Qld's Courier Mail

[johnnycash]

Hi all,

just wondering if anyone else read Mr Rory Gibson's article in todays Courier Mail??

He brought out the old 'Kokoda trekkers at the bbq talking about the trek' up again.

I sent Mr Gibson an email to which his reply was that i had lost my sense of humour and that it was a pi….sstake!!!!!!!

Please, if you get a chance, have a read of the article (September 6th) and let him know what you think of his sense of humour – his personal email is – gibsonr@couriermail.com.au

I'm sure he'd love to hear from a number of Kokoda Trekkers

Cheers

Dave

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion…z-1225914693120

[Brian]

Not worth the time of the day sending Mr Gibson an email he is just jealous that he has not trekked Kokoda himself if he is as good as he thinks he is I challenge him to stroll up along the Kokoda Track if he were to do so he will get as emotional as many if not most of us have done when he experiences just a small taste of what our troops had to suffer.

I trekked when I was 70 and experienced 7 days of rain on our 9 day trek it sure was not picnic but if my health would allow I most certainly would do it again.

I have also walked in Lamigton National Park it also is tough in places but nothing compared with Kokoda and after a night perhaps two one was able to return home for a hot shower, change of clothes, cold beer and a good home cooked meal one cannot do that on Kokoda.

If he gets to read this I challenge Mr Gibbson to trek Kokoda and after doing so write another article for the Courier Mail.

I truely think that those porters are still "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" they sure looked after me and now mates for life.

[Geoff Hardie]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for alerting this southerner to this article.

As you indicated, I believe Rory has written article with a fair amount of "tongue in cheek". He may very well be one of the lazy Australians who are basically too scared to attempt the Kokoda – Owers Corner crossing and along the way pay their respect to the scarificies made by our WW2 soldiers.

I have no doubt all readers/contributors to this forum have the highest regard and respect for everything about Kokoda and the local villages along the Track and PNG in general.

His comparison with Bali I find offensive however I am inclined to believe that with a very small number of trekkers, it is sadly, reality. I have never visited Bali nor do I have any desire to do so. I can only go by its well known unsavory reputation on many fronts.

Cheers

Geoff Hardie

[Mrs Moo]

I haven't seen the article, but take it that it is a little insulting(?) to Kokoda trekkers?

I don't think anyone who hasn't been there can possibly judge the physical and emotional affect that the track can have on trekkers. Just seeing the remains of the weapon pits, and old shells and helmets along the way, can give rise to quite strong emotions and thoughts of what our boys had to deal with. For me, my full concentration went on where I was putting my foot next – I was so glad not to have to look out for someone who wanted to shoot me or slit my throat at the same time!

It's easy to cast aspersions from an armchair. A bit more difficult to get off your **** and actually trudge up those gruelling mountains for seven days straight. Not that I wouldn't do it again at the drop of a hat …

Maybe it was written to stir up some discussion – in which case, it has worked.

[johnnycash]

Thanks Brian, Geoff and Mrs Moo.
My reply to his article is below.

Like I mention, usually it's to create some type of controversy to sell papers.

Brian, I was thinking of you when i mentioned the 70 year old

'Good morning,

Interesting article you have written, and obviously one that has been
written many times before by journalists looking for that bit of
controversy to give their own career a high profile lift.

Take the Stinson walk and do it about 7 days in a row, then you might
get a little idea on what the Kokoda Track holds.

I am a Kokoda Trekker, and will be again next year, you are welcome to
join myself and my friends.

Before you say the knees no good, the backs playing up, the hearts not
strong enough etc…..(I've heard all the excuses), have a think about
the 74 year old that did the Track this year, or the 70 year old last
year, or the paraplegic, or the blind guy…the list goes on.

People trek for all sorts of reasons, mine was for past family fighting
on the Track, and their descriptions of the fighting should be enough
for what is a common theme – 'EVERY ABLE BODIED AUSTRALIAN SHOULD WALK
THE KOKODA TRACK'.

While it can never be proven, you might not have been able to go to any
bbq's to hear the stories if it wasn't for these battles along the
Track.

By downgrading 'the overweight middle aged persons rite of passage', you
are not only giving negative publicity to those trekkers, but in a round
about way, also a negative spin on the Track itself.

The Track is sacred, and the storey needs to be told forever more, in
schools, in universities, wherever.

I look forward to the letters to the editor over the next few days.'

and thanks to whomever added the link to the article.

Dave

[Mrs Moo]

Well said, Dave.

The reality is that the amount of training required just to get over the track is more than most people are prepared to do. Therefore the 'overweight middle aged person' is likely to die in the attempt, or as in my case, lose a large amount of that extra weight in the training!

Let us know if he responds …

Cheers
Mary

[Mrs Moo]

Thanks for alerting us to the link … I've just read the article. I actually found it quite funny, and not so insulting as I had thought it would be.

He's probably right about "If they want some street cred, Kokoda trekkers should embark on a famine a month before, give themselves a dose of dysentery, only attempt the journey at the height of the wet season, carry a bren gun and wear heavy army parade boots" – however for most of us it is challenging enough without re-living the wartime added extras And someone should probably remind him that July to November 1942 was the DRY season – just an unseasonably wet one.

However I do agree with you that the Track is sacred, and should be treated as such. Also, I'm not sure that anyone has actually died doing the Stinson Trek. My daughter did it with her father when she was 15, and when she was 31 she walked Kokoda with me. Guess which one was harder!

That's my piece … I'll shut up now
Mary

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