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News of this group has not been posted until now because of a medical condition that overtook one of the trekkers late on day two, resulting in his tragic passing soon afterwards. Family and friends were officially notified and we are able to advise with deep regret that Ian Bergman died of unknown natural causes at approximately 5 pm on Wednesday afternoon 14th June, 2006.
Two of Ian’s friends and myself returned to Port Moresby with the body by Medivac Helicopter on Thursday morning and another member of their team walked out with our guide later the same day. Five of the original nine continued their trek and arrived back in from Kokoda a week later on the 21st June.
This group consisted of mates from Victoria who headed out on the Kokoda Track on the 13th June, however on the second day of their walk, Ian seemed to struggle and as the day progressed was relieved of his backpack and equipment by the food carriers and guides but subsequent events proved the gravity of his condition.
As time permitted we have talked at some length with some of Ian’s friends and have learned how hard he had trained and how terribly keen he had been to follow in the footsteps of our soldiers of that era in 1942 when personal sacrifice was so much the order of the day.
From what we can gather this trek was not planned as a physical challenge but as an event to mark the respect that this young group of Australians had for the diggers of that time so long ago. It seems that Ian had been the driving force of the group and had talked of nothing else for the past six months or so.
Group Photograph taken at Ower's Corner:
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100_0360.jpgAAP – Source – The National – Thursday June 22, 2006.
Kokoda Memorial for Australian Trekker:
A SIMPLE memorial has been erected on the Kokoda Track to mark the death of an Australian trekker who wanted to walk in the footsteps of the World War II diggers he admired so much. Ian Andrew Bergman, 35, of Blackburn in Melbourne, collapsed and died on the track last Wednesday, two days into the 96km trek across Papua New Guinea's rugged Owen Stanley Ranges.
His brother Gavin Bergman and stepsister Andrea Wymond were in Port Moresby yesterday, preparing to return his body to Australia today. They said their brother had a passion for the wartime history of the Kokoda Track, where in 1942 Australian troops stopped the Japanese reaching Port Moresby. Ian Bergman had trained and prepared since the start of the year and was excited about seeing where the Australians had fought.
"That was the whole point of the trek, the significance of what it meant to Australia," Gavin Bergman said. "That's why they went from Ower's Corner to Kokoda rather than the other way back because that's the way the diggers trekked, so he wanted to go that way."
Ms Wymond said that a simple memorial had been erected at the spot where her brother died. "We have talked about coming back and trekking in to see that spot. "The porters set up the memorial just using sticks and they've planted a plant surrounded it with flowers. We are aware that other trekkers coming through were pausing at that spot and having a bit of reflection.
"It would be nice to come back and experience this beautiful country without the grief hanging over us."
A post-mortem examination had failed to establish why Mr Bergman died but further tests would be conducted in Australia, a police spokeswoman said. Gavin Bergman said that the track was obviously a very difficult walk. "People come out of it and say it's the hardest thing they've done. It goes without saying it's going to tax anyone who goes on it." – AAP
Rod Ori one of our KTL guides pays his respects to the late Ian Bergman. Plants were carried up from the village and carefully placed in the ground. On all our treks you will still see our KTL boys still stopping at this part of your trek as is their custom.
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Picture_054.jpgIan did not hire a personal porter, so our food porter Colin doubled his load and carried his pack along with Ian's pack.
Other members of the trekking party also took various items to help ease Colin's load. After our boys had reached Kokoda last Tuesday along with the remaining five trekkers, we brought them all back into Port Moresby by chartered plane so they could pay their respects to Ian's brother Gavin and step sister Andrea. This alone was heart wrenching for them as the last words they said to me before I boarded the helicopter at Ioribaiwa Ridge was that they tried their hardest and were just so sad Ian had passed away. All our boys were crying and hugging me and my heart went out to them.
Yesterday when they returned back home to Kokoda, they left knowing they had all spoken to his family and thanked me for flying them to Port Moresby to allow this to happen.
We also sincerely thanked our boys as according to Nick Nicer and other members of trek 211, they were absolutely amazing in the time of need. Nick remarked over and over again, how thoughtful and caring they were.
Some of our KTL boys who were on that trek. Colin seen here in this photograph (2nd from left) was employed as a food porter on this trek.:
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100_0395.jpgTo all future trekkers, we cannot emphasise enough the need for you all to see your doctor before coming to PNG to ensure you are fit enough to walk.
We would also like to plea that you hire a personal porter to carry your pack as unless you are 'super' fit, to walk the hills of Kokoda and carry your pack is a big ask. Plenty of people have done this, but it adds more stress to your trek and at the end of the day we want you to enjoy walking with us. Porters are used to carrying backpacks and have grown up surrounded by these hills. You will not only give them employment but you will also take home their genuine feelings of how they love helping you from start to finish.
They will talk to you…encourage you….hold your hand….help you up a hill…anything just so that you complete your journey and go back home with fond memories of not only walking the infamous Kokoda Track but also knowing a bit about their culture and how their ancestors the 'fuzzy wuzzy angels' helped our diggers in 1942.
Trek 211 as they headed out to Ower's Corner in the back of KTL 2
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