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Dear Potential Kokoda Trekker: 'WALK FOR KOKODA' will commence at Owers' Corner on the 21st August, 2008 and will finish on the 28th August when you walk into Kokoda to overnight at Russell Eroro's family block. On the 29th August you can choose between flying into Port Moresby or staying on with us in Kokoda to welcome home the KOKODA CHALLENGE race competitors. The race record was set in 2006 by Brendan Buka in a time of 17 hours 49 minutes, will it be broken in 2008?
To join this special walk, you will need to be sponsored for the sum of $500.00, this money will go straight to the School – join us now on TREK 447 – Guide Andrew Yauga, Assistant Guide Chrisley Boropi
List of Trekkers:
1. Jane Boswell + Requires a porter (requests Freddy Yauga)
2. Tracy Tobin + Requires a porter (requests Daniel Orovo)
3. Judith Simpson + Requires a porter (requests Leo)Anyone else want to join Jane, Tracy & Judith? If so, please click on the following url and state trek 447:
http://www.kokodatrekking.com.au/booking.html
Also request the following as personal porters for our group: Chris Suma; Horace Yauga
Message from Judith Simpson – ex trekker from Trek 296 April 2007:
We would like to be at Isurava for the anniversary (of the battle of Isurava) service. We would also like to spend 2 nights in Efogi and intend to complete the trek in 8 days. We would like to invite others to contact either myself or Jane about the trek if they are thinking of joining us. Since this is a 'fund raising' trek we'd like the chance to talk to as many people as possible so they join us, or perhaps sponsor us. We would also like to encourage others to stay on and enjoy the hospitality of the KOKODA people and to welcome home the winner of the KOKODA CHALLENGE Race in 2008 and soak up some of the atmosphere surrounding the yearly event. Anyone who would like to contact Judith, please email: Judith.Simpson@integral.com.au
Judith Simpson
Message from Jane Boswell – ex trekker from Trek 296 April 2007:
The personal objectives of people who walk this track vary wildly from person to person, some do it for the physical challenge, others to specifically commemorate the memory of those brave young Australians who seved their country selflessly there during The war years, while others walk this famous track to experience the incredible bio diversity and pristine nature of this unique environment. The Walk for Kokoda will still embrace, respect and cater to the individual goals and aspirations people have of such an experience, but, just as importantly, our group will at the same time be making a real contribution to the local community through sponsored participation in the walk.
After walking the track in 2007 and returning later on that year with a friend from my trekking group to visit the locals, who so freely and openly befriended us on our journey, we were both alarmed and saddened by the clear lack of modern essential facilities available in the local communities compared to the medical and educational facilities we usually enjoy. For example, the local Elementary School cannot afford even minimal equipment such as tables and chairs for the children to sit at. We felt this provided an obvious opportunity to assist in a practical way through fundraising.
The selfless assistance the local Papuans, affectionately named Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, gave to injured Australian Digers along the track during WWII is now the stuff of legend. Many of the soldiers they helped and tended acknowledge that without that assistance from those Samaritans they would never have made it back to their loved ones in Australia, now you have a chance to give something back to these people and to assist those locals as they did so freely and compassionately in our time of need.
Each person who joins this trek will have to find sponsorship of $500.00. This $500.00 will go directly to a local school to purchase much needed generators which the school has identified as necessary to provide power to run computers and audio visual equipment to be used in the education of the local children in an effort to afford them the life and educational skills needed to assure the future well being of these remote communities through the nurturing of both traditional and modern life skills in the young.
The whole Walk for Kokoda group will visit the primary school at the conclusion of the walk and present the school with the sponsorship gift, take a tour of the school and meet some of the students whose lives you will be enriching with your gift.
So if you are looking for a life changing challenge and would like to give some life changing assistance to those in need at the same time, join our group and help make a difference to them, and to you !
Jane Boswell
Interested in this trek? If so, please email Jane for more information: janebozbns@optusnet.com.au
"After the verb 'to Love,' 'to Help' is the most beautiful verb in the world."
Bertha von SuttnerJane Boswell and Tracy Tobin seen here in these photographs when they visited in August this year to get a feel of what they could do to make a difference to the town of Kokoda. After a visit to the primary school they decided this is the venture they have set their hearts on.
Photographs:
Pic 1: A group pic at Kokoda airport against a mural we had painted this year. Prior to the painting it was just a cement wall which used to act as a holding shed for cargo after the war. (Tracy (left), Jane (right),
Pic 2: On arrival back from Kokoda at the Hevi Lift terminal building, Tracy (left), Jane (right).
