do walks across Australia to save money, but without an organised tour, I struggled with motivation. Then I saw Captain Australia walking for children's cancer, and I thought, ‘That’s a great idea.’ Just Max and me - it's perfect for my mental health, and I can raise money for charity while I’m at it.”

Garth’s journey is made easier by a large trailer that carries their supplies and offers them shelter from the elements. He reflects on a particularly challenging moment early in the trip when he questioned his decision to continue.

Monday 13 January: Garth and Max and their trailer. Source: Garth Murray.

“There was a point when I was walking from Townsville to Brisbane. The weather was hot, and the trailer felt heavy and I felt like giving up,” says Garth. “But then I saw a sign showing the distance to Brisbane, and it hit me that I was already halfway. That gave me the boost I needed. From that moment on, when doubts crept in, I’d just take a break early and enjoy the scenery instead of stressing about pushing through.”

Since that moment, Garth has stopped doubting himself and has stopped putting pressure on completing the walk in a specific timeframe. Now, his focus is on enjoying the journey.

“I think it’ll take another 330-350 days to finish, but I’m in no rush,” says Garth. “I’m taking it easy and making the most of the experience.”

One of the highlights of his journey has been the generosity of strangers.

“The kindness of people has really surprised me. I didn’t expect anything like this,” Garth says. “I’ve had people stop who didn’t even know what I was doing, but saw me struggling with the trailer in the heat and offered cold water or sports drinks. One lady, a cleaner, passed me several times during the day while going between jobs. She stopped at a shop and brought me a care package with drinks, snacks, and dog treats for Max.”

Bad weather caused Garth to extend his stay in Kiama longer than planned. He camped in a tunnel near Kendalls Cemetery for one night and then took shelter in an underground parking lot beneath an apartment complex for two nights.

You can follow Garth and Max’s journey on Facebook and support them by donating to their challenge through this website: Challenge | Garth & Max’s Australia Lap.