- This topic has 15,737 voices and 49 replies.
- Posts
Last night we met up with John Prossor who has trekked with us before and who is associated with the 'Lord Somers Powerhouse Group' from Victoria. We first met up with him when he trekked a few years ago and it was great to receive his initial booking and now the extra trekkers he has brought up with him to share in the experience of walking the Kokoda Track. Trekkers in this group include :
- John Prossor
- Nic Ruys
- PJ (Hutch) Hutchinson
- Jarad Hutchinson
- Steve Rieniets
- David O'Brien
- William O'Brien
- Graeme York
- Greg May
- Stevie Trembath
- Peter Ruys
- Haylee Parfett
- Ian Patching
- Tristan Ellett
- Greg Pries
- Michelle Webb
- Denzil Tudor
- Michael Hutchinson
- Patrick Hutchinson
- Kane Jackson
- Brian Costello
- Rodney Neville Bridges
Last night we arranged to meet with the group at 6:30am this morning. All went ahead as planned and we were all in vehicles by 7am and heading for Bomana War Cemetery. I must say John Prossor handed over paper work which made my job easy today as it was all bundled together and in great detail. Wow, I am not used to this, he will have to come back more often!!!
The photograph of the group below was taken at Bomana War Cemetery.
On the way up to Sogeri we stopped at the look out so everyone could stretch their legs and practice a few stairs before they commenced their trek.
IMGP0767.jpg
IMGP0768.jpg
IMGP0769.jpg
IMGP0770.jpg
IMGP0771.jpgAnother photo opportunity presented itself at Sogeri Monument area, refer pic below:
IMGP0772.jpgWhen we arrived at Owers' Corner the boys were chanting ORO ORO ORO which means WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME !!!
Soon afterwards they burst out into song and sang a song our driver wrote in pidgin which is about them carrying trekkers packs on the trail like before during the war. The song was written from Owers' Corner to Kokoda which is fitting as this is the direction this group has chosen to walk.
IMGP0773.jpgNot long afterwards we noted that all backpacks were laid out on a canvas waiting for trekkers to claim their bag and be alloted their personal porters for the ones who hired them.
The photograph below shows trekkers being introduced to our staff who will be taking good care of them during the next few days.
IMGP0774.jpg
IMGP0775.jpgAs trekkers were introduced to their personal porter I took the opportunity of taking a pic of them. After meeting their porter, trekkers then had to point out their own pack that they would be carrying.
In the pic at the bottom, our porter by the name of Bill, went to pick up the pack that he was allocated and cheers went out as it looked like it was as light as a feather….they were all still giggling some minutes later as Bill walked off to put in his own gear.
IMGP0776.jpg
IMGP0777.jpg
IMGP0779.jpgmore pics:
IMGP0780.jpg
IMGP0781.jpg
IMGP0782.jpgthey are still coming !
IMGP0783.jpg
IMGP0785.jpg
IMGP0786.jpg
IMGP0787.jpgother photographs:
IMGP0788.jpg
IMGP0790.jpg
IMGP0791.jpg
IMGP0792.jpgDue to Amy Richards pulling out at the last moment, her porter was allocated to Denzil who is Russell's son Kingsley (Kini).
IMGP0793.jpgIntroducing the Guides on this trek.
Pic 1: John Derick Eroro – a veteran of hundreds of treks spanning many many years
Pic 2: Wallace Lemeki – who use to hail from Alotau but was adopted into a Kokoda family
Pic 3: Davidson Eroro – Russell's & John's brotherIt was then time to take various photographs of the group with the archway at Owers' Corner as the back drop, here are some that were taken yesterday:
IMGP0794.jpg
IMGP0795.jpg
IMGP0796.jpg
IMGP0797.jpgJohn Prossor decided he too wanted to be in this photographs so another take was done.
IMGP0798.jpgOthers started lining up for their photographs…
IMGP0800.jpg
IMGP0801.jpgThe next two wanted to assure me they were not a 'couple' but wanted a photograph taken together.
IMGP0802.jpg
IMGP0803.jpg
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.