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Editorial by Charlie Lynn | |
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 Our annual Kokoda Reunion Dinner has been confirmed for Friday, 7 November at Parliament House in Sydney.The recent discovery of what appeared to be the suspended body of a pilot or aircrew member in a tree along the Kokoda Trail seemed remarkable. As one who experienced a number of 'tree landings' during my parachuting days I can vouch for the difficulty of getting out of a harness in that type of situation - and then getting down the tree. Fortunately it turned out to be nothing more than a couple of moss covered branches. Well done to those who reported it though - it's better to err on the side of safety and have these sort of sightings verified one way or the other. I was recently contacted by Anthony Staunton, the editor of Sabretache, the journal of the Military Historical Society of Australia in regard to my reference to the official name of the Kokoda Trail. Anthony advises that the detailed reference is: PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972, page 1362, column 2. Notice 1972/28 of the PNG Place Names Committee. I am grateful for Anthony's detailed research and would hope that we respect the right of PNG to promulgate geographical place names and then refer to them by their proper title in any official corresondence or articles. Interest in trekking Kokoda continues to increase and there is an emerging trend to use the experience for charitable causes. Whilst this is a noble gesture there does not appear to be any benefit for worthy causes in PNG - and there are plenty of them! It seems incongruous to use a track in a third world country to raise funds for causes in our 'land of plenty' without leaving something behind in PNG. The Rudd Government's approval of a guest worker scheme for PNG citizens is a welcome and long overdue initiative. The region was a blind spot for the previous Coalition Government. Trekkers who experience the work ethic and the care of guides and carriers along the track are at a loss to understand why we make it so hard for them to come to Australia. It's a fair question. We continue to try and give as much 'back to the track' as best as we can. We have pledged $10,000 to the development of Community Learning Development Centres at Kokoda in partnership with the PNG Department of Community Services. We have also donated two computers to 'Mother Tessie' of PNG. This remarkable woman runs programs for mothers with Hiv/AIDS and provides decent burials for unclaimed babies in the city morgue. Our trekkers have donated more than 1000 books to the Port Moresby Grammar School library this year and Adventure Kokoda has agreed to sponsor two students at the school. Adventure Kokoda trekkers are the main providers of medical items to the Kokoda Hospital and the Sogeri Medical Clinic during the trekking season. All trekkers generously pool all of their medical supplies at the end of each trek and hand them to the approriate clinic. This amounts to more than $70,000 of medical supplies each year. Well done trekkers! In Australia we honour the legacy of Kokoda by donating two treks to Legacy and one to the Queensland RSL 'Girl-in-a-Million' Quest for fundraising; two treks to Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets program for leadership development; one to the 39th Battalion Association and one to the regular army 39th Support Battalion. We recently trekked over the old track on Ioribaiwa Ridge - just past a large bamboo clump where we (almost) stumbled across a local python who had just invited a bandicoot for lunch - he was contented to keep an eye on us . . . . . . . . . . . . . until I shot it . . .  . . . with my Nikkon D300 camera! |
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Kokoda Reunion Dinners | |
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SYDNEY: 7 November 2008 Our 2008 Kokoda Reunion Dinner will be held at Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, on Friday, 7th November 2008.  Last year's dinner was a sell-out and a cracker of a night. The cost for the function will be $150 per person. Any profit from the evening will be donated to the Kokoda Trust for distribution to the charities, schools, and health centres we support in PNG. Bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We have booked the whole of the Parliamentary Dining Room for this year so we will have to close it off as soon as we reach capacity. We are arranging a booking form to allow you to reserve a place - or table(s) - for the evening. We will notify you as soon as it is ready - hopefully within the next week. Flag Re-enactment - Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway - 8 November 2008  The following day, Saturday 8 November, we will be conducting a special service at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Concord. The service will include a re-enactment of the Australian flag raising on the Kokoda plateau, 66 years ago. A buffet lunch will be served immediately after the service. Guests will then be free to trek along the walkway and view the various battle stations along the way. You can check the website by clicking www.kokodawalkway.com.au You will receive more information on this next week - in the meantime mark November 7 and 8, 2008 in your diaries. MELBOURNE: Friday, 27th March 2009  Our 2009 'Salute to the 39th Dinner will be held at Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne on Friday, 27th March 2008 at 6.30 pm.The dinner will be hosted by intrepid Kokoda Trekker and Member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood MP. Major-General David McLachlan, State President of the RSL in Victoria will be our guest speaker. Veterans of the 39th Battalion will be our honoured guests for the evening. Please mark the date - March 27, 2009 - in your diaries. We will get more detailed information to you shortly. |
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2008 Victory in the Pacific Anniversary | |
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 The 2008 Victory in the Pacific (VP Day) Service was conducted at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord 0n the 15th August 2008.
