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Kokoda Trail Trekking Statistics as at the 15th October, 2005.
I am often asked how many Kokoda Trekkers I think would have walked the Kokoda Trail during 2005. Thanks to statistics kept by The Kokoda Track Authority due to trek permits issued and purchased by trek operators, the answer is now available. If you check the statistics provided you will note that numbers are on the increase compared with previous years.
As the trekking season has almost finished for 2005, we are proud to see that ourselves, Kokoda Trekking Ltd (KTL) have finished off the year with more trekkers than any other trekking company both local and overseas. We are also proud that a local company with local guides has managed to do this.
Kokoda Trekking has, as a result, paid more in overnight accommodation and village food purchased on the trail itself; purchased more airline tickets from APNG & Air Niugini (domestic & international); filled up more hotel rooms & restaurants; purchased more trek permits and through the purchase of bilums and other PNG craft by our trekkers, helped to contribute to the PNG economy through tourism both on and off the track.
We at Kokoda Trekking salute our boys from Kokoda and all along the trail to Sogeri that we have employed during 2005 for the safe keeping of our trekkers and showing them that PNG has indeed a tourism market to explore…bring on 2006!
For Trekkers and Groups with trek permits applied, paid and issued through KTA for the year 2005 in alphabetical order:
Adventure Kokoda – 206 trekkers – 7 treks
Australian Defence Force – 20 trekkers – 1 trek
Curtain Bros – 12 trekkers – 1 trek
DCXP – Duncan Chessel (through Tropic Tours) – 43 trekkers – 5 treks
Eco Tourism Melanesia – 35 trekkers – 7 treks
Elei Tours & Services (Kokoda Holidays) – 15 trekkers – 1 trek
Executive Excellence (through Tropic Tours) – 205 trekkers – 14 treks
Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions – 17 trekkers – 1 trek
Koiari Treks & Tours – 51 trekkers – 10 treks
Kokoda Experience – 111 trekkers – 17 treks
Kokoda Legends – 54 trekkers – 6 treks
Kokoda Memorial Foundation – 27 trekkers – 1 trek
Kokoda Spirit – 4 trekkers – 1 trek
Kokoda Trekking (ourselves) – 635 trekkers – 68 treks
Kokoda Treks & Tours – 172 trekkers – 12 treks
Mentone Grammar- 3 treks
Niugini Tours / Pacific Travel / SPT – 15 trekkers – 1 trek
Niugini Tours (APPLIED FOR, ISSUED BUT UNPAID)
No Roads Expeditions (through Tropic Tours) – 14 trekkers – 1 trek
PNG Adventure Trekking (through Kokoda Trekking – ourselves) – 33 trekkers – 6 treks
Private Trekkers – 31 trekkers – 10 treks
St Patricks College, Ballarat – 22 trekkers – 1 trek
Toogee Treks – 7 trekkers – 1 trek
World expeditions – 2 trekkers – 1 trekTotal Permits Issued by KTA 2005 up to 15 October = 1797 trekkers – 183 different treks.
Photograph: In one week in April this year we had 160 trekkers in PNG coming and going from all different directions to co-incide with Anzac Day. This represents three groups seen here at Isurava Battlesite area. We like to restrict groups to no more than 20 trekkers per guide to ease congestion on campsites with the exception of certain areas like Isurava where we know it can handle the extra numbers.
Anzac_Group_at_Isurava.jpgEditors Note: We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our trekkers who walked with us in 2004 & 2005 which now number over 1000. On behalf of myself and my business partner sub-contractor, Russell Eroro from Kokoda, his extended family and all the boys of Kokoda and surrounding areas a big thank you for your trust in us to take care of you on the Kokoda Trail.
It is very much appreciated by us that you chose Kokoda Trekking (KTL) to give you the adventure of a lifetime. For the first time ever in 2004 & 2005 the name Kokoda not only stands for the infamous – 'Kokoda Trail / Track' but also the township of Kokoda…along with hundreds of boys from Kokoda & surrounding areas who if it wasnt for the likes of yourselves, would not have a chance to earn a living to support their families.
