I have touched on this subject once before and thought it was opportune to raise it once more.

The strong medical advice given to me and my personal experience is that young children up to age 15 should not be tackling the Kokoda Track. There is no doubt healthy and active children will complete the crossing with ease and often will boost that they were first to complete individual days trekking.

This youthful enthusiasm is understandable however this is not the important medical issue.

Sustained physical exertion by young on the Kokoda Track over a 8-9 day period places far to much jarring on young developing bone structures and it only when the youngster reaches early adulthood that resultant constant stress fractures become apparent.

I am the father of 3, 25year old plus children, two of whom trekked with me in 2007 to retrace the wartime footysteps of my late father, a member of "A" Company, 39th Battalion. Unfortunately I will be too old when my first grandchild reaches age 15 to consider another Trek trek involving 3 generations.

Brian, if you read this, I hasten to add, I have no problem with your plan to do the shorter walk with your 8 year old grandson from Kokoda to Isurava and return. I am sure it will be a wonderful experience for him.

I have first hand experience of witnessing many young children achieving extraordinary feats as young athletes only to be washed up at age 21 due to burn out and by far too much pressure having been placed upon developing bones as youngsters. My oldest son was an Australian Youth Rowing champion in 2001 however at age 21 suffered a debilitating back problem which combined with alternative professional career ambitions brought and end to a promising rowing career. We have always thought the back problem may have been related to carrying excessive weight in hiking packs during his scouting years at ages 11 -15.

Having stated all the above I nevertheless appreciate that other Parents may have an alternative view which I will respect. Please do however seek your own Medical advice.

Geoff Hardie