The keynote speaker for the commemorative service was the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AO DSC CSM.General Gillespie summarised the war in the Pacific during the dark days of 1942 and then spoke of our legacy: 'For Australia, Victory in the Pacific Day ended six years of hardship, sacrifice and anguish. It heralded the start of what many people hoped would be a new era of peach. So in remembering the nearly one million Australian men and women who served, and the 40,000 who died fighting to protect the freedom we enjoy today, it is worth reflecting on the legacies of that great generation of Australians. ''In the post-war period, Australia emerged as a more confident nation, one more open to the world. The slogan 'populate or perish' won widespread acceptance and prepared Australians for a massive immigration program that would double the population within a generation. 'The immigration program required a great expansion of employment and this was achieved by building on the industrial base created by the war. Steel-making had become a major industry turning sleepy seaside villages such as Whyalla into massive industrial complexes. Places like this continued to expand in the post-war years. ''One of th eother great legacies of the war is that Australia had forged a close relationship with the Unites States throughtout the Pacific Campaign. It is a relationship that endures to this day, and is central to the economic health and security of our nation. ''At the end of hostilities, Australi was able to forge a new relationship with Japan. their post-war democratisation resulted in stronger economic ties with Australia, and today Japan rates among our closest trading and dialogue partners. 'These are among the most important legacies of the many Australians who sacrificed so much in the lead up to Victory in the Pacific. But there were other legacies as well. 'We commemorate and treasure the spirit of service before self that these wonderful Australians showed. They showed their firm belief that true democratic freedom must be nurtured and protected: and when threatened, is worth fighting and if necessary, dying for. This legacy is one that subsequent generations of Australiansmust continue to nurture and cherish as we struggle against those who would subvert democracy and challenge the individual freedoms that are so very fundamental to our culture and society. 'The war in the Pacific tested the character and commitment of the Australian people. Whether they served in the sands of north Africa, the jungles of New Guinea, in the air over Europe, on the high seas, or in the factories and farms of the home front, we remember todaya generation of magnificent Australians who fought to protect our way of life; our democracy, our culture, our land. 'We appreciate that through their valour, our country emerged from the Second World War with a new sense of economic, political and social independence. They inspire us with their example and our nation rightly owes them its deepest and most sincere gratitude. Click here to read General Gillespies full speech  General Gillespie escorted to the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway by Canada Bay Mayor, Angelo Tskerios (a Kokoda trekker) and Chairman and former RSL State President, Rusty Priest. |
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'Mother Tessie' of PNG. | |
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 During my last visit to Port Moresby I was introduced to Tessie Soi. This wonderful woman has established a 'Friends Foundation' in PNG to provide support for her 'Friends' living with HIV/AIDS (some 3.5% of the adult population is infected with HIV in urban areas of PNG which is comparable to the situation in sub-Saharan Africa). While internatinal aid agencies grapple with the problem this remarkable woman quietly organises home visits, bus fares, medical fees, repatriation, mosquito nets, food, necessities (soap, etc) - and coffins and burial expenses. In 2004, Tessie established a 'Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission Program' to provide HIV Positive mothers diagnosed from the antenatal clinics with assistance in how to prevent or reduce risk of transmission of HIV to their babies. Her Friends Foundation assisted with group therapy utilising other HIV Positive mothers to give encouragement to the new mothers as well as providing milk formula to those mothers from unstable families. She encourages the fathers of the children to attend her meetings as well. To date, her Friends Foundation has assisted 74 mothers and fathers and 52 children. Tess says that although some of their babies have passed on through HIV, they have been blessed that so far eight of their babies have been tested HIV Negative after their first 189 months. Tessie has also establised a 'Friends Orphan Buddy System' to target children who have lost their parents through HIV. It costs $5 a week to support one of her orphans - she currently has 39 in the program. Tessie regularly visits the Morgue at the Port Moresby General Hospital to collect the bodies of unclaimed children and give them a decent burial. She provides a coffin, wraps the body in satin, places scented flowers in it then conducts a service. She has buried 206 babies since 2004. Tessie told me that all her staff are volunteers - 'they must come with their heart' said Tess, 'because we have no money'. We asked what help we could provide and she advised that her Friends Foundation needed a couple of computers. Adventure Kokoda has since donated two computers and printers with a local network. We are indebted to Zaya Toma - an IT whiz who works for me in the NSW Parliament. Zaya stayed in Port Moresby for a couple of days after his recent trek across Kokoda and set up the computer system for Tess. We received the following note from Tessie on her arrival back in Port Moresby: 'Dear Charlie, 'Thanks a million for the 2 computers dropped off at the office. I was in Babaka village, 3 hours drive from Pom. ' Staff advised me of your kind donation. ' My Admin Manager, Mr pana Sitapai will email you through friendfoundinc@daltron.com.pg when the office downstairs is completed. ' Its great to hear that i can email you when i am in dire straits and i will also give you updates and how our programs are going. ' I can use someone else as a sounding board. which i hope you don't mind. ' But thanks a million for helping me do my programs for our people. Tessie' If you wish to spopnsor one of Tessie's orphans for $5 per week please contact Tessie directly at: Tessie Soi Friends Foundation INC PO Box 4895 Boroko NCD Papua New Guinea Phone: 0011 675 326 0775 Fax: 0011 675 326 0775 email: friendfoundation@daltron.com.pg Bank: ANZ Port Moresby Account No: 018-900-0011441669 We have advised Tessie that Adventure Kokoda will join her 'Friends Orphan Buddy System' and provide a subsidy of $5 per trekker over the next 12 months - this will assist Tessie to sponsor up to 90 additional orphans. We now invite Tessie to bring her bilum bag to collect any 'loose change' from our trekkers before they leave Port Moresby - last week she collected 296 Kina from John Nalder's group. |