The District Administrator of Kokoda thanked KTL for giving these boys hope and a chance to support their families. Before KTL came along only a handful of local men from Kokoda ever found employment walking the Kokoda Trail. Russell always said to himself and anyone else who would listen…if I can ever start a company of my own ….I will help the people of Kokoda and he has kept to his promise. Initially his wantoks helped kick start the company but now he employs boys from everywhere both Orokaiva's & Koiari's and this year approximately 450-500 men gained employment through KTL. After 12 hard years of walking and working for other trekking companies, Russell has taken what he liked and disliked when walking for other companies and turned it into a brand of his own.
Many of these young boys now have chicken projects…small trade stores….new radios they are so proud of and most of all, you their trekkers as their new found friends. Many of you have sent photographs…boots…clothes…medicines for the Kokoda Hospital and much much more. The Kokoda Hospital now has an ambulance which we donated earlier this year. The boys now have a house here in Port Moresby to stay when they come into town until they go back home which helps keep them safe as most are not used to city life!
We sincerely hope that you tell all your friends so that 2006 brings more trekkers and more employment to the trail and just as important, more recognition for our diggers and what they went through so that we all enjoy the life we have today. Our boys always lend a helping hand and try to make your trek as 'easy' as possible. They stay with you from start to finish and are never far from your side.
Our KTL boys are also encouraged to mix with you our trekkers….share stories….tell jokes….anything to have you enjoy your trek. I can honesly say I have not had any trekkers come back in and say our boys did not look after you. All trekkers have been full of praise and our KTL song is on everyone's lips at the end of their trek.
As Stan Bisset said to me in January this year…it is peace time now and it is important that trekkers walk and remember what we did on the Kokoda Trail but they should have fun and enjoy their trek and treat it as an adventure.
We at Kokoda Trekking (KTL) want you to do exactly that. Our KTL boys want you to reflect on how they fought and suffered but we also want you to have fun out there and take away with you a cultural experience so that you experience what PNG has to offer. KTL boys will try their best to encourage you from start to finish and will help you wherever they can as the fuzzy wuzzy angels of today. Our boys sing and play their uke'ule's every chance they get not because they have to….its because they love too – and to them its fun to walk the Kokoda Trail and they want to have you to have fun too.
A word of thanks must also go not only to you our trekkers but to lots of other people who all combine to make it happen:
- The women in Kokoda (Russell Eroro (Rusty's) Family Block) who cook for our trekkers
- Our hundreds of porters & guides from Kokoda & surrounding areas and all over the Kokoda Trail
- Our driver Kei who works all kinds of hours and never complains
- Jessie our radio operator who does our daily website updates from the trail and who just loves accompanying you on sightseeing tours around Port Moresby
- Jimmy – the architect of this website and also http://www.pngbd.com – who is always there to help when we experience problems.
- My son Shane who prepares our DVD's and offers help in lots of other ways in marketing and IT and who recently took over our website as Jimmy's new business venture in Australia continually grows.
- My two daughters Cheree & Mikayla who prepare our 24 hour ration packs – http://www.food4treks.com
- My husband John, Dash 8 Captain – knows many pilots on a first name basis. Just recently a group got stranded in Kokoda when APNG's only available aircraft went US in a hangar. A pilot from another company got out of bed having been up at since 3am to fly out to Kokoda and pick up our stranded trekkers. The guy who organised it has known us for over 30 years! The pilot – a drinking buddy!
- To Nathan our other son for sometimes rushing out at the last minute to purchase anything and everything for me such as backpacks or the likes. Nathan is still studying but it is hoped this business will grow and all our family like Russell Eroro's will be involved one way or the other in trekking.
- Gava, our full time IT guru who helps get our computers up and running whenever they crash….prints out all the certificates and much much more
- Airlines of PNG's staff who have moved our 635 trekkers + Pam's and it totals 668. Whilst they have given me a few extra grey hairs this year, have moved everyone with the exception of the 19 mentioned above when a pilot grounded the aircraft and put it in the hangar.
- Warren Bartlett – Executive Officer of KTA – for the many trek permits he has had to issue sometimes at the last minute when I have run out of time with regards to paper work.
