Hi there, who says you cant walk at 14, two students did that last year. One guy (James McRae) was from Sydney and the other a young woman from Melbourne.

Why not read the journal written by John McRae his father to see what he had to say about their trek. James was the life of the trek and all the other trekkers were amazed with his personality and the way he got on with everyone. In fact even when we were in Australia on leave he phoned the house on Christmas day and wished Eric his guide and us a happy christmas so has still not forgotten his experience.

Check out the journal:

http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/?showtopic=219

Already a Buna/Gona trek set up:

http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/schedule.html#18

In January Russell Eroro, Eric Uwea, my husband and I met up with Stan Bisset. He told us that the 39th were struggling to hold on when they came on the scene. He went on to say that you are out there for 9 days, can you imagaine those poor guys more than 60 days etc etc

goosebump material! a truly amazing man. And to listen to someone who was actually out there on the trail made it seem so real for us listening to him recall what actually happened.

Editors Note: Since writing the above comments, I have received an email from John McRae saying they are returning to walk again this coming July 2. This time round they will be bringing a mate of John's, James 3 sisters and the other blokes 3 kids.

In December I took with me to Australia my sub contractor Russell Eroro and also Eric Uwea one of our senior guides. When trekkers come up here to PNG they all want to stop and meet one of the last surviving fuzzy wuzzy angels in a place called Naduri. Hence I thought what a wonderful thing for these two guides to meet someone who fought on their land.

Mr Bisset was kind enough to allow us to visit him and his wife in his home and it was a real humbling beautiful experience and one all of us will never ever forget.

Stan is really keen that young guys like yourself get to learn what happened out there and I am 100% certain he would be more than happy to know a 14 year old was reading what happened in the war. He feels more young people should appreciate what happened during World War I & II and do things like walk the Kokoda Trail. He is a remarkable man and still going strong at 92.
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Hi there and tks for joining as a member and contributing to our message board.

Having walked the Kokoda Trail in November, it was honestly the best thing I have ever done in my life. When I started helping Russell build up a business of leading his own treks, I had absolutely no idea where it would lead me.

In January 2000 when I commenced work on my website – http://www.pngbd.com
it was a love for PNG that drove me the long hours it took to get the site to where it is today.

When I met up with Stan Bisset in January I had no idea where this too would lead me. I have to honestly say, this gentleman has already had an impact on my life and the honour of so many like him who died here in PNG including my mother's brother who died in Aitape and is buried in the Lae War Cemetery.

Last weekend I had to choose to turn my back on Kokoda Trekking and helping tourism in general thrive here in PNG or stay with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu an accounting firm where I have spent the last 8 + years of my life as it was clearly evident I could no longer combine the two.

On Monday I resigned to allow me the time to properly devote myself to tourism and to honour the likes of Stan. Also the many wages I have handed out and the smiles on the faces of the guys receiving money, some for the first time in their lives is something I could not walk away from.

So starting from the 1st March, I am dedicating the next 5 years of my life to bringing as many people as possible to Kokoda so that the memory of Stan, his brother Butch and others like them are not forgotten. As an Australian they deserve my respect and life at Deloitte will still go on for some but not for me.

Last year we took 426 trekkers on the trail. This year I hope it will be a lot more. A huge percentage of these walk in honour of our diggers who fought so bravely and WON!

Lest We Forget
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