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Our 'Bring-a-Buk Campaign' tops 1,000 | |
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 Our trekkers response to our 'Bring-a-Buk' campaign where they are encouraged to bring a book from a list provided by the Port Moresby Grammar School, has recently exceeded 1,000 books.Deputy-Principal, Michael Luff, has advised that POM Grammar has been able to employ a second librarian because of the response to the program. We have entered into a partnership with the Port Moresby Grammar school because of its philanthropic approach to education in PNG - and because it has proper governance. This is a key factor in considering any form of philanthropic partnerships in PNG. We have also established a Kokoda Bursary Program with the school. Trekker who wish to sponsor a student can have the bursary named after them. We will publlish more details of our Kokoda Bursary Program in our next Niusleta. Click here to learn more about Port Moresby Grammar School. Michael Luff has provided an update on our 'Bring-a-Buk' campaign in a recent email: 'Hello Charlie, 'Hope all is well down your way. Collected a good number of books the other evening with Chad & Ron Beattie’s Group! Our number of books and DVDs totals 1035. All brought forward in the past 12 months approx. A fabulous effort! This does not include pencils, pens and other drawing materials. 'On the turn around side Port Moresby Grammar school has done the following: '. 6 cartons of reading books were delivered to Taurama Barracks Community School along with a heap of stationary; '. 7 cartons of books were presented to Bavaroko Community School (our next door neighbour); '. 1 carton was given to a small group called “We Care” in the Hohola settlement area. Mums teaching street kids to read; and '. 2 cartons were sent to Gaire community school on request. ' All of these are a result of culling as new books come into our library. Where there is a doubling up we give these away in the cartons. Some of your books we use as incentives and prizes to kids at Pom Grammar for good work. The culture of reading has been substantially enhanced since your program has started. Popular novels are being read throughout the school. The library staff are really doing a fine job. ' Friends Foundation gave us a wooden coin box and in the first fortnight we collected K250- for Tessie’s group. ' Our next quest is to build up the culling cartons again so that Sogeri Community school and Ioiari High school are provided with books. ' Nixon and the West Papuans are still at Gerehu. The six we have at Pom Grammar are still in school. Many of the other school kids have been “pushed out” or have simply given up – sorry to say. However, we will keep going with our little group. The West Papuan girls especially enjoy the hockey competition on a Sunday afternoon. ' Things are going very well at present and a big lot of thanks to you. ' We would like to see you at the school when you are next up this way – is that possible? 'Regards, 'Mike' I am pleased to advise that Mike has kindly agreed to assist in the distribution of books and educational materials to Sogeri Primary School and Iaowari Provincial High School near the start of the track on the Sogeri plateau. We appreciate his generous offer and look forward to extending the program to remote village schools along the track.  Our Adventure Kokoda trekkers were recently acknowleged in Hadibaia Hereva - the newsletter of the Port Moresby Grammar School: 'Adventure Kokoda under the direction of Charlie Lynn has once again come to the fore with more books, DVDs, sports gear, pencils, pens and games (but mainly books). 398 items were presented to POM Grammar for the library [in July]. The students and staff are thoroughly enjoying the new and exciting reading opportunities. Thanks are extended to our special friends from ADVENTURE KOKODA and the Australian Trekkers.' Our sincere thanks to all our trekkers who have made this possible. |
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'Buk bilong Pikinini' Program | |
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The 'Buk
bilong Pikinini' program was established by Anne-Sophie Hermann, the wife of the Australian High Commissioner, Chris Moraitis, and Mrs Anne Mukerjee. They have since been joined by Mrs Margaret Tefuarani, a nurse at Port Moresby General Hospital and Mrs Caroline Podd, a trained librarian from Australia and Mrs Ririn Yaxley, an accountant. Ms Carlie Atkinson co-ordinates the program. The purpose of 'Buk bilong Pikinini' is to focus on early learing through the introduction of small libraries in children's hospital wards, orphanages and other places of need. The first new 'Buk bilong Pikini' library opened at Port Moresby General Hospital on 16th April 2008 providing new and pre-loved books, as well as a librarian to read to the children during their stay in hospital.  'Kaikai bilong Pikinini' is a subsidiary of the 'Buk bilong Pikinini' charity organisation which was set up in response to the acute shortage of mil and food supplies in the children's tuberculosis, HIV and malnutrition ward of the Port Moresby General Hospital. Kaikai bilong Pikinini, in collabaration with the Port Moresby General Hospital, aims to ensure a sustainable supply of milk and food and con-ordinate nutritional education specifically to the children who are resident in the tuberculosis, HIV and Malnutrition ward at Port Moresby General Hospital. They will meet other needs with the ward as they arise. We can help by making a cash donation to Buk bilong Pikinini and Kaikai bilong Pikinini through the following contacts: . Anne-Sophie Hermann: ashcm@daltron.com.pg . Anna Mukerjee: anna@mukerjeeyoung.org . Carlie Atkinson: kkbp@live.com Donations will help cover the following costs: . 30 boxes by sea freight from Australia:- $300 - $400 . One metal bookcase for 300 books costs $350 . One custom-made toy box costs $200 . Librarian's desk and chair and 10 children's chairs for one library costs $450 One month's salary for the teacher-librarian costs $500 Adventure Kokoda will be providing a donation of $5 per trekker to the 'Buk bilong Pikinini - Kaikai bilong Pikinini' programs henceforth. |
