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They came, they saw, they conquered and even experienced the pains and strains of the extremely challenging and one of the famous tracks in the world – The Kokoda Trail.
The 96km trail which is known for its war history during WWII between the Australian and the Japanese forces has become very significant to many Australians – who to this date still come to follow in the footsteps of many who fought and died during the war.
The four pillars on the trail showing courage, mateship, sacrifice, and endurance
courage__mateship__endurance__sacrifice.jpgRecently, seventeen guys from Rugby Union teams in Sydney, Australia, left the country after six days trekking on the kokoda trail. To them, it may be a relief but perhaps they now understand better why many Australian males their age, how 60 years ago our diggers courageously defended their country and fought off the Japanese forces during WWII in this Northern part of Papua and New Guinea Island.
The guys; Jim Swan, Brendan Jones, Sean O’Hara, Tim Jensen, John Nihill, Jason Myhill, Roger Wilson, Stephen Jani, Dr Shamus Shepherd, Keiran Shepherd, Pete McGee, Conrad Strahorn, Ryan Rogan, Mathew Tink, Elia Economou, Paul Stanley and David Azar.
The guys at Ower's Corner after their trek…
Ower__s_Corner500.jpgAccompanying them were two of Australia’s famous top female cyclists, 24 year old Natalie Bates and her sister, 22 year old Kate who trekked with their father Robert Bates. This year (2004) the younger sister, Kate competed in Athens Olympic Games and came 4th in her chosen event. Both Kate and Natalie joined their father after they knew about his plans to walk the trail.
All three of them joined the Rugby Union guys and walked from Kokoda in the Oro province towards Ower’s Corner – an hour’s drive out of Port Moresby.
On October 22nd, all trekkers reached Ower’s Corner – the end of the track and then made it to Vesulogo village up in Sogeri area where they were picked up and brought into Port Moresby.
Mathew Tink who weighed in around the 127kg mark, struggled the last day and ended up on a drip but bounced back to party on with the boys later that night. To his credit he carried his pack the whole way.
In the evening from 6.pm towards 10.00pm and onwards the guys celebrated their victorious end of trek at the Crowne Plaza where they were joined by the famous cyclist sisters, Natalie and Kate and their father Robert.
L-R: Mr Robert Bates (President of the NSW Cycling Federation) with two daughters and Australia's famous top female cyclists, Kate Bates and Natalie Bates
The_Bates_Family500.jpgLike everyone else who has come along, they too related their experiences. “It was tough, very tough, but all that was worth it,” Sean O’Hara, the member of the group said about his six days walk.
“It is an honor to come here and follow in the footsteps of the brave Aussie soldiers who have fought and died during the war. I came here because I wanted to honor them and especially the fuzzy wuzzy angels and PNGeans for the bond they have with Australians,” Sean said.
Sean was perhaps the only member in the group who had a personal bond with Kokoda and what it is today because of his grand father who had fought and died in the war.
On the way from Vesulogo towards Port Moresby, Sean had a chance to visit the grave of his grandfather at the Bomana War cemetery. He took pictures of the grave with his grandfather’s name on it.
The group at Jacksons Airport before they headed for Kokoda…(below left) is Sean O'Hara
Jackson__s_Airport_Group_Pic500.jpgFor Natalie and Kate ?it is much tougher than on their bikes but certainly makes good practice.?
It was probably the toughest six days of their lives whilst on trail, and everyone on the track had a different kind of experience apart from the painful and physical strain of the climbs and the falls ? but one good thing came about, and this is what kept them together ? there was instant bond between the porters and the trekkers.
And that stayed with them all the way back to the city ? and that night of the celebration proved that loyalty all over again. Though they were not allowed to, the Union guys booked three separate rooms for their porters and guides at the Crowne Plaza.
On the night of their trek, the host company ? Extreme Kokoda Trekking Adventure Tours & Kokoda Trekking Limited recognized their efforts by presenting them certificates of Achievements with their names on it.
Trek Organiser and Managing Director Gail Thomas and Kokoda Trekking Ltd founder & boss Russell Eroro presented the certificates to the trekkers.
At the Isurava Memorial Park..
Isurava500.jpgAs a sign of appreciation the boys from Sydney chewed buai (betel nut) with mustard and lime brought in by the locals and painted their faces with lime. Even Natalie and Kate had a go with the betel nut that night.
One would say it was a hell of an experience and the guys probably knew no bonds better than the one they had before they left Papua New Guinea on the 23rd of October 2004
Certainly Kokoda and especially this team will be remembered in many ways; for one, the only doctor on the team who felt ill on the first day and throughout the entire trek, secondly, the famous Sydney Rooster?s full-back Anthony Minichello look-alike who got the whole entire villages along the trail waiting for him whenever he turned up and chanting ?Minichello, Minichello?, thirdly the two famous female cyclists who found it tougher than cycling and finally the biggest guy in the group who pledged to carry his own pack and kept true to his word even though he felt like giving up.?
And lest we forget ??that night we experienced the taste of what it?s like to chew betel nut.? What an experience!
Ends//
Betel Nut Chewer..left is Stephen Jani (with buai on his mouth) and Elia Economou.
Betel_Nut_Chewer…jpg
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