Kokoda Trek

At the end of Term 2, aspiring student leaders from Trinity College Colac had the opportunity to complete the legendary Kokoda Track in an initiative developed and sponsored by AKD. 

After months of preparation that included training and team-building exercises with their travel companions from CSC and AKD, on 19 June at 1:30am, the excited group set off from Melbourne airport with the destination of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. The first evening was spent having dinner together, organising their packs and mentally preparing themselves for the upcoming adventure.  

There was an early wakeup call the next day as the group flew over the Owen Stanley Ranges, which they would be trekking across over the next eight days, and arrived in Popondetta. 

Commencing at Kokoda, the group hiked back towards Port Moresby retracing the footsteps of the Australian soldiers from WWII in 1943. Rising at 5am, the group walked for seven to ten hours a day through mountainous terrain, carrying their own packs weighing up to 18kg. Disconnected from technology and relying on each other for moral support and encouragement, the group imagined what the Australian soldiers went through during a tumultuous period in history. Their guide paused at several battle sites to explain the historical significance of each battle, and everyone within the group gained a real understanding of the sacrifice made for the future of our country. 

Along the Kokoda Trail everyone was physically and emotionally challenged in some way, helping build resilience, mental strength and character. Friendships were forged, stories were shared, bonds were formed, and connections were made between everyone within the group. As confronting as some sections were, the personal growth and valuable lessons that everyone experienced were genuinely life changing that could not be replicated outside of the trek. 

The trip is an incredible opportunity for personal growth, development of character, resilience and empathy and I have no doubt that the Year 11 students who took part in this experience will be future leaders in both the school and the wider community.  

Look out for the invitation to our current Year 10 cohort to apply for the 2024 Kokoda Track experience that will be sent out soon. 

Trinity College Colac thanks AKD for investing in the future of our aspiring leaders.

Mrs Sarah Borch