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Charity begins in . . . PNG! | |
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The recent popularity of Kokoda has spawned a new breed of 'trekking Samaritans' who plan to use the experience to raise money for various charities in Australia. While the cause is always noble, and the individuals are often well intentioned, there is some irony in the fact that we seek to exploit a jungle track in a third world country to raise funds for a cause in our 'land of plenty'. There is no doubt these new 'trekking samaritans' know little about the plight of our neighbours in Papua New Guinea before they land in the country. However it is difficult to understand how anybody can spend a couple of nights in Port Moresby, then trek across the rugged Owen Stanley Ranges, and not observe the subsistence needs of local people. One can only wonder at their power of observation during their Kokoda experience. . Did they drive around Port Moresby with their eyes closed?  . Did they not communicate with their PNG guides during their trek? . Did they not observe the lack of basic health and education facilities in the villages they passed through? . Did they not learn about the ravages of HIV/AIDS/Malaria in the country? . Did they not think it might be a good idea to share the benefits of their fundraising efforts with a similar charity in PNG? . Or do their own 'feel-good' needs blind them to the plight of our closest neighbour, wartime ally, former mandated territory and fellow Commonwealth member? There is no shortage of worthy programs in desperate need of financial support. The Friends Foundation Inc was support and care for women and children living with HIV/AIDS - see the story on 'Mother Tessie' above. A 'Buk bilong Pikinini' and a subsidiary 'Kaikai bilong Pikinini' is an independent registered charity based in Port Moresby - see story above. There are many other worthy causes for the new trekker samaritans to support. For example I recently visited a settlement at Gerehu on the outskirts of Port Moresby. The community comprises 147 West Papuans who have no access to education, health, welfare or employment because they are stateless. They have been evicted from previous setttlements five times in less than a year. The only future option for the boys is crime - and for the girls - prostitution.  This is the family home for Willie and Reilliy Yarisetow and their 4 children at the settlement at Gerehu - they would pass the plate around for a donation towards an Australian charity - but they don't have a plate!  A communal bedroom under a canvas tarp - they would donate some furniture for an Australian family in need - but they don't have any!  Romial Yarisetow is 6 years old - she would help wash clothes as a fundraiser but you would have to deliver and pick up!  This is Patrick and his sister Romial - neither has a birth certificate, the security of a National identity, access to a welfare safety net of any kind or any hope of a better future! They are not in a position to help any worthy Australian cause at this stage.  The Port Moresby Grammar School (known as the 'School of Opportunity') assists the Gerehu community by sponsoring a couple of students, providing books and organising games for them. Pictured is Nixon Kafir (who is stateless, voiceless, landless and powerless), and has been that way in PNG for 30 years; Phillip Yambe, a sponsored student; and Michael Luff, Deputy Principal of Port Moresby Grammar School. Those who trek with their eyes wide open are appalled at the reality of the squalor and the sense of hoplessness they observe. The thought of using a section of land such as the Kokoda Trail to benefit charitable causes in our 'land of plenty' is perplexing. Lets hope the new breed of 'trekking samaritans' decide to leave some of what they raise in PNG - there is no shortage of worthy causes for those who trek 'with their eyes wide open'. It would be far more noble for them to leave their ego in Australia and their money in PNG! |
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The Private George Collins Kokoda Award | |
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Warragul MP Gary Blackwood, and local publican Bernie Rowell have trekked Kokoda 23 times between them. Last year they caught up with one of their local heroes - 88 year old retired businessman, George Collins who fought with the 2/14th Battalion during the Kokoda campaign. George, like many of his mates, never made much about his war service. He did his job in the army then came back to Warragul and got on with his business. Gary and Bernie decided to honour his legacy by establishing an annual 'George Collins Kokoda Award' for year 10 students from secondary colleges across their local Baw Baw Shire. The award provides an opportunity to walk in George's footsteps across the track with Adventure Kokoda. Unfortunately they didn't anticipate the level of interest - or the quality of the applicants. They were not able to decide between the final three, Alana Ravenhorst, Nahkita Wolfe or Becky Green. They enlisted the support of a fellow trekker and local businessman, Colin Turner, who agreed to provide some additional sponsorship to allow the three girls to participate in the trek.  Alana, Nahkita and Becky met George at our 'Salute to the 39th' dinner at Parliament House in Melbourne last November. George was able to pass on some helpful hints to the girls prior to their trek.  All three girls successfully completed their trek under the leadership of Chad Sherrin and Bernie Rowell. They are now ambassadors for the 'George Collins Kokoda Award' in the Baw Baw Shire in Gippsland. |
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Honouring our Legacy to Kokoda | |
