Source: Mark Coulson
An unlikely face at a United Nations Conference, Collingwood defender Harry O’Brien today addressed gathered students, delegates and media figures, speaking of his experiences in Africa and his ambition for the future, saying ‘evolution will come from a new found awareness.’
Mike Toole, currently the head of the Centre for International Health at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, with a strong background in rural and refugee public health programs (not to mention a fervent Collingwood supporter), approached O’Brien in the hope of mobilising and informing other young people on global issues. By mid 2008, O’Brien was working as a youth ambassador for the Burnet Institute.
Yes we can!
In an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald the same year, O’Brien was quoted saying, “I knew AIDS was a problem but I didn’t know the extent to which it is a problem in Africa.’ While Harry’s knowledge around the technical issues has grown overtime, his passion for effecting change and remedying world poverty has never been in doubt.
He attempted unsuccessfully to establish an interview with US President Barack Obama on his recent visit to Australia, saying that he didn’t want just a ‘meet-and-greet’. Poignantly Harry said the meeting would be ‘ about the voice of the children’s cries I still hear from the HIV-infected orphans I cared for in Africa, the millions of women violently abused throughout Australia, depressed men who see no other option but to end their lives through their own hands, indigenous youth following a chain of dysfunction, forgotten homeless mental health sufferers throughout Australia, and immigrants to Australia who have trouble integrating into Australian culture.’
Source: Mark Coulson
Moving Moments
Today O’Brien spoke in detail of global affliction, awareness, and unity and very powerfully disclosed that he felt ‘more suffering when I visited Africa then with the suicide of my own father.’
His revered words and vision for the world were met with extended and excited applause from the gathered crowd.
O’Brien further emphasised a ‘need to educate the children at primary level, and become more aware of similarities between those from diverse backgrounds.’
When questioning finally returned to the realm of AFL, O’Brien was asked if Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse had endorsed his appearance at the conference, replying humbly that, ‘our views on the world are extremely congruent. That’s why we get along so well…me spending an hour here is no different to Chris Dawes (Collingwood) studying law or someone playing Playstation in their spare time…this is my thing. This is what makes me tick.’
Article written by Isabelle Tolhurst
Harry O’Brien’s Talk
Thanks Harry for using your status as an example to all of making a difference on a global level.