Dr Toscano to lead Eureka Dawn Walk
by Graeme Dunstan Thursday December 04, 2003 at 03:30 PM
graemedunstan@rainbowregion.com 0417 843 751

Dr Toscano honoured as leading Light for the 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk

Media Release 4 December 2003
Dr Joe Toscano to lead 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk Dr Joe Toscano, Melbourne medical practitioner of 21 years and joint national coordinator of Defend and Extend Medicare lobby group, will be honoured as the Leading Light of the 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk when it assembles:
from 3.30 am Sunday 7 December 2003
in Alfred Deakin Square, off Camp Street, Ballarat

Each year the Dawn Walk has a special guest who is honoured for their conspicuous and contemporary service in defence of Australian rights and liberties.

"This year Dawn Walkers will be honouring Dr Toscano for his conspicuous citizen service defending Medicare in the face of the ideological attack by the pro corporate Howard Government", said Dawn Walk Master Lantern maker, Graeme Dunstan. (See www.defendandextendmedicare.org)

Dr Toscano has put together a national network of doctors and health care consumers who are effectively advocating that health care is a right, not a charity or a luxury. Dr Toscano describes Medicare as "the most important social innovation since pensions".

But the defending Medicare is just the most recent example of a lifetime of community based, direct democracy activism by Dr Toscano.

Dr Toscano is passionate about reclaiming Australia¹s radical traditions. He is an active member of the Anarchist Media Institute, a broadcaster on community radio 3CR and a researcher and writer of Australian history. (See www.takver.com/history/eureka.htm)

In particular he is passionate about reclaiming the radical spirit of the Eureka rebellion and last Wednesday 3 December, thirty people, most driving from Melbourne, joined Dr Joe at the Eureka memorial at 4 am to commemorate the 149th anniversary of the Government attack on the diggers at the Eureka Stockade. This was twice the number of people attending the Ballarat City Council¹s official commemoration, the Dawn Campfire.

The 2003 Eureka Dawn Walk will proceed this year proudly and publicly as a public liability insurance free event.

Further information
www.peacebus.com/Eureka/
Dr Joe Toscano 0419 570 878
Graeme Dunstan 03 5333 5442/0415 843 715 (Email is best)

www.peacebus.com/Eureka/

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