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 Adventure Kokoda honours our legacy of Kokoda by donating two wartime battlefield treks to Legacy for auction at their annual torchbearer fundraising function - one to Sydney Legacy and one to Brisbane Legacy. 'Legacy is proud of our association with Adventure Kokoda and the amazing support you have given us through the years. We hope that through the donation of a trek we will be able to continue this relationship and allow us to continue our important work for the 125,000 families, widows and children we care for in Australia'. We also donate a trek to the Queensland 'RSL Girl-in-a-Million' charitable quest to assist with their fundraising efforts in 2008. We received the following letter from this year's RSL Golden Girl, Miss Melissa Raitelli from Ayr, who raised $65,179.89: 'Dear Mr Lynn,  'Being involved in the RSL Girl in a Million Quest has truly changed my life and I am so grateful for all the wonderful things I have experienced and will experience in my reigning year. 'I would like to sincerely thank you for your contributions towards the RSL Girl in a Million Quest. It is wonderful to see people willing to support the cause for the care and well being of our Queensland Veterans. 'I am very appreciative of the support you have given, and I am sure the veterans would be most thankful for your kindness too. Your contribution has made a positive difference to their lives in addition to each and every entrant that has been part of the Quest. 'Once again thank you for your valued sponsorship towards the RSL Girl in a Million Quest, we hope that you are able to continue this for years to come. Kindest regards, Melissa Raitelli' The 2008 RSL Girl in a Million was Miss Maia Keerie of Rockhampton. She wrote: 'Dear Mr Lynn,  I wish to express my deepest gratitude to you on behalf of all individuals involved with the RSL Girl in a Million Quest. 'The support and assistance you've given to the quest has ensured that it will reach its 50th anniversary next year and continue to change the lives of Queensland veterans and young Queensland women. 'For you kind generosity , I extend my deepest gratitude to you. Kindest regards, Maia Keerle Queensland RSL State President, Doug Formby advises that a total of $718,184 was raised by the entrants in the Quest in 2008 - a great result for our veteran community. We also provide two treks to Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets for the development of his young leaders; and a further two treks to the 39th Battalion (one to the Association and to the regular army 39th Support Battalion). We support the legacy of our wartime carriers in PNG by sponsoring two Kokoda Bursaries at the Port Moresby Grammar School and a 'Bring a Buk' campaign for their school library. We also provide direct assistance to schools along the track and provide medical supplies to the Kokoda Memorial Hospital and medical clinics at Sogeri, Kagi and Menari. We are indebted to the generous support from our trekkers who make it all possible. |
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White Australia Prises Door Open for Black Melanesians | |
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The Federal Labor Government's announcement of a Guest Worker Scheme from Pacific nations is welcome news for neighbouring countries situated within our international area of responsibility. It is also good news for the horticultural industry that estimates up to $700 million worth of fresh produce is left to rot for the lack of reliable workers. This is almost double the value of our annual aid budget to PNG! The Rudd Government is to be congratulated for its re-engagement of the M in the Pacific – particularly PNG – through the Pacific Partnership for Development and Security initiative. The Hon Duncan Kerr was a wise choice for the appointment of Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs in view of his previous experience as Dean at the Faculty of Law at the University of Papua New Guinea and his previous Ministerial experience. Duncan Kerr has given an assurance that the scheme will have legislative safeguards to protect guest workers from exploitation. It is difficult to understand the Federal Opposition's objection to such a scheme. There is no doubt that Melanesia in general, and PNG in particular, were policy blind spots for the former Coalition Government over the past decade. Responsibility for our region was sub-contracted to bureaucrats in AusAID and other NGOs while we tried to punch above our weight on the more appealing international circuits of London, Paris, Washington and New York. The argument that we need more time to debate the issue doesn't’t wash. The issue has not just appeared on our radar – it has been around for more than a decade. A couple of Senate inquiries were conducted on the issue as farmers cried out desperately for seasonal labour to harvest their produce. It was all to no avail. The issue of allowing guest workers from the Pacific access to seasonal work in rural areas is not only about helping our farmers. It is also about bridging the empathetic divide with our neighbours in our international area of responsibility. Our refusal to allow PNG citizens’ access for seasonal work while our farmers have to turn their crops back into the ground creates the impression of a ‘big brother’ attitude in the region. PNG leaders know that we have agreements with 36 countries around the world for temporary work - but not with them. A young PNG worker is allowed to travel to London and work for up to two years under a mutual holiday worker scheme. But they cannot come to Brisbane because we will not let them in. Is it any wonder some of their leaders are exploring a ‘looking north’ policy so they can politely tell us where to place our fruit and vegetables that we won’t allow them to harvest? Our deep seated racial discrimination and our condescending political attitudes to issues such as this have not been designed to ‘win friends and influence people’ in the Pacific. They will never forget the humiliation of their Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare, by our security morons at Brisbane airport! The trial guest worker scheme can be a bridge for the rebuilding of our relationship with PNG. But to make it work there has to be some attitude change on both sides of Torres Strait. PNG has to seriously address three major problems