How It All Began, My Post From March 2005

[aussie]

A few weeks back a computer hacker attacked our website. As a result we have had to upgrade our forum with the new version. This morning I was checking some articles to see if the upgrade was successful and came across a topic I posted when I resigned from Deloitte Touche Tomatsu in March 2005 to concentrate on growing our Kokoda Trekking business.

How it all began, my post from March 2005

Hi everyone, FYI – I have resigned from my full time job and am about to head full speed ahead come the 1st March 2005 into promoting PNG tourism to the world in a way I have never had time to do before.

As our regular visitors already know, I have two websites on PNG, the first one was created in 2000 and is known as the Papua New Guinea Tourism & Business Directory or PNGBD – http://www.pngbd.com The second website is this one, Kokoda Trekking – http://www.kokodatrail.com.pg; http://www.kokodatrail.com.au or http://www.kokodatrekking.com.au

PNGBD presently attracts on average over 5000 visits per day and 3.5 million hits per month. About eighteen months ago both the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) wrote and thanked me for the service I was giving to PNG which showed me I must be doing something right. However, TPA went one step further and asked if I would help PNG people who did not have the resources or knowledge to find trekkers like yourselves. Its hard to imagine as Australians how in 2005 the people of Kokoda do not even have telephones only two way radios for communication. How then do they find you our trekkers…the answer is through my help and dedication to improve their lives and to give them hope and a future.

I agreed and was introduced initially to a local trek operator from Sogeri. He decided he did not need my help and a couple of months later, a representative from TPA introduced me to Russell Eroro from Kokoda. 'The rest as they say is history'. Russell and I have worked really well together and recently were informed by the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) that during 2004 we took more trekkers on the trail than any other company which is something we are proud of.

From our humble beginnings, we found our feet and built up the company – Kokoda Trekking. We have tried at all times to be fair not only to you our clients, but also to the many staff we employ to take you on the Kokoda Trail and the villagers along the trail where you overnight in their accommodation. We have given most porters their first wage ever and hope for the future. Some children in Kokoda now have the chance to attend school as their fathers can earn from trekking. Most are subsistence farmers who have land and grow vanilla but sadly they have no buyers. They have a hospital but no doctor or medicine as without a doctor they do not qualify for drugs etc.

Last year Russell was called into the District Administrators office in Kokoda and informed he had single handedly kept the crime out of their court systems. What a wonderful feeling that must have been for Russell one of the longest Kokoda Guides to walk the trail. Russell & his brother John, have walked for over 15 years and are well respected in the trekking community.

As for myself, I have lived and worked here since 1972 and have always given my 100% best efforts to anything I do. However, being split between helping these guys find work; promoting PNG through my pngbd website; looking after you our trekkers, answering emails and so much more, it all suddenly came to a head last Friday week. I found myself in a position to have to choose which way to go…quit helping PNG or quit my day job as it was clearly evident I did not have the flexibility to do both.

I thought long and hard last weekend and decided I could not turn my back on the guys who rely on me for wages. The looks on their faces as they receive their pay; their hope that I will support them for years to come etc enabled me to gather enough courage and write out my resignation letter to a company I have been with for 8+ years, namely Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, one of the biggest accounting firms in PNG.

Another reason for resigning was Stan Bisset. In January this year we met Stan and his lovely wife Gloria and he was just so proud of what I was trying to achieve for the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels of today'. He also thanked me for taking care of so many Australians who trekked through us.

How could I turn my back on this man who I have the utmost respect for. How could I stop helping people like you to come to PNG and walk in Stan's footsteps.
No, this chance meeting has already had an impact on my life.

Co-incidentally last weekend I received in the mail my superannuation statement from AMP and attached was a piece of paper that showed how much longer I can expect to live at 'best'. I scrolled down and alongside my gender and age, I was informed I have at the most on average 25 years left to live…wow! that hit home!

It didnt take to long to decide which direction to take, stay in the rat race or give up and follow my dreams. I therefore state here that I plan on spending the next five years of my life attracting tourists to PNG not only to walk the trail but to travel and trek all over PNG. We have so much to offer and for any of you who have already walked the Kokoda Trail, you would have to agree, it is an awesome experience and one you will never forget. To those of you who are thinking of walking, it will truly change your life as it has mine.

We all remember the diggers every step of the way, but we all experience an adventure that is hard matched anywhere I know in Australia. During the time I have lived here every holiday I have headed south to visit with family and friends, now is my time to explore also for myself what PNG has to offer.

It is hoped now with time on my hands that I can open some more infamous World War II tracks such as the Bulldog Trail & the Black Cat Trail. Let me first do my homework and look out for some exciting new treks for you all to tackle after you have first walked the Kokoda Trail.

