Kokoda Track: Take a leaf out of Andrea’s book

Andrea Morris (above), retail manager, counts trekking Kokoda as her most life-changing experience.

It was the author, Peter Fitzsimons latest book, on Kokoda which first inspired me. I’d always had an interest in military history and after my marriage ended, I decided it was time to do something for me.

Kokoda was the itch I chose to scratch.

Before my first trek, I was already going to the gym. But I added regular weekend visits to the 1000 Steps in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges. 

Up and down, up and down, carrying a backpack with weights; and on weeknights, I would run the local hills to make my legs as hard as possible!

My trek was led by Back Track Adventures, and we had 17 trekkers, our leader and 30 porters. My second trek was with a private group of five other trekkers. We crossed the Owen Stanley Ranges and took a three day sojourn in a village called Naduri to experience village life with the families of our porters.

Fateful fall? One step sideways! But a porter was there to break her fall.

This was an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience.

The treks made me feel a connection with our war history and such an appreciation for the 39th battalion and our Armed Forces and all that they gave up. And the friendships I made with my fellow trekkers and the Papuans are wonderful.

I’ve been able to conquer fears and doubts I had about myself. 

After my first trek I got a small tattoo that reads “Courage Endurance Mateship Endurance” – it reminds me every day that I can do whatever I set myself to and that belief and strength comes from within.

The trek has been the most life-changing thing I’ve ever done. I hope to go back soon …

Kokoda Track - hard to forget 80 years on

In 1942, a seldom-used track climbed from the small village of Buna on the north coast of Papua, over the Owen Stanley Ranges, and on to Port Moresby. The narrowness the Track formed a trail between Kokoda and Port Moresby of about 240 kilometres long.

In the Herald from November 12, 1942, under the headline, “GRIM BATTLE FOR TRACK”, the report says: “The Japanese kept their hold on the track between Oivi and Gorari, but there was evidence that the battle for that section was reaching a climax”.

Says Dr Karl James, head of military history at the Australian Memorial, “The Kokoda Trail, eighty years on, it is important to continue to honour those veterans still with us today and also highlights Australia’s long connections with our Pacific neighbours.”

Kokoda Track recaptured