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Last Sunday, we met up with a large group of members from the Kokoda Memorial Foundation who have volunteered their services to clean up various areas as follows:
Work Schedule for trip to PNG 24th May to 1st June 2009
Projects approved:
1 Repaint stick figure at McDonalds Corner and fix garden
2 Repaint Arch at Owers
3 Repaint gun at Owers
4 Repaint plaque at Owers
If time permits – restand flying fox at Goldie River
Each year they come up they bring with them some used army clothes as our KTL staff just can't get enough of them. So a big thank you from me for thinking of our boys.
On arrival at the village of Vesulogo they received a warm welcome for the women and children who live there.
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P5240010.jpgGrant Robinson who is pictured above took the opportunity to fly over to Kokoda on Tuesday and came back on our charter yesterday. When he arrived back in town we went shopping for some electrical gear needed for our retreat in Kokoda.
Whilst driving around he was raving about his experience in Kokoda and ended up producing his camera to show he how tough it was. He joked that on Monday night he was eating Ox & Palm at Vesulogo whilst at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat, he ate a chicken curry dish. For breakfast he had bacon, egg & pancakes with maple syrup. He slept on a bed compared to the floor and so on.
Around midday our driver drove Grant up towards Owers' Corner and found his fellow workmates working on area around McDonald's Corner so he was dropped off there. Our driver laughed as he recalled their questions to him…did you have a beer in Kokoda….he answered no, to which they replied, we saved you one. They asked him what he ate and he kept replying that he slept on the floor like them…and the questions kept flowing!!!
The version I heard was that he was drinking a COLD beer; enjoyed a nice meal; had a good nights sleep; watched a movie and filled up on breakfast before boarding his flight back to Port Moresby.
Photographs below supplied by Grant Robinson:
Pic 1: his meal of Ox & Palm at Vesulogo
Pic 2: Grant up against one of the carvings we put in Kokoda. This one is outside the Kokoda Hospital. We also put one in the Kokoda Monument area as well as a 'Welcome to Kokoda' signpost at the airport.
Pic 3: Kokoda Monument Area
Pic 4: Inside our picture theatre at Orohaven
Pic 5: Grant must like taking pics of his food as this is his breakfast at Orohaven.
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P5260054.jpgok, back to business.
Work has well and truly commenced on all the various projects they are undertaking during their stay at Vesulogo. No doubt a few beers will be drank, but hey these guys seem to know how to party!
Most are ex vietnam vets or in the case of Grant, a son of a vet.
For those of you who do not know, the Kokoda Memorial Foundation are the ones responsible for the archway at Owers' Corner.
This time last year they came up and erected a memorial plaque at Ioribaiwa Ridge.
We at Kokoda Trekking salute you all as it makes for a fantastic photo opportunity at Owers' Corner and Ioribaiwa. Also a great tribute to our diggers. Lest We Forget.
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