Ken Canning, a 68-year-old Bidjara man, poet and a playwright and a much-loved fighter for the rights of First Nations people and all down-trodden, urgently needs to return to Australia for specialist medical treatment.
But Canning and his partner Cheryl have not been able to return. When the pandemic began last year, Canning was spending time in the Philippines with Cheryl and her family. On a number of occasions now, flights that have been booked have been unilaterally cancelled.
These delays have meant that Canning has been prevented from seeing medical specialists to manage a number of chronic health conditions, including diabetes and a long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of skeletal muscle weakness. He is also suffering from years of torture at the hands of Australian prison authorities in the 1970s.
Canning’s health is deteriorating and he urgently needs medical assistance and to be reunited with loved ones.
Supporters are calling on the Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt to urgently intervene to ensure that Ken and Cheryl are given places on flights from the Philippines.
[Sign and donate to help Ken and Cheryl Canning return home.]