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Approximately two weeks ago a PMV from Saga Village (Public Motor Vehicle) was travelling down from Kokoda to Popondetta around 6am when it ran off the road and crashed. One guy by the name of John Taylor died instantly. The remaining passengers were taken to the Popondetta General Hospital for treatment.
One of our porters Tim Bauba (brother of Sidneyand Gill) passed away some two days later from head wounds. His wife Mavis is still in hospital with a broken jaw and is battling to stay alive. Tim's body will be taken to Kokoda early next week for burial. He is survived by his wife Mavis and five young children.
Tim was a personal porter on trek 173 and his trekker was Allan Hazell. Tonight I received the news that Allan and his twin brother Peter are flying back to PNG to pay their respects and to attend his funeral. Allan stated in an email that he felt he had just lost a brother as they had bonded so well on the track.
Two of our favourite porters were also injured and were in shock. They are Clement Harike and Jimmy Ami. We have heard they are both ok now and thinking they are lucky to be alive.
Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of all the Kokoda people involved in this tragic accident.
Photograph: Back Row, Freddy Yauga, Sidney Bauba, Neil Barai, Tomsteen Konehe, (Unknown Papuan from Port Moresby), Davidson Eroro, Ronny Urina.
Middle Row: Timias Bauba kneeling
Front Row: Tony Ogonemi, Joe Duhube, Esiko, Bill Harike.
Missing from the group photograph, John Periawa photographer.
Picture_094.jpgTrek 173 Group Photograph taken at Ower's Corner – :
Picture_044.jpgAllan Hazell seen here fixing a leaking main water pipe on the Kokoda Track 29 August 2006 – 6 September 2006. To the family of Tim, it will indeed be an honour for his trekker and his twin brother to travel all the way from Australia to Kokoda for his funeral. Allan mentioned in his email to me that Tim told him the most important thing was to have his children educated and that is what he will get ! :
Picture_084.jpgOn Monday we had the pleasure of welcoming back to PNG Allan and Peter Hazell from Trek 173 who will travel out to Kokoda Wednesday 13th December to attend Tim's funeral which will take place on Thursday.
Tim was a popular person in the town of Kokoda and will be sadly missed. Our KTL porters along with Allan have been asked to carry Tim's coffin to his final resting place on his family block.
I was informed yesterday that in the early days of setting up Kokoda Station, his father was one of the original five PNG citizens who worked with the Administration. Tim was one of 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls.
The late Timias Bauba as seen here during his employment as a personal porter on Trek 173:
Kokoda_Allans_cd_016.jpgTwins, Peter (left) and Allan (right) Hazell with Timias on the Kokoda Track during their walk late August/early September this year:
Peter__Allan___Timias.jpegTimias sharing a joke with another porter on Trek 173:
Timias_and_another_porter.jpgFamily Photograph – Timias with his wife Mavis and their five young children. May he rest in peace.
Timias_and_Family.jpgIt will not be all sadness when Allan and Peter touch down in Kokoda tomorrow, as they came with two brand new guitars for Freddy Yauga and Tomsteen Konehe.
After they arrived yesterday they went shopping for a keyboard for Davidson Eroro and ended up purchasing a Casio 750.
Davidson led Trek 173 and while he waited for them to arrive from Australia they were desperately trying to record their music to no avail as they could not get a recording studio.
Hence on trek 173 they headed back home to Kokoda and begged and borrowed instruments to continue their music. Just recently they were asked to play at an Aids Awareness in Popondetta. Davidson managed to borrow Freddy's sister's keyboard and off they went to play.
All three are very musically talented and thanks to the trekkers of Trek 173 who I believe all contributed to give three young guys the chance of a lifetime. Come Wednesday I can just imagine their faces when they see what comes off the plane!
Now all they have to do is to find a recording studio! and continue practising….
Thanks must also go to the Gateway Hotel who gave Allan and Peter FOC accommodation when they booked in mid afternoon on Monday.
On behalf of Russell and myself, sincere thanks Trek 173 for the care you have shown to the family of Timias and to our KTL guide Davidson and our two porters Freddy and Tomsteen. A sincere THANK YOU!
Picture_090.jpgIn a village guesthouse on the Kokoda Track late August/early September 2006:
Picture_053.jpgUpdate 14th December: The funeral went ahead as planned this morning and Timias was laid to rest in their family block in Kokoda. As with tradition Peter and Allan had their faces painted with black charcoal along with other family members and friends.
A minister went down to their block and carried out the service which was attended by hundreds of people. In the afternoon, the community offered a pig which was killed and shared amongst those present. The feast went on for some time and later in the day they all went for a swim in the river that runs through their block.
Tomorrow Peter is going to go and check out the ambulance we donated to the town of Kokoda as the driver forgot to check the transmission oil and it has developed a problem and cannot be driven.
On the weekend they will be driven down to where the PMV crashed.
With regards to Tim's wife Mavis, she was released from hospital to attend her husband's funeral but we have been advised that she may loose her the sight in one of her eyes. She is also finding it difficult to walk. Our thoughts are with her and can only hope she finally gets better so she can cope with raising their five small children.
Trekkers from Trek 173 as seen here in back of our truck KTL 2 on the day they headed out to Ower's Corner:
Picture_043.jpgUpdate Saturday: have just spoken to Allan by two way radio and they have just arrived in Popondetta where they will do some shopping before heading back to Kokoda around midday today. He said everything went ok and that they had still not handed over the guitars and keyboard as everyone was still in mourning and that they would leave that for now until later. He mentioned that they had visited Tomsteen's block and that they were both ok.
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