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A RETIRED farmer who pulled out of a charity walk around Australia after his wife fell ill about a decade ago is ready to put his sneakers back on.
Echuca's Peter Tripovich left from the Melbourne General Post Office on February 28, 2005. He planned to walk the perimeter of Australia's mainland to raise money for International Children's Care.
Mr Tripovich was in Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth, when he made the decision to stop - 11,000 kilometres and 13 months into his walk - to be with his wife.
He was 7000 kilometres short of completing the trek - a thought which has stayed with the 89-year-old.
"I came home because my wife was ill. She ended up passing away a few years later. In the meantime I sold the van and caravan - I didn't want that because I thought it was finished," he said.
"But every year since then, I thought, 'Pete - you'd should go back and finish that'. But I kept saying, 'No, no it's all over now and finished. Then I said, 'But you should go back and finish that'."
Mr Tripovich said he had raised about $25,000 for ICC and hoped to add to that.
He said he felt for the children living poverty who had nothing.
"I haven't had any children of my own but I was a kid myself once upon a time.
"Some children have got plenty and are looked after but you see the children in the third world countries and they have nothing yet they are so happy.
"They are just lovely, they swarm around you and take you for who you are. They are grateful for anything."
Mr Tripovich said he hoped to leave in June and expected the walk to take about seven months. He said he was searching for a driver.
"I pay for the all the petrol. I need someone to drive my support vehicle," he said.
Mr Tripovich said he was feeling physically fit but his family had insisted he undertook a medical test. He said the feeling of finishing the trek would be wonderful.
"It will be mission accomplished. My feet will be feeling sore but it's great for the children," he said.
If you can assist Mr Tripovich contact 5482 5581.
For more information on International Children's Care, visit www.iccaustralia.org.au