2023 | ISSUE 10 | SJC Newsletter

Kokoda Trek in PNG

A group of 28 students, parents and teachers from the SJC community recently undertook the gruelling Kokoda trek in PNG. This was our first overseas immersion since COVID. The experience was profound, with our bodies, minds and emotions being challenged every day as we walked in the footsteps of our servicemen and women who defended our shores during the 1942 campaign. Many thanks to the staff from Australian Kokoda Tours for leading this life changing experience and the truly amazing local porters who shared the journey with us. Stay tuned for more information soon regarding the 2024 experience for Yr 11 and 10 students.

A Reflection on the experience

My thoughts and reflections on the Kokoda trail was that overall, it was a very good experience with practically nothing negative about it.

All the locations we went to were interesting and unique in their own way, whether it be the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, the Bomana war memorial or one of the many villages along the track. The Bomana Cemetery was especially a highlight for me, highlighting the sacrifice of the diggers who fought on the very trail we were hiking, the atmosphere was eerie but calming. The landscape along the track on the other hand was simply beautiful, whether it be the dense tropical jungle, vast open plains or the many streams and rivers, the trail was stunning.

The locals, whether it be the hotel staff, porters or villagers were all incredibly welcoming and hospitable, and getting to interact and learn about them was one of the highlights of the trip. My favourite part had to be when we played sports with the village children. A close second would be any time the villagers would sing for us.

Another part of the trip that was enjoyable for me was meeting all sorts of new people, every student and dad who went on the hike were enjoyable to be around and the overall atmosphere throughout the trip was of fun and laughter. I met plenty of people who would’ve simply just been another face I would occasionally walk by when at Joey’s. Meeting Carl, our guide and group leader was personally for me one of the best things to come out of the trip, as he was an amazing guy to be around and had a great personality. I also met a man named Lee who was our group medic, and he really helped me up those difficult hills. It was also great to get to know my teachers Mr. Jones and Mr. Cashin.

The historical aspect of the track was my favourite part, as it’s the main reason people even go to hike there. Carl did an excellent job explaining the history behind the track as we walked it, the weapons dumps were all rich with history, giving you a firsthand idea of the equipment used by both sides. The best locations with historical significance was Myola Lake and Cons Rock. Myola Lake was stunning to look at, and it’s where the ANZACS held off the Japanese for a while, whereas Cons Rock was where the ANZAC medics performed surgery on the wounded. I also appreciated how the contribution of the Papua New Guineans wasn’t overlooked and also taught.

The hiking was honestly something I was worried about, but upon reflection it was probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. Whether it was a river, a muddy swamp or another mountain to climb, the satisfaction of completing something challenging was incredibly satisfying. Some people were better at the hike than others, but everyone put in 110% effort and we all made it in the end!

Overall, my reflections on the trip was that it was an amazing experience that I absolutely recommend if anyone is interested, every aspect of the trip was amazing, and I feel I definitely grew as a person after coming back.

Ty Ooju Morgan
Year 11 Student