Following in the footsteps of our soldiers

Students from Trinity College have the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures and challenges with some inspiring outcomes.

Whether it be local trips and camps, Top End Tours, Ski Trips, Indonesian Tours or Tanzanian Immersions, our students are stepping outside their comfort zones to gain perspective on the world around them.

In 2018 Colac firm AKD reached out to Trinity College and Colac Secondary College and offered to subsidise a Kokoda Trek for Year 10 students. Six students and one staff member from each school were selected to join AKD staff for what we hope is the first of many trips to PNG.

After six months of training, the group tackled the endurance challenge in mid-2019. 

One of our students, Jewel Sibley, shared this when she returned to school after the trek:

What did you find the most difficult about the challenge?

The mental side you face throughout the challenge, when you’re walking continuously up and down for hours at a time, your body and legs get very tired and you must keep pushing through as there’s no turning around and going the other way. So, it’s pushing past that exhausted state and fighting with your body to keep going forward that was one of the most difficult parts about the challenge.  

What surprised you along the way?

How happy the village people living along the trail are. They have as little as nothing, but they are so happy. Also, how happy the kids are. We gave them balloons at one of the villages and to see how happy a balloon made them and to see that they played with it for hours until it popped was incredible to see and showed how grateful we should be for everything around us.  

What was most satisfying about the challenge?

Experiencing and seeing the bond you created within your group, from starting the journey and never having spoken to some of the people you were going to complete the challenge with, and then seeing the bond and connection you made throughout, and also after, was the best reward about the challenge.

Was there a moment of exhaustion or elation that stands out for you?

About Day 6, this was the day that I got sick, which made everything a lot harder as I was unable to stop and had to keep going and pushing through. It certainly taught me what l can really do if l set my mind to it.

What will you take away from it?

I will be able to draw from my experience at Kokoda as I truly had to push my body to the limits, and when life gets tough, I will be able to look back on Kokoda and remember what I really did. Whatever challenges that cross my path in the future, l can remember I have done Kokoda and remember everything the journey taught me, so l can take on the challenge and try my best.  

Would you recommend it to others?

I would 100% recommend Kokoda to anyone wanting to do it. Even if you’re just thinking about it, do it because it’s a journey that will not only change who you are but for me, l found it changed who l am and how l see the world. So, to any Year 10s reading this, apply and give it your all, because l promise this, you won’t regret it. 

*Our 2020 group was in full training when the COVID-19 Virus hit and prevented all travel.