Newsletter May 2011

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What an incredible time to be on the Kokoda Track during ANZAC, there is always a great feeling of camaraderie between the trekkers during this very special time.

To be able to walk the Kokoda Track, then commemorate Anzac Day at either Isurava Memorial or Bomana War Cemetery, is a very emotional, humbling and powerful experience.

It is not until you walk Kokoda that you can get some small understanding of the enormous task that the Diggers faced in defeating the Japanese on Kokoda.

Kokoda gets in your blood; the story of these Kokoda Diggers will never be forgotten.

While we continue to talk about them and walk in their footsteps, their Spirit will live forever.

Kokoda Chicks – National Breast Cancer Foundation

Australian Led Trek for $2,875

The Chicks are back in 2011! We are already taking bookings for this year’s Kokoda Chicks trek and offering a special price of $2,875 for an Australian Led Trek from Owers Corner to Kokoda.

The Kokoda Chicks trek is about raising funds and awareness for the Na-tional Breast Cancer Foun-dation and this years trek is scheduled for 10th – 19th October.

In the 3 years the ladies have trekked Kokoda they have raised over a quarter of a million dollars, an amazing effort.

Blind Trekker Conquers Kokoda 

Congratulations to Dave Wane our visually impaired trekker who recently completed an ANZAC Trek. Dave is blind in both eyes and undertook an intensive and rigourous pre-trek training program in Cairns to prepare him-self physically and emotionally for this epic trek.

Dave walked Kokoda in 9 days and commemorated Anzac at the Isurava Memorial with his mates and our other Kokoda Spirit trekkers. Emo-tions were running high as Dave walked into Isurava under a native wel-come banner constructed by the villagers of Isurava to celebrate his jour-ney. There were plenty of cheers and tears as the realisation of Dave's dream to complete Kokoda became a step closer.

Dave's guts and determination was and is a huge inspiration to all. Kokoda is tough for those of us that can see the terrain but to walk it blind is an incredible feat of human endurance.

Well done Dave, you are an absolute champion and exemplify the mean-ing of Courage, Endurance, Mateship, Sacrifice!

 HMAS Darwin

The crew from the Australian Warship HMAS Darwin recently completed their Kokoda Track trek with Kokoda Spirit. The women and men of HMAS Darwin commemorated Anzac Day with around 250 other trekkers at the Anzac Dawn service held at the Isurava Memorial on the Kokoda Track. HMAS Darwin's sister ship HMAS Newcastle's crew has also previously walked the track with Kokoda Spirit.

The Australian Navy played a very important role in stopping the Japanese from invading Port Moresby in the battle of the Coral Sea. It is fantastic that so many years on, serving officers are undertaking the pilgrimage to honour those who went before them.

 

Anzac Day - 39th Battalion

Kokoda Spirit’s Managing Director Wayne Wetherall and St Ignatius Riverview Student, John Weston, had the recent great honour of laying the 39th Battalion Association Wreath at Bomana War Cemetery Port Moresby on behalf of the 39th Battalion Association during 2011 ANZAC Day Dawn Service.

Kokoda Spirit Australian Guides, Shane Maloney and John Titmus, also laid wreaths on behalf of the 39th Battalion Association at the ANZAC Day Service at Isurava Memorial.

It was a very emotional morning for all, not only was the 39th Battalion honoured, all men and women who have served our country were honoured and remembered.

For their sacrifice and service we are forever grateful, they will never be forgotten.

70th Anniversary – Kokoda Campaign - 2012

Kokoda Spirit invites you to join us on this special ANZAC Pilgrimage along the Kokoda Trail in 2012.

Australian Led Treks

• 16 - 25 April
• 8 Nights
• Owers Corner to Kokoda Anzac Day Dawn Service at Bomana War Cemetery

• $3,480.00
• 16 - 25 April
• 8 Nights
• Kokoda to Owers Corner Anzac Day Dawn Service at Bomana War Cemetery
• $3,480.00

• 17 - 26 April
• 9 Nights
• Owers Corner to Kokoda Anzac Day Dawn Service at Isurava Memorial
• $3,480.00

• 18 - 26 April
• 8 Nights
• Owers Corner to Kokoda Anzac Day Dawn Service at Isurava Memorial
• $3,480.00

Sandakan Death March - book now for our July trek

Sandakan and the Sandakan Death March is one of the most tragic Australian stories of World War Two. The Sandakan Death March is also one of our most heroic.

Despite appalling conditions at Sandakan and along the Sandakan Death March route, the prisoners never gave up. Their heroism, their determination and their indomitable spirit are testimony to the strength of the hu-man spirit and an inspiration to all. Of the 2434 prisoners incarcerated at Sandakan, 1787 were Australian. The remaining 641 were British. The six Australians who escaped from the Sandakan Death March were the sole survi-vors. After sixty years, you too can now walk the Sandakan Death March in the footsteps of the Sandakan Death March heroes. If you are quick you can join our trek on 4 – 10 July, 2011.

www.sandakandeathmarch.com.au  

Mt Kilimanjaro

Places are filling fast for our December trek to the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro. If you are interested in climbing the highest mountain on the African continent and then watching the beauty of the plains of Africa with abundant wild life contact our office for prices and an itinerary. Wayne will be taking this trek and looks forward to sharing his experience with trekkers.

Dates are 11 – 17 December, 2011 and price $2,395.

www.kilimanjarospirit.com.au  

Jobs Australia – Launch of Indigenous Documentary

A group of 20 Indigenous Australians successfully completed their trek of the Kokoda Track in August 2010. The group comprised 13 Indigenous youth, seven mentors and Project Manager of Jobs Austra-lia Jodie Belyea. Undertaking the track is part of Indigenous Youth Leadership Program – IYLP pro-gramme.

In 2009 the Jobs Australia Foundation (JAF) expanded its investment in Indigenous leadership by com-mitting to the development and delivery of the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP). This pro-gram is focused on the development of skills and the acquisition of knowledge by Indigenous people as a means of building their ability as individuals and leaders. Including Kokoda in the programme, summed up what the foundation hoped to do – build leadership skills. This experience tapped into the groups experience and adventure in addition to providing a means that developed their leader-ship qualities.

Following the Kokoda experience, a very important aspect of the IYLP, Jobs Australia recently launched a documentary that highlights the achievements of those involved in the program, includ-ing the challenge of the trek. The documentary highlights the positive gains that have been achieved by those who participated. A great effort by everyone.