With one exception “experts from our War Memorial.” My recent experience shows there are few and the leadership of that place is only interested in maintaining the staus quo. What is needed are competent international personalities who owe loyalty to no particular polity.

Perhaps, second, is a need for HM QEII to recognise the native carriers and their families with a unit citation so that families might wear a decoration down through the generations, unlike what has been patronisingly handed from DVA.

Thanks for hosting the debate, we should hang our collective national heads in shame for being 67 years too late? How many have died whom served our Diggers?

jim

I am a grandson of late Batia Oagi Lega of Efogi village.The first Koiarian Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel to be awarded a BEM medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 for his war services as a carrier.

I support your contributions and the initiatives you have initiated over these years for the Fuzzy Wuzzy generations.

You have touched a lot of lives along the Kokoda track and left a legacy.The name “Charlie Lynn” or “Taubada” is a house-hold name.

All the best.

GN Batia
RPNGC
Special Services Division HQ
McGregor Barracks

Hi Charlie,

I trust you are well.

My motivation for walking the trail back in 93 was due to the military significance the trail held in the first instance, with the physical challenge being a natural part of that. I would of thought that the military significance would be the main driver of any “heritage” label that the govt may wish to place upon it, because without the military significance, it would be just another trail/track/trek somewhere in the world that presented a physical challenge.

The kokoda trail is no less signficant than any other theatre of war (more significant in a lot of cases), and I believe needs to be recognised as such.

Keep well,

Cheers for now,

I attended the Anzac dawn service at Bomana in 2007 and was appalled at the lack of Australian government representation to commemorate those who fought for Australia in PNG. Gallipoli, the Somme, Villers-Bretonneux, etc. are revered (as they rightly should be), but PNG seems to be ignored – why? Is it not “fashionable” enough?

I am equally as appalled that the proceeds from Kokoda trekkers are not distributed as appropriate to the villagers along the track, many of whom are descendants of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who contributed significantly to the successful outcome of the PNG campaign.

I walked Kokoda to experience a little of what my father went through, to challenge myself and to gain a greater understanding of the military history along the track. Like many, I was not prepared for the emotion walking the track invoked and believe the experience was the most challenging, humbling and inspiring thing I have ever done.

I would not like to see the track turned into a sanitised trail; part of the challenge is to be placed out of your comfort zone – it’s good for the soul and really makes one appreciate the sacrifices others made so that we are able to reap the benefits.

I support Paul’s comments – preserve the Kokoda Track as a memorial to our diggers and proceeds from trekkers to be distributed in the rightful percentages to the wonderful people of PNG.

Chris

I walked the track in July 2004 & also explored Buna, Gona & Sannananda, since i was about 5 years old it had been a debt i needed to repay to the 2 young men whose photos adorned my Grandparents lounge room.

My Uncle Bill fought at Gona & Sannananda with the 36th Battalion and his younger brother Frank fought at Wau through to being wounded at Komiatum and later dying from wounds and sickness (he is at rest in Bomana).

You have my 100% backing to educate the Kaftan wearing, Mung Bean eating Pinko Grubs exactly who sacrificed their lives to give them their “FREEDOM”

Preserve the Kokoda Track as a memorial to our diggers and proceeds from trekkers to be distributed in the rightful percentages to the wonderful people of PNG.

Regards

Paul

Hi Charlie,

I walked the track with 2 of my adult sons in August 2007. There are 4 reasons why I walked the track.

1 The significant military heritage & to gain a greater understanding of our war history.

2 To gain some appreciation of the landscape the diggers trekked & fought.

3 The physical challenge. I was still recovering from recent cancer treatment.

4 It gave me a unique experience to celebrate my 60th birthday on the track.

I have had the opportunity to visit Anzac Cove on Anzac Day in 2003 & view the wonderful work the Australian War Graves Commission has done.

In my opinion the Australian War Graves Commission must be assigned the responsibility for the track to ensure the Australian Military Heritage becomes the priority for such an important area of Australian & Papua & New Guinea history.

Kind Regards

Charlie,

I did the trek due to the military heritage; the physical challenge was certainly an attraction but that is tied in to the military side. I wouldn’t have had the interest in doing the trek if it wasn’t such an important part of our history.

Looking at the state of the Bomana cemetery I am sure that the War graves Commission would do a splendid job – great idea.

Matt

Dear Charlie,

I am in complete agreement with you. as beautiful an asset the kokoda trail is in an environmental sense I feel it holds more meaning as a historical military site.

The reason I completed kokoda was because of what it means to all australians as the soil which so many of our soldiers fought on to ensure the safety of the autralian nation.

in particular I was anxious to do it as I have a great uncle who fought there as a “choco soldier and that instils an amazing sense of pride for me.

Kokoda for me was an incredible experience. To be subjected to such a beautiful culture was truly a gift, but to know that I struggled to cover the same ground as many of our courageous ancestors was so fulfilling for me and helped me to reconcile with their sacrifice.”

Regards,

Hugh