Look Who's Walked with Kokoda Spirit
Kokoda Spirit's Managing Director Wayne Wetherall was part of the Foundation Committee that assisted in the design and implementation of the trekking companies Code of Conduct. Wayne was also a member of the Kokoda Track Maintenance Advisory Committee.
Wayne Wetherall and Kokoda Spirit have been engaged to manage and facilitate the invitation only Kokoda Track Authority Chairman’s Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day Trek to celebrate the role played by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels during the Second World War, and to meet with the village people, inspect the facilities and infrastructure that has been created through the ‘Kokoda Initiative’ and to listen to their concerns and issues.
Kokoda Spirit is supporting Cricket PNG to help facilitate talent and youth development programs across the track. These ongoing cricket clinics will help to identify the remarkable natural talent of the local kids across the Kokoda Track and deliver some opportunities for them to develop and grow these talents under the watchful eye of members of the PNG Cricket team and coaching staff.
Kokoda Spirit has helped organise and lead several defence force treks along the Kokoda Track including, Australia’s Federation Guard, and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) on 3 occasions.
Other defence force groups have included The Royal Australian Navy, including HMAS Coonawarra and the crews from our Northern Coast Patrol boats and HMAS Darwin and HMAS Newcastle and the 48th Field Battalion and RAAF from Townsville.
We have also run trips for Australian Federal Police, and the annual Queensland Police Service trek.
We have also taken on a partnership role for the past 3 years in the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP). The KCYP is a program which has been developed to help young Australians who are at a crossroad in their lives and require an opportunity to reach their full potential. Kokoda Spirit will be again taking 84 young Australian Leaders across the track this year as part of the program.
Kokoda Spirit also continues its relationship with the MASP Youth Leadership Mentoring program in Victoria and has done so for the past three years.
We are also heavily involved with Jobs Australia and their Indigenous Youth Leadership programs having led a group of Indigenous Leaders and Mentors across the Kokoda Track in their leadership program.
We also organise and lead a number of school trips across Kokoda. Our school group’s focus is on the history of the track, community projects, including immersion, humanitarian and student empowerment and leadership projects.
Some of the Schools that have trekked with us include; Haileybury College, St Ignatius Riverview College, Hale School, St Luke’s Anglican College, Yarrawonga Secondary College, Mackillop College, Nhulunbuy School, Newcastle Grammar, Berne School, Victorian School of the Deaf, Sunshine Coast Grammar and Chancellor Park State College
Kokoda Spirit was also the chosen trekking company by the Producers of “Kokoda” the Movie.
Kokoda Spirit has also worked and trekked closely with Paralympian and Adventurer Michael Milton, Paralympian Kurt Fearnley (Crawling Kokoda), Rugby League Legend, Paul “The Chief” Harragon.
Some of our community groups have included PNG Cricket, Kokoda Village Reader project, PNG Village Gardener project, National Breast Cancer Foundation (Kokoda Chicks), Breast Cancer Care WA, Blind Courage (Guide Dogs Australia), Heart Foundation, Coca Cola, Zing, Victorian RSL, VECCI, Credit Union Foundation Australia (CUFA), Autism Victoria, Aspergers Group, Mission Australia, Centre Stage Management, Qantas, 500 Club, EFM, Kumuka, Live Love Laugh, Seed of Thought Group, Janelle’s Story, My Everyday Kokoda.
Kokoda Spirit also supports the Kokoda Track Foundation as a Gold Trek Operator Partner.
Kokoda Spirit also supports and sponsors the Sunshine Coast Give me 5 for kids program.
We have also be involved with Channel Seven Sunday Night Program, Channel 7 Today Tonight program, ABC Foreign Correspondent, articles in The Australian, Age, Courier Mail, Japan Times newspapers and In-flight Magazine, plus a host of other Corporate and individual clients.
