Richard Van Pijlen is walking from Sydney to Perth for Landcare Australia

A man on a mission, a grandfather creating a legacy, a painter, a nature-lover and an environmental warrior; meet Richard Van Pijlen, the Dutch-born Australian, walking from Sydney to Perth, raising money for Landcare Australia to plant one million trees.

Richard Van Pijlen began his journey across the country, stepping off from Sydney’s northern beaches on Monday, May 2, and passing through Sale on Tuesday, June 21.

The trolley holds the necessities for Richard Van Pijlen as he walks across Australia.

It all started eight months ago when the 68-year-old Sydney painter and his partner Debbie Tennant watched a documentary about the diminishing existence of the native Australian Koala.

“I was watching a program probably about eight months ago, about the Northern Rivers and the Koala corridor,” Mr Van Pijlen said.

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