May 29, 2025 in News
Celebrating National Reconciliation Week 2025
National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June – provides an opportunity to learn about our shared histories and cultures and how we can collecti...
April 17, 2026
As part of its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, A.G. Coombs partnered with Indigenous-owned Game Time Coffee to support this year’s Walk for Truth – a 5-week/800+ km walk from Naarm (Melbourne) to Canberra calling on the Australian Government to act on delivering truth-telling for First Nations communities.
Led by former Yoorrook Justice Commissioner, Kerrupmara and Gunditjmara man Travis Lovett, the walk set off from Melbourne’s Parliament House on 19 April and aims to arrive in Canberra by 27 May to coincide with the start of National Reconciliation Week.
The Walk for Truth will make several stops along the way as it heads north, visiting metropolitan and regional communities in Thornbury, Wollert, Wallan, Seymour, Mooroopna, Munarra, Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga, with events centred on public engagement and storytelling.
Partnering with Indigenous businesses to advance reconciliation
Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, a long-time partner of A.G. Coombs, reached out to the company seeking support for the walk. A.G. Coombs welcomed the opportunity to be involved.
Collaborating with Naarm-based Game Time Coffee – an Indigenous-owned brand that empowers the next generation of Indigenous athletes through its Game Time Sports Fund – A.G. Coombs is providing a dedicated support vehicle that has been co-branded by Label Concepts and converted into a coffee van.
“Partnering with Game Time Coffee for this initiative is a great fit with our reconciliation aspirations. I feel that A.G. Coombs has a natural alignment and synergy with Game Time Coffee, as we both have a strong reconciliation focus and are committed to supporting Indigenous youth through sporting opportunities,” commented Russell Telford, A.G. Coombs Group Managing Director.
The vehicle, fuelled by the Murrungar – Viva Energy/Shell Fuel relationship, is following this important truth-telling initiative throughout the Victorian leg of its journey, providing freshly brewed coffee to walk participants and guests at strategic community events along the way – encouraging people to engage in real conversations, yarns and storytelling.
“Something as simple as sitting down with a cup of coffee and having a conversation is the perfect way to discuss issues that can often be difficult. Forming relationships and deep listening is where changes come from,” said Aaron Clark, A.G. Coombs Executive Leader – Social Procurement, Inclusion & Engagement.
“Healing can begin when things are acknowledged, so I think it’s a great way to unite people. Sharing the lived experiences of Aboriginal peoples in the communities and connecting is what really draws us to being a part of this important initiative,” he added.
Staff engagement and community support
A.G. Coombs is also actively promoting the community events to staff and their families. Several attended the first event at the Aborigines Advancement League in Thornbury on 20 April, which attracted approximately 500 people. Many cups of coffee were enjoyed, sparking authentic conversations and genuine community engagement.
“Beyond the operational support, the Walk for Truth presents a valuable opportunity for A.G. Coombs to visibly demonstrate reconciliation in action and create authentic storytelling internally and externally,” Aaron noted.
“For A.G. Coombs staff and the wider Victorian community, getting involved in the Walk for Truth or attending one of the events is a great way to listen to the voices of Aboriginal people firsthand and start to address the inequalities that exist,” he added.
Strategically, A.G. Coombs’s support for Walk for Truth aligns strongly with our Reconciliation Action Plan commitments by:
- Strengthening partnerships with Indigenous businesses and community-led initiatives (Relationships)
- Supporting truth-telling and creating space for education, understanding and reflection (Respect)
- Promoting Indigenous enterprise and creating pathways for collaborative business growth (Opportunities).
For more information about the Walk for Truth, visit walkfortruth.com
For more information about A.G. Coombs’ Indigenous engagement initiatives, please contact Jayden Gerrand, A.G. Coombs Manager – Indigenous Engagement & Pathways; or Aaron Clark, Murrungar Co-Founder and
A.G. Coombs Executive Leader – Social Procurement, Inclusion & Engagement via the Contact Us page.