in their political, commercial and cultural environment. These are 1) governance; 2) governance; and 3) governance. Corruption has to be exorcised from their national DNA. This will be an inter-generational process but someone, somewhere, somehow has to start the process. The Rudd government’s Pacific Partnership is a tentative first step. An agreement on access to our seasonal labour markets provides an opportunity for some conditions and mutual responsibilities to be attached to the scheme. Australians needs to understand our Pacific cousins much better. We need to build empathetic relationships through political, corporate and cultural exchange programs. We should upgrade our Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs to a Ministry for Melanesia. We should introduce Melanesian studies into our primary, secondary and tertiary education system. Papua New Guinea needs to urgently address the issue of governance by granting some sort of amnesty for past wrongs and accepting assistance for agencies dealing with law enforcement and justice. The ‘Melanesian Way’ should no longer be accepted as an excuse for corruption, incompetence or inefficiency. Papua New Guinea should acknowledge that corruption is robbing them of the opportunity to tap into an abundant store of goodwill that ordinary Australians have for their people. Individuals, corporations and philanthropic organisations are willing to donate generously towards causes that will meet both short and long term objectives. They will not do this until Papua New Guineans can guarantee that the donations will not be siphoned off by corrupt middlemen. The objections raised by both the Federal Opposition and the Trade Union movement are pathetic and should be dismissed. If they cannot acknowledge the responsibility we have for our Pacific cousins in our international area of responsibility they should be dealt out of the debate. Helen Keller once said ‘the only thing worse than being blind is to have sight but no vision. The challenges facing our Melanesian neighbours in the ‘arc of instability’ to our near north are daunting. The solutions to the problems are complex and long term. International aid has failed Melanesians just as welfare has failed our own indigenous people. A pilot program that allows Melanesian workers an opportunity to earn a cash income, learn new skills and develop empathetic relationships while helping our farmers get their produce to market has great merit. It should be supported by responsible leaders from across the political spectrum. Click here to read my submission to the Senate Inquiry into 'Seasonal Contract Labour from the Pacific Region' in March 2006. Click here to have your say on my Blog |
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Why Veterans Cover Their Medals and Not Their Heart! | |
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 When veterans place their left hand over the left side of their chest to honour the fallen, they are not placing it over their heart – they are covering their medals.This gesture owes its origin to the ceremony in London’s Whitehall on Armistice Day, 1920, to unveil the cenotaph. A funeral accompanying the remains of the Unknown Soldier, which had arrived from France the previous day, was to march past the cenotaph, then proceed to Westminster Abbey. The regimental sergeant major of the Guards regiment conducting the ceremony decreed that all would salute the Cenotaph as they marched past by placing their hands over their medals - “no matter what honours we may have been awarded, they are as nothing compared with the honour due to those who paid the supreme sacrifice”, he said. (Extract from Sydney Legacy Bulletin) |
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Stan Bissett MC | |
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 Stan Bissett MC recently celebrated his 96th birthday - he is the oldest surviving Kokoda veteran and the oldest living Wallaby rugby player - he played for Australia against the Springboks in 1937.During the battle for Isurava, Stan's brother Butch, a popular courageous Company Commander, took a burst of machine gun fire. His company had fought off more than 30 ferocious attacks by up to 200 Japanese soldiers when he was hit. Butch was evacuated to the Regimental Aid Post at the rear of the position and Stan was summonsed to be with him. There was little the Battalion doctor could do. Stan stayed with Butch for the next five hours as he slipped in and out of consciousness. He held his hand and they spoke of their family back home and Stan quietly sang some of their favourite songs. After Butch passed away Stan had to put his grief aside and resume his duties as the Battalion Intelligence Officer. Stan was awarded the Military Cross for his courageous leadership during the battle. Stan epitomises the spirit of Kokoda. Jenny Plapp, the niece of a veteran of the 2/14th Battalion sought Stan out on her return from her trek. She wrote: Dear Fellow Trekkers, I just sent an email to Paddy telling him all about how Marg & I were fortunate enough to meet Stan Bissett 2 days after returning from Kokoda and he said I should let everyone know, so here is the story. Marg & I were fortunate enough to meet Stan Bissett. We went to Mooloolaba on the Monday after we got back and I rang Telstra directory and asked them for a number for S Bissett in Noosa and they gave me a number for Gympie and one for Perigen Springs, so I rang the Perigen Springs number and spoke to Mrs Gloria Bissett, said who I was and that I had just walked the Kokoda Trail with Charlie Lynn and she said I will put Stan on, I spoke to Stan for about 10 minutes, then we organised to go and visit him on the Tuesday. For a 96 year old, there was nothing wrong with his memory, his detail of the campaign was amazing, he spoke about when his brother Butch was mortared and how he held him in his arms from 10.00pm at night to 4.00am the next morning when he passed away and what they talked about. He had books with my Uncles details in it and we worked out my Uncle was in B Company of the 2/14th Battalion under his Brother Butch's command. I said to Stan you probably don't know him and Stan said I knew all my brother's men. When I first met Stan, I said hello Mr Bissett, and he said the name's Stan and when we left after an hour and half, I shook his hand and said what an honour it was to meet him and he said give us a kiss, I said I can do better than that and gave him a big hug. I have a photo of him I will send you. It was just the icing on the cake for the whole Kokoda experience. I better do some work now. Take Care Cheers Jen I am reminded of a tribute to our Kokoda veterans by former NSW Premier, Bob Carr. He wrote: 'the Men of Kokoda are among the greatest of heroes in a land that rightly canonizes few heroes. And as time slowly steals the survivors from our midst, it’s hard to resist thinking that Australians in the not too distant future will look back with almost disbelief at the giants who lived in those days'. Stan Bissett MC is one of those giants - we are indeed privileged to have met him. |
