Walking The Kokoda Track

Kokoda  Walk

Walking Kokoda I came to understand much more about the campaign that shares its name and the nation that we share that part of our history with. 

When you walk the same steps all our lads did, you come to appreciate the hardships they faced. The terrain and conditions must have made it miserable to lug gear and wounded comrades up those hills. The boys that fought there were just 18 and a half, plenty of them died violent deaths thousands of kilometers from home. They were ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, who held out against all odds, they were heroes, each and every one of them. 

I must also mention the Papuans who then, as now, are perhaps the most generous and courageous people in the world. I am grateful to have had the pleasure of travelling through their country. I pray my fellow Australians will acknowledge both the tremendous friendship between our peoples and the debt of gratitude we owe the Papuans for joining our forefathers in the defence against the Japanese invasion. 

Finally, I must thank everyone responsible for giving me the opportunity to walk this remarkable chapter of our nation’s history and to better understand the sacrifices made for myself and every modern Australian.

Felix Wallace Muscovich (Yr.11)