Hitting the trail in Kokoda’s spirit By Lt William Heck
Edition 1171, July 26, 2007
Team spirit: 41 Fd Bty’s Ipswich team with event Ambassador Duncan Armstrong, an Olympic gold medallist. Bdr Steve Barron, LBdr Wayne Hutchins, Gnr Steve VanBodegraven and team captain Pte Lindsay Phillips. Photo by Lt William Heck
IN a dawn scene reminiscent of Anzac Day, the Ode was read followed by the Last Post and a .303 volley to signal the start of the 2007 Kokoda Challenge on July 14-15.
The Kokoda Challenge is a gruelling charity team-race through the Gold Coast hinterland.
Since its inception three years ago, the race has attracted teams from 41 Fd Bty.
This year for the second time the battery depots of Ipswich and Southport went head-to-head with separate teams to determine which was the toughest.
It’s a rivalry that equals a State of Origin decider and it was played out against the backdrop of what is now considered the toughest competitive adventure walk in Australia.
The Kokoda Challenge is a cross-country, bushwalking team event over 96km which represents the distance of the Kokoda Track.
The track has to be completed within 39 hours, a time symbolising the 39th Militia Battalion, the first Australian troops to arrive at Kokoda, on July 15, 1942.
The race was the brainchild of Doug Henderson as a way to finance the cost of running the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP).
This year the winning team crossed the line in 11hrs 59mins, taking two minutes off the record set the year before.
Mr Henderson said that of the 165 teams to start, 80 made it to the finish line within the time limit.
“There were a few hospitalised on drips and stuff but no-one died or was seriously hurt so that’s a good result,” Mr Henderson said.
“We would love to see a few more Army teams getting involved because this is a top-drawer endurance event,” he said
The 41 Fd Bty team from Ipswich finished the course in just under 29 hours, a three hour improvement on the previous year and two hours in front of the Southport team.
Ipswich team captain Pte Lindsay Phillips said he was happy with the result, which squared the ledger to one all.
“It just goes to show that nothing soft comes from Ipswich,” Pte Phillips said. “Bring on next year.”
KCYP is a program which has been developed to help young people who are at a crossroads in their lives and require an opportunity to help realise their full potential.
It is a 12-month commitment consisting of training activities and camps which develop physical fitness and prepare participants to challenge the Kokoda Track in PNG.
Mr Henderson said the life-changing experience was followed by a further six months’ community support where participants regularly volunteered their time to local not-for-profit organisations.
“It’s about providing the opportunity for young people to learn some of the skills and qualities that matter in life,” Mr Henderson said.
“This year we will take 12 kids to PNG and another six will complete the Kokoda Kids Adventure Challenge in Cairns,” he said
“The Kokoda Challenge is designed to reflect the key elements of the spirit of our nation.”