As for the likes of Stan Bisset and others like him including my mother's brother Robert (Bob) McMillan who died in Aitape along with another brother Archie who died not long after the war, this is for you. Stan also indicated he thinks all Australian's should walk the trail and remember the sacrifices our diggers made to protect the Japanese invasion of Australia.

My resignation Stan, will allow me to do just that, your memory and others like you will live on. I dont want to leave PNG one day and be remembered for working for Deloitte's for 8 years, I want to be remembered for helping tourists like yourselves to walk and remember guys like Stan and his brother Butch and so many brave young men who fought and won on the Kokoda Trail. If I can also promote whatever else PNG has to offer along the way, what is left of my life will be complete.

If you too, can share with me and walk around the corner into the Isurava Battlesite area and get goosebumps just like I experienced than my journey will have been worthwhile. If when you visit Bomana, or any war cemetery, you think back to those brave more often than not 'young men', that too will take your breath away and will put walking the trail into perspective.

Looking forward to meeting those of you who decide to trek with us.

best regards,

Gail Thomas (pen name 'aussie' on this website)
http://www.pngbd.com
http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
http://www.kokodatrail.com.pg
http://www.kokodatrekking.com.au

Photograph: Eric Uwea, Stan Bisset & Russell Eroro. This photograph was taken at Stan & Gloria Bisset's home early January, 2005. Stan is also Australian's oldest living Wallaby (Rugby Union) representative
Stan_Bisst__Russell_Eroro__Eric_Uwea.jpeg

[Waza]

Hi Gail, I presume your email name is 'aussie'. Gail I have just read through this story a couple of times. May I offer my congratulations to you on taking such a bold step in resigning from Deloitte. I'm sure you thought long and hard before making the decision.

However, I can see that your decision will benefit so many PNG people over many years. I look forward even more now to finally meeting you in 8 weeks and 5 days. Will keep in touch as our start date gets closer.

Kind regards

Warren

[aussie]

Thanks Waza, and yes my pen name on both websites is 'aussie' coz at the end of the day, I may live here and am trying desperately to make a difference…but as per Peter Allen's song goes, 'I still call Australia home'! <img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//rolleyes.gif&#8221; style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:rolleyes:” border=”0″ alt=”rolleyes.gif” />

Footnote: Once a year as we all know as Australians we celebrate Anzac Day on the 25th April. Out on the kokoda trail Anzac Day is every day! The walk itself is an adventure like no other, but to walk and not reflect on how our diggers went would be hard to comprehend. According to Stan, their clothes stood out and compared to the jungle experienced Japanese, it was their sheer guts and determination that got them through. He talked about the brave 39th Battalion and how they looked when his 2/14 came along to help. He asked me, Gail how long were you out on the kokoda trail…I replied – 9 days. He said, think about the 39th they were out there for over 60 days!

Stan also told us how they had to cut off the Japanese at Isurava and they used a different track to the one used today. He told us how they got ahead of the Japanese because the route they took was quicker. Yes, the boys of Kokoda may not be walking World War II experts as they do not even have a TV, let alone a public library in Kokoda where they can obtain information about World War II but they are trying to catch up. Give them time and with my direction and training and that of others who offer their help, anything is possible – they just need to be given a chance!
anzac_day_lest_we_forget.jpg

[aussie]

Hello Gail, I must say firstly, thankyou very much for promoting Papua New Guinea via the internet. I think you are doing a wonderful job with the Kokoda trek ! I have also noticed the number of trekkers walking in Kokoda has accelerated in recent years and I believe it is also because of the kind of work and time you put into promoting Kokoda.

I was just thinking if you could also try promoting Mt.Wilhelm, in Simbu. I think this has alot of potential to attract climbers from all over the world…

Keep up the good work. I am really impressed.

Rob
London

Editors Note: Yes Rob, intend to do that as well. I was on the phone only yesterday talking with Pam Christie whose speciality is this mountain. I will work very closley with Pam as she is just one person who is prepared to let me market and sell her tours online! It has been proven, internet surfers do not want to spend hours in travel agents offices, they want their travel available at the click of a mouse. I plan to bring PNG up to speed and allow this to happen. Many people in America complain to me that their travel agents when they want to book, try and talk them out of coming here and encourage them to head off to other countries instead. It probably has something to do with our law & order problems but out on the Kokoda Trail I felt safer than anywhere.

