In August 2009 Australia and Papua New Guinea witnessed the tragic Airlines PNG plane disaster that resulted in the deaths of 13 people on board. The passengers on board the fatal flight included 9 Australian trekkers who were on route to Kokoda village to begin their journey across the infamous Kokoda Track.

Hannah Kinross, from Victoria Australia, was one of the trekkers who tragically died in the plane crash. In memory of Hannah, the Foundation is honoured to announce the Hannah Kinross Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Scholarship Fund.

Hannah was an adventurous young woman, aged just 22, who was going to walk the Kokoda Track with her close friend Kelly Weire. Hannah was deeply passionate about helping and giving to others and she had been working for 3 years with refugees and migrants, particularly Burmese and Sudanese refugees in Victoria. Hannah had also undertaken volunteer work in South Africa before being employed by the Migrant Information Centre in Box Hill. Hannah’s parents, Colin and Sue Kinross, describe Hannah as “completely dedicated to improving lives of people less fortunate than us”.

“Only a few days before flying to PNG Hannah had been offered a posting as a refugee youth worker in some local schools and was so thrilled, believing she had found her true vocation. It is for this reason we believe she would have wanted us to contribute some of her estate to such a worthy cause. May something worthy arise from our loss.”

In memory of Hannah and her desire to help others, Colin and Sue have established a special scholarship via the Foundation to help children from the Kokoda Track with a particular focus on improving the welfare and livelihoods of young Kokoda Track women. They have also contributed generously towards the Kingsley Eroro Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Scholarship, which was established in memory of Kingsley Eroro who came from Kokoda village and who also tragically died on the plane crash. The Kingsley Eroro Scholarship has been awarded to Michael Kenda from Kokoda village and Hannah’s contribution to the scholarship will cover his education from now until he graduates from high school.

In addition, two female students have received the Hannah Kinross Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Scholarships:

• Saeve is in Grade 11 and is from Kagi village along the Kokoda Track. She is an orphan and cannot afford to get an education without the assistance of the scholarship. Hannah’s scholarship will provide for Saeve until she graduates from high school.
• Delma is in Grade 10 and is from Efogi village along the Kokoda Track. Delma's mother is a single Mum and struggles to support her children at school. Hannah’s scholarship will provide for Delma until she graduates from high school.

Colin and Sue are planning to visit the crash site on the Kokoda Track for the anniversary in August 2010 and plan to meet the children that have been awarded the Hannah Kinross Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Scholarships.

We are so very grateful to Hannah and the Kinross family for their generosity to the children of PNG. Your contribution is making an emormous difference in the lives of Michael, Saeve, and Delma.