G'Day Potential and Return Trekkers!!

Firstly I would like to thank CAPT(AAC) Laurie Hawthorne and Gail for their tremendous effort in organising so far not one, but two treks for our Army Cadets of NSW. Without the initiative from Laurie and the endless phone calls between him and Gail, our treks would not have got off the ground. Thank you both.

Our Trek in June July School Holidays of 2007 was my first time on the famous Track and I was very nervous. Although I walk a lot for work at home, our town is very flat and it was difficult to find suitable training spots to prepare for what had been described to me as 'walking up and down stairs, in sticky mud for up to 10 hours at a time, in hot humid conditions…'. As I looked towards our start point at Owers Corner from Bomana War Cemetery that first overcast day, I was fairly concerned that my back stairs training was not going to be enough……

Luckily, I had decided to hire a porter: even though I had been teased at home about not carrying my own gear..I felt I would appreciate the surroundings more – not just look at my feet – and be able to keep up with the teenagers better . My porter turned out to be guitar guru and singing specialist Freddy Yauga. He made me feel right at home and liked to have a joke and a laugh (lots of laughing) as we walked along. I would often get to the top of another 'incline' and he would be seated either playing his guitar and singing or waiting patiently with a big grin. Somehow though, he always seemed to be right by my side when I needed a helping hand or when a creek crossing was imminent or when we went down the really steep descents…I was happy to say that even though I was the only one who admitted before we left that I would need a porter – everyone on that Trek (except Stan) 'borrowed' one of the boys as a porter for at least some of the time. Thank you Gail for thinking ahead and providing porters for the under 16 year olds.

Freddy wasn't the only one of the KTL boys who were happy to help – all of the boys have easy going natures and were ready to lend a hand at every turn. There was never a problem too big or small, and everything was always with a smile. You felt like family from Day One.

Our Trek Guide David Clark Embo was always checking that everyone was OK and was especially resourceful when an unexpected injury (blisters to both big toes) affected one of our Officers (Jim Read) and the decision needed to be made whether to be airlifted out. The boys had got so attached to Jim, they offered to make a chair on which they would carry Jim to the end of the Track!!

Our Trek this year (Trek 488) was an interesting trek with a new bunch of teenage cadets. Laurie came on this one and his journey was marred by the onset of severe knee problems on Day Two. He battled on with both knees busted and I was impressed by his determination to complete the Track. I struggled more this year, as I also had a knee problem, but it was not enough to stop me from enjoying the experience and learning more about myself and my levels of endurance.

Both Treks brought home to me some of the struggles our Diggers must have had during the Kokoda Campaign and even after a second Trek, I have no idea how those amazing Diggers fought a war in that terrain. We were pushing ourselves just to cope with the mountains and the high humidity; we didn't have to cope with 1/2 a blanket during the cold nights, dysentery, little or no food at times, as well as being shot at, dragging huge guns behind us, coping with injuries of all kinds and continuing on with the fight.

I am forever grateful to those soldiers who fought along the Kokoda Track and also to the continued efforts of our current Defence personnel.

I thank Gail and Russell and the boys for two consecutive years of brilliant Treks with the Army Cadets. I thank the boys who gave personal insights into the Papuan side of the Campaign supported with readings from Bill James' field guide to the Kokoda Track (recommend read this before you go!) and tales from their grandparents service as we moved through the battlefields.

The boys are an absolute credit to KTL and to their families and I rave about KTL to anyone who will listen here in Australia. I look forward to next year's adventure!!

Happy Trekking!

Kim Duckworth

LT(AAC)

QM 24ACU Grafton

Australia
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