My Story
My name is Chris Mason and I am a proud Ngemba Man from Brewarrina, I was born and put under the Aboriginal Protection board and adopted out as a part Aboriginal child. My adoptive family were/ are loving and caring people but I was damaged. When kids hit their teenage years and work out who they are and where they fit in I was lost and sent me on a journey that a lot of indigenous people don’t recover from. I’m reaching out not just to ask for sponsorship, but to ask people to stand beside something bigger than a walk.
The Long Walk Home comes from real pain, real loss, real survival, Mental health and real hope and recovery.
Our communities are hurting. Too many of our people are battling addiction, mental health struggles, suicide, homelessness, violence, grief, and trauma that has been passed down through generations. Too many families are burying loved ones too early. Too many young people feel lost before they even get a chance to live, with more children being removed now than ever before.
For Aboriginal people, the pain runs deeper than most people understand. The forced removal of Indigenous children from their families destroyed identity, culture, connection, and spirit. That trauma didn’t end with one generation — it still lives in our homes, our communities, and our people today. We see it in addiction, suicide, depression, incarceration, broken families, and the silence many carry every day.
I know this because I lived it.
I know what it feels like to hit rock bottom. I know addiction. I know loss. I know trauma. But I also know recovery, healing, and purpose.
I’ve now been clean and sober for 26 years. For the past 10 years I’ve worked at The Glen Rehabilitation Centre, helping people rebuild their lives. I have developed the S2R – Survival to Revival program to run at The Glen and inside Long Bay Correctional Centre, working with men who are trying to break cycles of addiction, violence, trauma, and hopelessness.
Every day I meet people who simply needed someone to believe in them.
The Long Walk Home is about bringing awareness to Indigenous Mental health issues and giving people hope again.
This walk is about starting conversations around suicide prevention, mental health, healing, recovery, and Indigenous wellbeing. It’s about showing people they are not alone. It’s about reminding our young ones that their lives matter and their stories matter.
Alongside the walk, I’ll also be sharing my story through my upcoming book — telling the truth about pain, survival, connection, recovery, and what it takes to come home to yourself again.
We are looking for sponsors and supporters who genuinely care about community and want to help create change where it’s needed most.
Support from sponsors will help with:
- Travel and accommodation during the walk
- Community events and healing gatherings
- Suicide prevention and mental health awareness campaigns
- Media and storytelling projects
- Educational and recovery programs
- Book launch and outreach support
But more than money, this is about partnership. It’s about standing up for people who often feel invisible. It’s about helping break cycles that have been destroying lives for generations. And it’s about walking together toward healing.
Any support, big or small, will help us continue this journey and reach more people who are struggling in silence.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and consider supporting The Long Walk Home.
Much respect,
Chris Mason
The Long Walk Home
0423 342 557