- To my sub contractor Russell (Rusty) Eroro – Kokoda Trekking Ltd for his continual support and help, especially his patience! One of these days he will blow up and I will know he is normal. I handle all the stress and Russell handles all the porters, guides & landowner issues – great combination – but it works! Russ tries to manage PNG time and I try to look after Aussie time!
- To all the villagers along the Kokoda Trail who have accommodated our trekkers and made them feel welcome – offered them fresh fruit & vegetables from their gardens and so on.
- Last but not least, to you our trekkers, you are in our Kokoda Hall of Fame as having had a successful trek and we congratulate each and everyone of you. I know how it feels to finish your Kokoda Trek and we are just so proud of you. It has also been a pleasure meeting you all and to the ones returning again, as they say here in PNG, lukim yu bihain taim. (translation – see you later!)
Monthly Statistics Up To 15 October, 2005:
Potential trekkers often ask when is the best time to trek. If I was to ask Russell my sub contractor he would answer 365 days of the year. In fact our PNG porters and guides cannot understand why we as aussies do not want to trek in the wet.
Our boys always think its the best time as it creates a real challenge. They also get to experience their boy scout training by making rafts…flying foxes to get backpacks across river crossings….light a fire with wet wood and so on.
The following data will allow you to see the statistics for this season January – October 2005:
- January – 3 trekkers
- February – 2 trekkers
- March – 33 trekkers
- April – 283 trekkers
- May – 198 trekkers
- June – 262 trekkers
- July – 344 trekkers
- August – 341 trekkers
- September – 282 trekkers
- October up till 15/10 – 49 trekkers
Grand Total – 1797 as at 15th October, 2005
Note: The above figures are compiled from data collected from Kokoda Trck Trek Permits issued by Kokoda Track Authority.
Figures in respect of Niugini Tours in Sydney and their associated organisations in Cairns and Port Moresby are obtained from data supplied to various Kokoda Stakeholders Meetings held at the Austrralian High Commission in Port Moresby. In March & April 2005, Niugini Tours applied to KTA for Trek Permits totalling K16,000 of which they have paid K3,000 only.
There are no statistics of persons trekking the Kokoda Track without valid Trek Permits. The employment of KTA Rangers and opening a Kokoda Office in 2005 will help overcome this.
For KTA and PNGTPA statistical purposes, Niugini Holidays are requested to supply monthly data for Kokoda Track/Trail Trek Permits.
The total amount of Trek Permit Fees collected in 2005 to date by KTA = K320,195.00
Amount outstanding on Permits issued as Accounts Receivable = K18,500.00Total value of all 2005 permist issued to 15/10/05 = K338,695.00
kind regards
Gail, Russell & all the staff at Kokoda Trekking
http://www.kokodatrekking.com.au
http://www.kokodatrail.com.pgWe would also like to congratulate our oldest female trekker for 2005 Jocelyn Medhurst who walked the Kokoda Trail at 71 and a proud 1/2.
Jocelyn walked alongside her son Tim and daughter Sally Medhurst from Outward Bound.
This was such an achievement that another person involved in tourism, Dick Knight (Loloata Dive Resort) stopped me on the road out to Ower's Corner and asked if I would mind asking Jocelyn if she would consider having her photograph taken with his children under 7 who had just completed their trek.
Jocelyn agreed and that night Dick Knight made the journey in from Loloata and met up with the family at the Yacht Club just for the photograph and to congratulate her on her acheivement.
100_3801.jpgCongratulations must go also to our youngest trekker for 2005, Lindsay Apted aged 12 years who trekked with other members of his family and friends. Lindsay is seen here being congratulated by Russell Eroro (Kokoda Trekking Ltd – KTL). Russell has trekked 270 times and is renowned as one of the longest walkers on the trail. His brother John Derick however, has just finished another trek which must take him close on 400 or thereabouts.
They have a couple of younger brothers who are now trying to catch up who all walk for us. Some of you might recognise their names…. Davidson/Johnsford/David/Duggie/Ross and brother-in-law Justus Evari.
They will find it a hard task as brother John Derick is a long way off hanging up his boots:
DSC02623.jpgJocelyn Medhurst's trek got a mention in Friday 11th November's Post Courier,
CLICK HERE to read the article:
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