SYDNEY teacher Patrick O’Shea hopes to pay tribute to two special women when he walks through the Central Tablelands next week.
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One of them is his late wife Michelle Hanrahan, who passed away in 2015.
The other is Connie Johnson, the inspiring mother of two who fought breast cancer for years before passing away earlier this month.
Her brother, actor Samuel Johnson, formed the Love Your Sister charity with Ms Johnson to encourage Australian women to have their breasts checked, and Mr O’Shea will be raising money for the charity as he takes on his 80-kilometre trek.
Mr O’Shea’s late wife was a Bathurst girl who made a career in Sydney as the head of occupational therapy for The Prince of Wales Hospital and Northern Sector of the South East Area Health Service NSW.
“We hope it [the walk] helps bring Michelle home in a sense as we walk the villages she and her family knew so well before she moved like so many before and since to make her way in Sydney,” he said.
Mr O’Shea, who is the head of drama at St Joseph’s College at Hunters Hill, will walk from Black Springs to Bathurst from Tuesday, September 26 to Thursday, September 28 on what he is calling his Paddy’s Pub to Pub Tour.
He will then walk from North Bondi to Clovelly in Sydney’s east on Friday, September 29.
His late wife’s sister Pauline Hanrahan and her mother Marian Hanrahan, who lives in Bathurst, will join him for parts of the walk through the Central Tablelands.
Also involved will be Mr O’Shea and his late wife’s son Connor O’Shea.
“Relatives and friends are welcome to join in parts of the walk along these historic and picturesque parts of the Central West,” he said.
“All are welcome to share a yarn, a beer and dinner at the pubs along the way – Oberon, O’Connell and Bathurst and, of course, the finish lunch at The Clovelly Hotel.
“All proceeds will be donated to the Love Your Sister Foundation.”
For those who wish to donate to the Paddy’s Pub to Pub Tour to support the Love Your Sister Foundation, there is a Teachers Mutual account under the name Patrick O’Shea (BSB 812 170 and account number 008450940).