Rob was one of our first trekkers from England. He walked with his friend from Uni – now in 2007 I guess he is hard at work somewhere or perhaps still travelling the globe in search of another adventure:
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[aussie]

Message received from a potential trekker:

Hi Gail, Dad definitley wants to do the trip this year, and we need to make choices about which trek. I was going to ask your advice on which trek you would recommend (he wants to attend an anzac ceremony), but now you're saying you have resigned. (Sounds like you're going to enjoy your new role! <img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//smile.gif&#8221; style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:)” border=”0″ alt=”smile.gif” /> ) Who should I now get in contact with? Or are you still able to handle his booking for us? You've been so helpful and lovely… Hope to hear from you soon, Colleen
______________________________________________________________

There seems to be some confusion….I have resigned from Deloitte's not from my own business, ie kokoda or promoting png. Repeat, I am leaving an accounting firm to work for myself and continue promoting PNG, the Kokoda Trail or anything else. So yes, I can still take care of your needs and even better now as I do not have to leave the house for 8 hours each day and go off to work.
______________________________________________________________

Photograph: Update 2007. Turned out the 'Dad' mentioned in this email was our oldest ever trekker Walter Kelly….wow, what an achievement! A digger who fought in PNG not on the track but was in the hospital in Sogeri during World War II. He came back to walk and pay his respects! Over 80 years of age he not only walked the track but did an extra couple of hours as it rained heavily for days and he had to commence his trek from the Sogeri National High School. Walter arrived in KOKODA to a HERO's welcome and will always remain very special to us all.
Walter_Kelly.jpeg

[aussie]

Update March 2007: What a journey it has been since the day I said goodbye to Deloitte's and concentrated on Kokoda Trekking fulltime. The people I have met; the staff we have employed; the stories I have heard and so much more. Sometimes when I have been up since 5am getting trekkers away and still sitting at my computer come midnight answering emails I might well ask myself what have I got myself into….

Russell and I have had our share of growing pains but we have still tried to do our best and give you our concentrated effort. Our KTL boys have been absolutely great and have really worked hard to have you achieve your dream of walking the Kokoda Track. It has also opened up a whole new world for some of our guides and porters.

Andrew Yauga has received from his trekker a lap top computer. He was also invited to attend the Lord Somers Powerhouse camp along with some of our other guides and later invited to Sydney to stay with ex trekkers for a few weeks early January this year. Andrew's brother Horace has just had his school fees paid to enable him to pursue his dream of finishing high school. Just today I was advised that his parents are thrilled and ever so grateful for the help they have been given.

Late last year we lost one of our porters in a car accident. As I write his widow is fighting for her own life in Popondetta hospital. (Update…Mavis passed away Tuesday 20th March) Tim's trekker along with his twin brother flew up for his funeral such was the bond between them all. They also brought with them two new guitars and purchased in Port Moresby a keyboard so that the musical porters on their trek can achieve their dream of selling their music….I could go on and on!

In PNG there is no social security system in place and its every man for himself. I was advised recently by the Kokoda Track Authority CEO Warren Bartlett that they expect the number of trekkers to be somewhere in the vicinity of 10,000 within the next five years. Apparently there is concern that there will not be enough porters to go around.

What I see at the moment is the opposite, we have hundreds of people looking for work. Everyday of the week during the trekking season, people wander into Russell's family block in Kokoda hoping to see their name on the list for the next trek. Paulo, Russell's nephew who does up the list sometimes wants to go and hide as he cannot employ everyone and just has to try and spread the work around the best he can. At times the boys get mad with him!

This was highlighted to me last year when a group of trekkers took me aside and told me how great one young porter was. The following day when I was at the airport putting the group on a flight back home, this young man asked….boss meri did I do well? I answered yes, our trekkers said you were the best porter. He then asked, will I get employed again? before I could reply he added….. last year I thought I worked really hard but this is my first trek for 2006. I live with my grandmother and she told me I must have done something wrong not to have been selected again! She told me on this trek I must try and not get into trouble with my guide and to do everything that is expected of me…….I will never forget this young porter!…and yes he did get more treks last year!

I informed our base in Kokoda to give this young man another trek and the reply was that they have so many young guys like him all giving them a hard time. Yes, life in PNG with so many unemployed people is not real easy, especially the young looking for their first big break! For experienced guides and porters its much easier as return trekkers for one, keep asking for them again.

So, its still my dream to keep doing what I am doing to try and encourage more people to walk so that it has a double meaning. You our trekkers take a walk in our diggers footsteps and the young men of Kokoda and surrounding areas get a chance of employment.

For those of you who have already signed up and are committed, on behalf of Russell and myself, we look forward to welcoming you to PNG. To those of you still thinking about trekking, wondering if you are enough, I always say,

IF I CAN WALK KOKODA, with around 3 months training, ANYONE CAN!!!
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