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Trek 435 – 26th September 2008 – Our thoughts are with Brian Beamish and his family as he has been placed in palliative care. Since Brian joined our Kokoda Trekking family, he has lived on this website and basically anything to do with Kokoda. He walked with Kokoda Trekking to celebrate his 70th birthday and requested the late Wallace Lemeki as his guide along with Brendan Buka (Kokoda Challenge record holder) as his personal porter.
Brian toughed it out and at times felt like giving up, but sheer willpower got him to the finish line in Kokoda. Brian has been fighting his illness for quite some time and it saddens us to not see him commenting and clicking the 'like' button on this website as his absence shows us just how unwell he must be right now. Brian knew Wallace loved music so him and his wife Maureen brought him to Australia and took him to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Wallace got to sing on stage with Graham Rodger.
With the limited resources they had living on the pension, every year they would send small items to Kokoda for Wallace's son such as school shoes; and other items they found he needed. When Wallace passed away 03/02/2013 Brian and Maureen contributed to the 'Wallace Lemeki Kokoda Primary School Scholarship' with the Kokoda Track Foundation. Brian, we at Kokoda Trekking are thinking of you and send you all our love and best wishes. Gail and the team at Kokoda Trekking
Boys singing Happy Birthday.jpg
Wallace, Maureen & Brian Big Guitar.jpg
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Brian & Maureen.jpg
Wallace with Graham Rodger.jpg
Wallace & Brian in Brisbane.jpg
Wallace & Brian Mt Warning.jpg
Wallace Lemeki 3.jpg9th August: Sad news this morning, Brian Beamish passed away yesterday afternoon 8th August. Sadly we have lost one of our trekking family, a person so passionate about Kokoda and its people. Even on a pension, Brian and Maureen managed somehow to send small gifts to Scott, his guide Wallace's son on a yearly basis.
The family photograph below was one requested by Brian which was taken before church on Christmas Day. Not long after in January, Wallace's infant son passed away. Later we found out it was the only photograph the family had as Wallace did not own a camera.
When Wallace lost his own life on the 3rd February 2013, Brian posted the following: "My not so little mate these days, Scott, is now the man of the house".
RIP Brian, Kokoda Trekking has lost someone very special to us. To Maureeen and other family members, our sincere condolences.
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Wallace & Scott.jpg
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Brian Beamish 640×480.jpgSadly Brian Beamish passed away on the 9th August, 2014 after a long illness. I attended his funeral in Brisbane to pay our respects to Maureen and his family. Co-incidentally on the day he was cremated it was Wallace Lemeki's 36th birthday.
RIP Brian, we loved taking you on the track for your 70th birthday and the many posts you have made since then on our facebook and this website.
Hi Gail and Crew,
vey sad to hear the news of Brian. I was always intrigued to hear his posts and he enlightening all of us about the goings on etc.
I know he didn't fight in New Guinea during the campaign, but he fought his own battle to finish his trek, as did I and most that walk it.
Best regards to his family.
Not sure if KTL have awards for Guides/Porters each year, but maybe if you did you could name it after Brian and Wallace, as a team, the Mateship, Courage, Endurance, Sacrifice.
Cheers
Dave (I will be back!)
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