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This morning the following trekkers arrived in town on an Airlines of PNG flight from Brisbane.
List of Trekkers: Phil Distant; Bruce Davis; Stuart Bell; Bob Ellis; Huibert Dekok; Russell Roos; Jim Ferguson; David Mcpherson; Hertzen Dekok; Will Knight; Warren Peer (Wazza ); Colin Watt and Michael Anderson
With some treks I feel like I almost know the people before they arrive to trek. This is one such trek. It seems like Phil's wife Lisa and I have emailed back and forth so many times that they are part of our trekking family even before the Kokoda walk.
Trek for Tom is for their son Tom, who has had something like 14 operations in his short life. This trek was designed to give something back to the Royal Children's Hospital for the care and attention they have given Tom.
From the way Lisa has emailed, they have cooked and sold more sausages than they could count; have manned their sausage sizzle stand over and over again to make this journey all so they could donate to the hospital. Also trivia nights etc.
We at Kokoda Trekking are proud to be associated with this trek. Tonight when I finally met up with Phil Distant I found a truly warm person who has a way of coming across as a really nice guy, what a couple. How many people have had treatment at hospitals and how many put something back. Well done to Lisa and Phil and to all the trekkers who are walking with them for this cause and to all the people who bought their sausages and supported them.
A very special boy – TOM. A kind businessman has funded Tom and his mother Lisa a trip to PNG to drive out to Owers' Corner for the end of this trek: If anyone wanted to donate to this cause, details can be found on the following website: CLICK HERE for the TREK FOR TOM Website
Tom.jpgTrek 366 got away as planned at 8am Saturday. Trekkers were picked up from the Airways Hotel compound and driven down to Hevi Lift where our chartered plane was on the tarmac waiting for them to book in to take them over to Kokoda.
Trekkers on board our people mover truck KTL 2 seen here outside Hevi Lift terminal building. Hey check out the walking sticks we gave them….judging by the pics following and this one, they have already become attached and by the time they arrive at Owers' Corner it will go home with them as their best friend:
IMGP3651___2nd_pic.jpgTrekkers were really excited that their big day was finally here and they were soon about to board their flight to Kokoda. Photograph: Group Photograph shortly before boarding their flight to Kokoda:
IMGP3653__Medium_.JPGA short time later around 20 minutes – they were posing for a group photograph on the ground at Kokoda Airport area:
IMGP3661__Medium_.JPGFollowed by a group photograph at the Kokoda Station area:
IMGP3662__Medium_.JPGNext the Kokoda Monument area…whats this, jumping for joy?
IMGP3665__Medium_.JPGWalking around the township of Kokoda…now they surely know they are in the tropics!
IMGP3666__Medium_.JPGTrekkers then walked up to the Kokoda Memorial Hospital to take a look for themselves at the great work Rotary International do in building and maintaining the hospital, rooms and other amenities:
IMGP3673__Medium_.JPGok, whos for another group photograph?
IMGP3675__Medium_.JPG….and another one!
IMGP3678__Medium__2nd_pic.jpgAfter looking around the hospital, trekkers headed off down the road – next destination I assume without being on the spot with them….Russell and John Derick's family block in Kokoda:
IMGP3680__Medium_.JPGDid I say walk….hey these guys are spoilt, they are being driven in KTL 1 our Mitsubishi Canter truck based at Russell's block in Kokoda:
IMGP3681__Medium_.JPGHey, what's this a hold up? no, just a guy dressed up trying to welcome them to Kokoda. What he is wearing is what they call 'Tapa Cloth' which is unique to the Oro Province and they are just so proud of it. However, its the first time I have seen this accompanied by underpants!:
IMGP3686__Medium_.JPGTrekkers must have wondered what confronted them…….until they worked out what was going on….
IMGP3690__Medium_.JPGCome on guys, lets get the show on the road…..
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