A public walk in Sydney this weekend will highlight opposition to abortion under the theme “Love the next generation.” The event, organized by Love Sydney, a branch of the pro-life group Love Australia, will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, in Hyde Park.
Organizers said the annual “Love Sydney, Walk for Life” is intended as a family-friendly event to remember children lost to abortion, which remains legal in New South Wales up to birth. The group cites national figures estimating about 88,000 abortions occur each year in Australia.
Jodie Pickard, founding director of Love Australia, told Christian Daily International the event seeks to emphasize the human cost of abortion. “A quarter of the next generation of Australians are missing because their lives ended through abortion,” she said.
Pickard described the gathering as both a public witness and a time of prayer. “There will be inspiring speakers in Hyde Park followed by a walk, giving us the opportunity to cover Sydney in prayer and love,” she said. “Our prayer is that there will be a future for Australia that upholds the sanctity of every life and abortion becomes unthinkable. As Christians we are to lead the way with our love for the Lord, our neighbors and ourselves, offering help, hope and healing to all who need it.”
An invitation shared on Facebook described the event as “a beautiful day of unity, truth and strength on behalf of the babies who cannot fight for themselves.” It urged participants to “join us to uphold the sanctity of life in New South Wales” and said “abortion must end, both legislatively and in the hearts and minds of those across our state.”
Christian leaders scheduled to speak include keynote speaker Martin Iles, an attorney who has worked in both Australia and the United States. Iles previously served as managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby from 2018 to 2023, produced programs for the apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis, and co-founded the Human Rights Alliance, a law firm promoting religious freedom and free speech. He now runs a content ministry called “At the Crus” and co-founded a Christian open learning platform known as “Proto.”
The event is supported by a range of churches and pro-life organizations. Organizers said the annual walk takes particular significance in light of the New South Wales Parliament’s 2019 decision to revise abortion law.
In a statement to Catholic Weekly, a spokeswoman for Love Australia said the group is committed to defending life “from conception to natural death” through peaceful lobbying and cultural change. That includes supporting churches in caring for women facing unexpected pregnancies, as well as those experiencing post-abortion grief or regret.
“We want to be people that others will not run away from, but turn to, for love and support,” the spokeswoman said. “While making abortion unthinkable is the major goal, the journey to get there is to love each other so well, that every heartbeat may experience the love of God through us, and become heaven-bound.”