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Battle for Australia Day - Hello! | |
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 The Federal Government has declared that henceforth the first Wednesday of each September will be known as ‘Battle for Australia Day’.The announcement is significant because we are now going to commemorate a battle that never happened! Whilst the war against Japan in the Pacific involved many land, sea and air battles there was never a defining ‘battle for Australia. It is certainly true that our wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin, saw a battle for Australia looming after the rapid expansion of Japan into the Pacific in 1942. But while many feared an invasion at the time it emerged that Japan’s objective was to secure raw materials for her burgeoning industry by establishing a co-prosperity sphere in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan’s military strategy was to isolate Australia from America and deny them an operational base in the South West Pacific. The defining battle that Curtin envisaged never happened. Instead there were epic naval battles in the Coral Sea and Midway; air force operations in New Guinea; and land battles at Milne Bay, Isurava, Brigade Hill, Buna, Gona, Lae, Finchaffen, Shaggy Ridge, Wau and Wewak to name a few. Those familiar with the ex-service community would know that it would be impossible to get the army, navy, air force and a plethora of other units and formations to agree on a particular day to commemorate Australia’s war in the Pacific. The best they could do was select a day where no service, formation or unit was seen to get the ‘honours’. Sir Humphrey Appleby (of Yes Minister fame) would be proud of the process that led them to finally agree on a date to commemorate something that didn't’t happen. The Federal Government obviously saw advantage in supporting the ex-service community in their veiled ‘non-agreement’ and proclaimed a date that will fall on a different day each year. As an official day of commemoration it will be a non-event and will have little resonance with the younger generation. They hardly take any notice of VJ/VP day that commemorates the surrender of Japan and the end of the Pacific War on 15 August 1945. If the significance of this occasion is now beginning to fade the ‘Battle for Australia Day’ will surely be stillborn. A better option would have been to recognise the importance of the raising of the Australian flag on the Kokoda plateau on 3 November 1942. This ceremony symbolised the turning of the tide against the hitherto invincible Japanese army. A ‘Kokoda Day’ would have a strong resonance with the young because it commemorates an actual happening. Unfortunately the nature of the ex-service community is such that it would be impossible to achieve consensus on an appropriate date - and the government would not make a decision without their imprimatur. Sir Humphrey would be quite amused! |
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Kokoda Blog | |
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Have your say on our Kokoda Blog: 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels' Deserve a Medal Kokoda: Track or Trail? Lets not forget the villagers along Kokoda - Sandy Lawson Blamey: Controversial Soldier Pacific (PNG) Guest Worker Scheme Senate Submission for PNG Seasonal Workers 'Bring a Buk' Campaign for Port Moresby Grammar School Education: A Trekkers Legacy Kokoda: More than a Jungle Track 2008 VP Day Speech by General Ken Gillespie AO DSC CSM Military Heritage at Risk on Kokoda The Kokoda Trust Sapper Thompson - Tribute to a Mate Wouldn't be great if . . . |
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Pidgin English - New Guinea 1942! | |
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EDITOR'S WARNING: Whilst the following extracts were intended to assist our diggers in New Guinea in 1942 they may may offend the custodians of today's ' politically correct' culture. " PIDGIN ENGLISH FOR USE IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANDATED TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA"  'FOREWARD'It is an axiom of war, that an invader who can speak the language of the country invaded, has the battle half won. 'The natives of New Guinea, who in the main will be found friendly, are very vindictive and will vent their wrath on any white man who rouses their enmity. Therefore, study the 'DONT'S' contained in this book. 'Remember, the natives speak very quickly, and should the natives conversation not be understood, tell him to speak slowly,by using the following phrase: 'ENGLISH: 'You are speaking too quickly, I cannot understand you!' PIDGIN: 'Me no har im good, you talk easy' 'DON'T DO THESE THINGS 'Lean Up Against a Coconut Palm. Look up first. A dry nut might be ready to fall and would seriously injure you if should hit you. 'Interfere With Native Women. They might be found willing parties but will spread the news of the affair so as to arouse the jealousy of their husbands. this would mean death or hindrance to the next white man passing that way. 'Interfere With Village Pigs. This would be nearly as bad as interfering with the women. 'Drink Stagnant Water. This would lead to an attack of dysentry. 'Drink From a Native Bamboo Container. The inside of these are filthy and usually contain particles of fermented food. Have your own container filled from running water. 'Forget to Take Quinine. Take the daily prophylactic dose of five grains and disregard anything you are told to the contrary. Sometimes small quantities are found in the native villages in charged of a Dr. Boy. 'Walk With the Slightest Irritation in Your Boot. Stop and take it out. 