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OurTrek......
From the 08-Aug to 19-Aug 2005
to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of VP Day I
tackled the challenging Kokoda Track. We trekked with the
famous Adventure Kokoda organisation founded Charlie Lyn -
http://www.kokodatreks.com/
We retraced the
footsteps of our Diggers and the Japanese warriors who fought in the Kokoda
campaign. Kokoda - like Gallipoli - was ignored by successive governments
for generations. But, like Gallipoli, young (and us old) Australian
adventurers are beginning to discover another piece of ground sacred to our
heritage.
Australia lost its innocence in 1942. Japan had conquered Asia
and the Pacific, and were at our doorstep. Our finest troops were fighting
in the Middle East. All that stood between the Japanese onslaught and our
homeland was a handful of 18-year-old militia troops who had never fired a
shot in anger. By the time the Japanese were driven into the sea at Sananada
on 22 January 1943 more than 13,000 Japanese and 2,000 Australians had been
killed.
Our Voice.....
The reality is that many of
us live well inside the safe confines of our comfort zone and never really
extend ourselves to our limits of mental, physical and spiritual endurance.
Yet it is only when we have gone too far - that we know where our limits
are… until then, all that we are really dealing with is our potential to be
great...
It is at the edge that our greatest insights and breakthroughs occur.
Pilgrimage ..... right of
passage ...... spiritual journey ...... all cool thoughts running through my
conscious.
This experience was embraced on many
levels!!!!
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As part of the challenge I carried a 7.5kg brick slab in my
backpack. This gave me a total pack weight of 28+kg.
I
wanted to experience the track carrying a similar weight to our
diggers and I linked the task to my martial arts training in Zen Chi
Ryu (Strong Mind Way).
During the trek I keep a diary of my thoughts about the brick and
its many metaphors for leadership.
Perhaps one day I will publish "The Battle of the Brick".
I
actually learned a lot from this challenge.....which pleased my
Sensei, Shihan Tim.
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At Naduri Village we met by the most famous ‘fuzzy wuzzy angel’ on the
track – Mr Ovoru Indiki.
Ovoru is the chief of the village and a
former village constable under Australia’s colonial rule.
It was an honour to meet him and watch him interact with all the
trekkers from our group.
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Paul Croll- Trek Leader. (on the right)
Paul has completed the Trek no less than 17 times. He was an
excellent leader with a burning passion for the track, its history
and the people from Papua.Heath Ducker- 2nd In Charge.
Heath was interesting young man with a big future. I enjoyed
trekking with him and especially appreciated his helping hand when
overbalanced and nearly fell backwards down one of the hill sides.
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Mateship is something facilitated by the track.
I was blessed to
meet some fantastic Aussies.
Big Dave Kennedy - The coach from hell. A natural
leader, who could tackle anything or anyone any day and not shy from
the enormity of the task.
Gerry Manhood - 54 and carried his own pack the whole way.
Tough as they come, inside and out. Proud to call him friend.
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Some of the villages had displays of artefacts.
Most of the
munitions were unexploded. |
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There were many weapons/munitions stockpiles to view. |
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A moment of rest from that bloody pack and brick. |
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Isurava Memorial - My most favourite place.
Isurava
Memorial, was officially opened, by Prime Ministers Howard and Somare on the 60th anniversary of the battle in August 2002.
This has been described as the ‘battle that saved
Australia’ – it is the spot where Private Bruce Kingsbury was
posthumously awarded the first Victoria Cross on Australian territory
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Brigade Hill is the location where 6,000 Japanese attacked 1,000
Australians dug in on Brigade Hill. The Japanese refer to it
as ‘the battle of the Owen Stanley Range’. The Australians
call it the battle for Brigade Hill. It was the biggest battle
of the Kokoda campaign. |
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At the finish line it all seems to have passed to quick. |
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Beer - Brick - Buggered!!!!!
Finished at last ....... already
thinking about next time! |
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