GREAT NORTHERN TREK

My name is Jordan Lowth and I’m a 29-year old bloke from coastal North Queensland who had the crazy idea to hike 6950km from the bottom to the top of Australia, and raise money for the Black Dog Institute in the process.

Suicide and mental health has had a profound effect on myself and my family over the last 5 years. In 2018, I lost my brother Kurt and close friend, Daniel, to suicide. After feeling and seeing firsthand the effects suicide can have on a family and community, I was determined to stop the same thing from happening to others. I wanted to do something big to raise awareness and money for mental health research and suicide prevention. Something that would get attention and give me a platform to promote resilience, mental wellbeing and awareness of mental illness and the importance of looking out for your mates. Things that if Kurt or his mates had known, may have prevented him from taking what he thought was his last resort.

I’m a big advocate for the importance of outdoor physical activity and its positive effects on mental wellbeing. Getting outside, exercising and going on adventures have been a remedy to help me through tough times and kept me fit and healthy physically and mentally.

And so the GREAT NORTHERN TREK was born.

The idea is to start on the Tasmania Trail mid February 2023, and then work my way up the east coast on the Australian Alps Walking Track, The Bicentennial National Trail and then finally the Old Telegraph Trail up to the Cape. From the research I have done, I don't believe anyone has completed this 6950km route on foot. I plan to do it in 6-7 months, averaging around 40km per day. This will be a self supported expedition, meaning I will have no support team or vehicle. I carry everything I need on my back, with resupplies in towns along the way.

I hope to raise $50,000 (hopefully more) for the Black Dog Institute leading up to and during the expedition.

You can follow me on the Great Northern Trek through my Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/great.northern.trek/). Website coming soon.

Please donate today!