'Forget to Inspect Your Legs and Feet Each Night. The slightest abrasion or cut can develop into a tropical ulcer within twenty-four hours. Pay great attention to this and treat any cut at once. 'Try to Walk Too Far in One Day. No advantage is gained and you will find that the carriers will desert you during the night if you do so. 'Try to Travel at Night. The progress you would make would not be commensurate with the risk of injury. 'Be the First to Walk Across a Stream Near the Coast. The natives see crocodiles very quickly. Have one of the natives walk in front of you. 'Try to Swim a Flooded River. Wait. The rivers rise and fall very quickly. 'Fraternize too Much With the Natives. They quickly become contemptuous of a person doing this. 'Pay More Than a Reasonable Price for Anything. The highest price a native receives becomes the minimum. The next man coming that way might not have the wherewithal. 'Fail to Pay the Agreed Price. This would cause the natives to refuse to sell to the next person. 'Allow the Natives to Get Too Far Ahead When Walking. There might be a catch in it. Keep your carriers all together. 'Forget to Count the Number of Natives You Start With. You might have to pay twice as many as necessary and on the other hand, some might have gone ahead to give information. 'Tell the Native Where There Are Other White Men. They love gossip. Let them tell you. 'Allow the Natives to Speak in Their Own Language. Make them speak pidgin. They might be arranging something to your disadvantage. 'Throw Away Any Article of Accroutment. Unwanted goods can be used for the purchase of food. 'Forget that the Natives Can Tell Lies. Try to make sure they are telling the truth before moving on. 'Allow the Natives to Come and Greet You With Spears in Hand. They will put them down if told to do so. 'Lead the Party at Any Stage. The tracks are narrow and should anything start it will give you a chance to get away. 'Allow Your Carriers to Wander About in a Strange Village. They are born thieves and will probably steal something to cause you trouble with the local kanakas. 'Lose This Book. It might save your life.' General Hints on the Carriage of Goods by Native Carriers 'The average load for a carrier is forty pounds (20kg). They can carry more but experience proves that this is the most satisfactory load. 'Have your packs ready at the starting point the night before. The natives work better if they can start at daylight. 'Always have the packs placed in a line about two paces apart and call the natives into line opposite the pack each one is to carry. They can then move off simultaneously and the goods will not be pilfered. 'Write down the names of the natives who are carrying for you. It impresses the native who feels a certain duty towards you once his name has been written in a book. 'Don't pay carriers before you start, or in the middle of the journey. Pay when the cargo has been delivered. If you do you will probably lose both the cargo and the native. 'If only one white man accompanies the carriers walk behind them, if more, then the white men should be interspersed with the natives. One white man should always be last. 'Keep your carriers together. If the line strings out too much the cargo might be pilfered. 'When resting, turn the part of the pack that has been nearest the natives skin to the sun. 'Always take your meal a good distance away from the packs. The sweat on the packs from the natives attracts numerous blow flies. 'Should a native leave his pack on the track and retire to the bush for natural purposes wait for him and keep him in sight all the time. They use this ruse when they are going to abscond. 'Always supervise the distribution of the natives food. The cook's friends will get the greater part of it if you don't. 'Remember the natives think through their stomach. Feed them well and you will save yourself a lonely walk. They will run away if not well fed. 'Once a carriers pack has been eaten, to not take him any further. It makes a big difference to the amount of cargo you will deliver at the end of the journey. 'Always have your own bed packed on the most reliable native. If you lose this you will not sleep. A mosquito net is nearly as essential as food. 'Punish a native who interferes with a native woman in a foreign village. It will settle the trouble on the spot and the natives will appreciate and assist you. 'Don't bring the packs into the house where you are sleeping before sundown. The blow flies (Lung) will come with them if you do. 'Remember the native is a heavy sleeper and is most unreliable on watch. Have a look every hour or so. 'Retain the Natives' Friendship, another white man coming after you might need their assistance'. It is interesting how times change. We regard our carriers as partners on the treks today. We have Trek Leaders, Trek Deputies, Medics trained in First Aid and 'Bos Kuks' and their assistants. They take their responsibilities seriously and are proud of their trek titles. The feedback we receive from trekkers in regard to the support they provide to our Adventure Kokoda groups is exceptional. But times were much different in 1942 . . . .! |
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Adventure Kokoda DVDs & Photos | |
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Words cannot describe the Kokoda experience - but some of these DVDs on YouTube can give one a good feel for it - Click here to view them.
Click here to post your trek photos on our Adventure Kokoda Facebook |
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Who Swapped the Chief's Head-Dress? | |
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We have been asked to find the Australian trekker who swapped the Abuari village chief's ceremonial head-dress! We don't know what he told the chief but we do know that the hat he exchanged in return for the Chief's traditional head-gear did NOT belong to the Lord Mayor of Oodnadatta! The chief is obviously proud of the exchange so we did not have the heart to tell him that Oodnadatta doesn't have a Lord Mayor! We hope to find the anonymous trekker before the Chief finds this out for himself so any leads would be appreciated.  Lukim yu nekstime Niusleta,  Charlie  Adventure Kokoda PO Box 303 Camden NSW 2570 Australia 0439 303 303 charlie@kokodatreks.com.au www.kokodatreks.com |
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