Wonga Beach 10-year-old conquers 42km of corrugations in Mental Health walk
CONQUER THE CORRUGATIONS
Ten-year-old Willow Morana from Wonga Beach tackled a 42-kilometre ride through Cape York’s rugged red dirt roads during the 10th annual “Conquer the Corrugations” event, helping to raise awareness for mental health.
Over 250 participants joined the two-day trek from Coen to Cape York, but it was Willow’s determination and spirit that truly stole the spotlight.
The event, held on September 28 and 29, is all about breaking the silence around mental health, especially in remote communities.
This not-for-profit initiative encourages people to come together, share their stories, and support each other while trekking through tough terrain.
This was not Willow’s first rodeo. Last year, he completed the walk on foot, but this year he decided to switch it up by tackling the trail on his mountain bike.
Wearing his backpack and speaker providing the tunes, Willow rode ahead and circled back to support fellow participants, acting as a ‘sweeper’ to ensure no one was left behind.
His efforts earned him the “Spirit of Conquer Award” for his resilience and encouragement.
The award represents resilience and being part of the journey, no matter how tough it gets.
It’s a reminder that, like life, the road can be bumpy, but with enough support, you can keep moving forward.
Tarryn Morana, Willow’s Mum, said that when he received the award, he got a bit emotional.
“He was so proud and wanted to show everyone at school,” she shared.
“He even did a presentation at Mossman Primary with his teacher, Mr Smith, and shared his story with the whole school.
Willow’s connection to the event is deeply personal. His family is close to the Jacksons, who tragically lost their son Dylan to suicide 10 years ago.
Dylan’s aunt, Emma Jackson, founded Conquer the Corrugations in his memory, and it has since grown into an annual gathering for people to “walk and talk” openly about mental health.
The inaugural walk in 2014 initially began to honour Dylan and was small and personal, but now attracts people affected by mental health struggles and their supporters from across the region, as well as those in Victoria and East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
For Willow, the experience has been more than just a physical challenge. He’s learned resilience and built connections with people from all walks of life, including some new friends from Victoria.
“He’s learned to talk to people of all ages and backgrounds,” Tarryn said. “We’re so proud of him, and I think he’s inspired a lot of people with his story.”
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