Jane_and_Tracey_at_Mural_at_Airport.jpg
Jane_and_Tacey_at_Hevi_Lift.jpgIf you would like to make a difference to the education of our porters children in Kokoda, please join Jane, Tracy and Judith on their WALK FOR KOKODA:
Photographs – Kokoda Primary School grounds & library. The Library was built by Rotary International:
Community_School.jpg
Community_School_1.jpgTracy and Jane seen here shortly after they arrived in Kokoda in April 2007. Little did they know at that point they would be coming back again to walk in order to try to make a difference to someone else's life other than their own, well done girls, way to GO!
IMGP3463__Small_.JPGOur very own FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS who walked with Trek 296. The three girls have once again requested the same personal porters:
Photographs:
Pic 1: KTL boys at Bomana War Cemetery
Pic 2: Tracy & Jane seen here at Russell Eroro's family block in Kokoda with the children who live there
Pic 3: Face painting at the block (Russell Eroro's daughter Tina seen here with her younger brother Thomas).
KTL_2_nicer_pic__Small_.jpg
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IMGP0106__Small_.jpgCrossing over Efogi Creek:
Efogi_Creek_after_airstrip__Small_.jpgGroup Photographs at Owers' Corner for Trek 296 before they headed down their first hill
Ower__s_Corner_2__Small_.gif
Ower__s_Corner_1__Small_.jpgWALK FOR KOKODAWhy not join our past trekkers and become first timer trekkers and walk with "Kokoda Trekking". Walk the famous Kokoda Track and affirm your vitality while helping to raise money for the local PNG Primary School at the same time.
Trek # 447 – Cost: $1850.00 each per trekker + if you would like a personal porter please add on $510.00. (Internal flights and food all inclusive).
To join this special walk, you will need to be sponsored for the sum of $500.00, this money will go straight to the School – join us now on TREK 447
Message from Heather who walked with us earlier this year cc Jane Boswell:
Hi Gail, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Just a little about me: I walked a 9 day trek in July 2007 with my son, his girlfriend & another friend of their's. It was on this trek that I earned my nickname "Lapun Mama" I actually modified it to "long long Lapun Mama" with few disagreeing. My son, his girlfriend & me then spent another 3wks travelling in PNG.
I was planning to return in a year or two & walk in the opposite direction. I was also keen to 'give something back' to the Nationals & was hoping to do something to support their hospital – I'm a Registered Nurse.
Trek 447 fulfils both requirements -planned direction of trip & helping out & may give me the opportunity to find out more about their health needs. And the idea of being there for the finish of the Kokoda Challenge is an added bonus.
After the finish of the race I was keen to head north to Popondetta & then check out some of the history there, if you know of anyone else interested I'd enjoy the company.
Regards, Ki. (a.k.a. Heather Andrews, Ki is what family & good friends call me)
Photographs:
Pic 1: Group Photograph at Hevi Lift terminal building shortly before their flight to Kokoda (Heather far right)
Pic 2: The finish line – Owers' Corner Archway – for the first time in 2007, something very creative, a sign made up by trekkers stating their trek number KTL T 303 (Heather 3rd from right)
Hevi_LIft.jpg
IMGP4121.jpgIt's official, Heather has joined this trek:
To join this special walk, you will need to be sponsored for the sum of $500.00, this money will go straight to the School – join us now on TREK 447 – Guide Andrew Yauga, Assistant Guide Chrisley Boropi
List of Trekkers:
1. Jane Boswell + Requires a personal porter (requests Freddy Yauga) – deposit paid July 2007
2. Tracy Tobin + Requires a porter (requests Daniel Orovo) – deposit paid 05/10/07
3. Judith Simpson + Requires a personal porter (requests Leo) – deposit paid
4. Heather Andrews + Requires a porter (Requests Chris Suma) – deposit paid 13/10/07Anyone else want to join this trek? Is there any males out there who would like to walk with these women?
Hi Heather,
Welcome to our trek, we are so pleased you have joined us and know you wont regret it.
The kokoda people are wonderful people and anything we can do is more than worthwhile.
Jane and I also visited the hospital when we went back and that is also inneed of help, its great that you are a nurse and maybe if we can raise alot of money we could also do something there, I know that I would really love to be able to.Maybe if we all put our heads together who knows what is possible. We also plan to stay on after the race so we need to talk and can work something out with you regarding that.
You can e/mail me at tracyltobin@hotmail.com if you like .
Also thankyou Gail for helping us with your postings and we look forward to seeing you again.
Anybody else out there who wants to join us please do and feel free to contact either Jane, Jude or myself, we will have a ball and help others at the same time.Thanks again Gail
Regards Tracy Tobin x
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