Mandy McConnell is a well-known figure in the Barham community, in part for the many years she has taught at Barham High School. Now, the semi-retired teacher is taking on a mammoth task to raise money and awareness for endometriosis by walking 1000 kilometres in 52 days.

In early May she will be setting out from the north end of the Bibbulmun Track, that begins on the outskirts of Perth in Western Australia and traverses its way south to Albany.

Ms McConnell will be walking the distance in a solo independent effort that will involve her carrying all her supplies and equipment with her in her backpack.

This will include a tent, sleeping gear, food for seven days and one set of clothes as well as safety equipment such as her Personal Locator Beacon.

She is trying to keep the pack weight down to about 12 kilos with water available at each campsite and food supplies will be picked up each week along the way.

Ms McConnell said she is a bit of a hiker with her husband usually walking together, however, he decided this one was a bit long for him and he will sit this one out.

“It’s definitely the biggest one I’ve ever attempted. It’s just something that I want to have a go at or I’ll probably regret not having a go at it,” Ms McConnell said.

“I think I’ve just always had a feeling that I’ve wanted to do something big, without knowing exactly what I wanted to do, and I guess walking is the thing that I probably would have decided on anyway.

“I can’t really remember when I first came across the Bibbulmun Track, but when I looked into it, it was probably the safest one to do.

“There are three long hikes in Australia including the Australian Alpine walking track from Canberra to Walhalla or vice versa and there’s also the Heysen Trail from Cape Jervis in South Australia to the Flinders Ranges.”

The walk didn’t start out as a charity walk but she had committed herself to the walk and decided that if she was going to walk 1000 kilometres she may as well raise money for something.

“I had a few ideas and then I ended up going with Endometriosis Australia because I’ve got relatives and friends who have been through it and I think the more you talk about it, the more women you find who will share their experiences,” Ms McConnell added.

“That’s a pretty bad experience, from what friends and relatives of mine who have suffered from it have told me so, I’ve got some personal experience there. It needs more research.”

So far, she has raised more than $6800 and is hoping that that amount increases before she completes the walk. https://www.mycause.com.au/p/366900/1000km-end-to-end-for-endometriosis.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 10 April 2025.