- This topic has 4,273 voices and 9 replies.
- Posts
It is with such sadness that I inform you all of the passing of one of our senior guides, Wallace Lemeki.
Wallace acted as our 2IC in Kokoda so whether or not you walked with him as a guide, you may have come across him at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat.
It is indeed a sad day for our Kokoda Trekking family as we mourn the loss of such an asset to our company.
Our condolences to his wife Linda and young son Scott.
RIP Wallace, you will be sadly missed by us all.
Wallace Lemeki 3.jpg
Wallace Lemeki.JPG
WallaceIan McLeod.jpg.pdfJust received a call from my Daughter Lara & Grant in Melbourne about the passing of Wallace and came to the KTL Website to offer our condolences.
Wallace was a wonderful man and was to be our Guide in April last year but took ill suddenly and wasn't able to complete the journey with us. whilst we had an extremely competent Guide in Arnold, we were looking forward to trekking with Wallace and I had purchased a Machete and had his name engraved on the handle as a gift for him and it was pleasing to see him with it in Moresby after we complete the trek.
We were extremely glad to meet Wallace in May back in Moresby and I was privileged to spend some time with him on the Saturday as I helped Gail organise some provisions for 4 trekkers coming out of North Queensland and it was an honour to work beside him and lunch together during the day.
Lara, Grant & I offer our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to his Wife Linda and Son, Scott on the loss of their loving Husband and Father.
Love & Best Wishes
Warren (Waza) Trek 83 & 762
Thank you for the many posts on our facebook page. Some of our trekkers have sent me emails. A trekker who walked with us on two occasions, sent me the one below today as well as posting on our facebook page. I know Wallace had a lot of respect for him as he often mentioned his name.
In the mind of this trekker, Wallace Lemeki was my champion. A porter and guide yes, but more of a mate. Always there for you when things were tough. Always a smile on his face and a song on his ukulele. The Kokoda Track will be poorer for his passing. God bless him.
Robbo – trekker 2005 & 2007
Photographs below taken by Robbo
Robbo's Pic.jpg
Robbo2.jpgHave also received some emails from our competitors:
Hi Gail,
Very sad news indeed. I am honoured to have had the privilege of meeting Wallace on several occasions. He was a real gentleman & true ambassador of the warmth & hospitality of PNG & the Kokoda Trail.
Please pass my most sincere condolences on to Wallace's blood family & KTL family.
Kind Regards,
Matt
KoTrek
Dear Gail,
So sad to hear about Wallace, he was one of a kind. I will never forget on one trek we had run low on rations as I wanted to go into Myola and our rations were waiting at Efogi. Wallace wanted to run ahead to Efogi get the the new rations and run back to Myola.——Like bloody hell!! I was not going to let him do that, for brekky we gave the group boiled rice milk and sugar,they were happy.
Wallace always put the clients interests first.
He was like a sponge learning the history and asked me many questions,it was a pleasure to have him around.
Best wishes
Soc.
Komplete Kokoda
PS Soc is the son of Bert Kienzle and grew up at Saga Village where Wallace and his family call home.
Another thing I have not mentioned about Wallace. When you continually pay out wages to guides and porters, it is so gratifying when you see they put their earning to good use in order to benefit their families. In Wally's case, he had all kind of things on the go. A trade store; chicken project etc.
One post was from a PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) owner in Kokoda who wrote:
Rip Wallace, You were a gentleman,I am saddened to hear of your passing, you were a good client for wasisi bringing your canteen goods but most of all a gentleman in this cruel world.,Go rest in that paradise where there is no sickness & Suffering,Rip. Henry Bauba
At the moment as I type this, since Sunday our facebook page I set up has received 1412 likes and some 207 replies.
If you havent worked it out by now, I feel like I have lost my best friend, Wallace was truly special to Kokoda Trekking and will be really missed this year and I am sure every year thereafter.
I have not long ago set up another page which shows a scholarship I have set up today in conjunction with the Kokoda Track Foundation to hopefully fund his son Scott's education for years to come. If you wish to donate, please click on the link below:
http://www.kokodatra…cholarship.aspx
I have just made a contribution to this scholarship and found there is a drop down menu which states DONATION PURPOSE. Please make sure you click on this box and select OTHER. Another box will then appear in which you need to type: WALLACE
Or contact:
Dr Genevieve Nelson
Executive Director
Kokoda Track Foundation Ltd
http://www.kokodatrackfoundation.org
Phone: 61 2 9252 2992
Mobile: 61 412 869210
Office: Level 10, 19-31 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000
Mail to: PO Box 1674 North Sydney NSW 2059
Scholarship update 15th March 2013 per email received from the Kokoda Track Foundation in Sydney.
Hi Gail,
So far we have received $2,265 in donations for Wallace's scholarship. We have earmarked these for Scott's scholarship.
Scott is attending Kokoda Elementary School this year – there are no school fees at this level.
When I was in Kokoda I met with Scott's aunt as Scott and Linda had gone down to Popondetta to pick up supplies. I gave his Aunt Scott's scholarship pack for the first half of this year – which contains all the stationery and materials he will need – and we will deliver a second scholarship pack in July.
I also asked his aunt to find out how much the family needed to pay for his school uniforms – Petra – can you please follow this up??
We will then quarantine the funds for when Scott reaches an age/school where the family needs to pay school fees and we will pay them out of his trust. I've explained that to the family who were there in Kokoda when I visited.
Thanks Gail and chat soon,
Gen.
Dr Genevieve Nelson
Executive Director
Kokoda Track Foundation Ltd
http://www.kokodatrackfoundation.org <http://www.kokodatrackfoundation.org/>
Phone: 61 2 9252 2992
Mobile: 61 412 869210
Office: Level 2, 189 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000
Mail to: PO Box 1674 North Sydney NSW 2059
<http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kokoda-Track-Foundation/119361988074837>
<http://twitter.com/KokodaTrackFdn>
<http://www.linkedin.com/company/kokoda-track-foundation>
A big thank you to each and everyone of you who has contributed to this trust account as once Scott gets older it will cost a lot more to keep him in school especially when he reaches high school and may need to go away to a boarding school.
I know Wallace would appreciate what you have done along with myself.
I personally will continue to add some more to this trust on a yearly basis to make sure his son continues his education.
On behalf of Kokoda Trekking, sincere thanks.
warm regards
Gail
PS The photograph attached was sent to me recently by the McLeod family who kindly donated to the trust.
WallaceIan McLeod.jpg.pdf
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.