KTF Strategy for the development of a Strategic Plan for the Kokoda Trail: 2003-2006

The concept of a ‘Kokoda Track Foundation‘ to develop a strategic plan from the ground up via village-based workshops was deemed necessary due to the lack of interest by both the Australian and PNG governments in the emerging pilgrimage tourism industry across the Kokoda Trail at the time.

This led to increasing frustrations among village communities because there was no provision for them to share in the benefits from the increasing number of trekkers crossing their traditional lands during the 1990s.

The official opening of the Isurava Memorial on the 60th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in 2002 led to a surge in the numer of trekkers.

By this stage Adventure Kokoda, who had rediscovered the original Isurava battle-site in 1996 and who had pioneered pilgrimage tourism over the previoius 10 years, were well aware of a growing disquiet among traditional landowner communities who believed they were not receiving a fair share of benefits from the increasing number of trekkers.

The record shows there was little interest from either the PNG or Australian Governments at the time.

We therefore funded the establishment of a Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) to develop a Strategic Plan for the Kokoda Trail to present to both governments.

Our objective was to establish a management structure to provide shared benefits for subsistence village communities in return for their custodianship of land sacred to our shared military heritage!

We successfully lobbied the PNG Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Sir Peter Barter, to establish a Kokoda Track (Special Purpose) Authority (KTA) as a management body and advanced $10,000 to make it happen.

We then provided $15,000 to set it up a ‘Kokoda Track Foundation’ and then invited some of our past trekkers to join our Board.

We then initiated a fundraising campaign which raised approximately $200,000 to support our initiative to fund village-based workshops to seek to understand the needs of local communities.

We enlisted the support of Kelvin Templeton who has a keen interest in indigenous affairs. Kelvin was CEO of the Sydney Swans who had invested in treks across the Trail with Adventure Kokoda for their key players – he was also a director of Templeton-Galt.

Kelvin then engaged two of his associates, Dr Stephen Wearing of the University of Technology Sydney – a specialist in eco-tourism in Third-World countries and Paul Chatterton, WWF PNG – an experience facilitator familiar with PNG culture and fluent in ‘Tok-Pisin’.

Ms Natalie Shymko, a Kokoda trekker and political advisor in the NSW Parliament volunteered to record all proceedings related to the process for the development of a Strategic Plan.

Over the following three years the following workshops were conducted under their practical guidance:

  • UTS Sydney.  A one-day workshop for trekkers to find out how they would like to see the Kokoda Track developed as a pilgrimage tourism destination.
  • Efogi Village.  A two-day workshop for clan leaders and landowners from along the track to see how they would like to see the track developed and what benefits Kokoda tourism would bring to their respective villages.
  • Port Moresby.  A one-day workshop with all stakeholders involved in the development of the track as a pilgrimage tourism destination – the RSL, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, the PNG National Cultural Commission, National, Provincial and Local level government representatives and tour operators were among those who attended.
  • Kokoda.  A two-day workshop to review the 12 month action plan for each village which was agreed to at the Efogi Village workshop in 2004.
  • Port Moresby. A two-day workshop to review the draft plan prior to its presentation to government for consideration and implementation.

Following is a pictorial display of the two-day workshop conducted in Efogi Village on 28-29 April 2004 as part of the process of developing our Strategic Plan which we presented to PNG Prime Minister and Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare MP, at a function on 24 June 2009:

Following this is a link to a detailed record of all stakeholder meetings, forums and workshops conducted between 2003-2006 and the completed Strategic Plan.

KTF team Inbound to Efogi village . . .

Efogi village welcome for KTF team

Welcome parade of former wartime carriers (fuzzy wuzzy angels) from Efogi, Loni and Kagi villagers

‘Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angel’ escort for KTF members towards official welcoming party

Official welcome for KTF delegation in Efogi Village

Opening address for the commencement of the two-day KTF workshop

Dr. Stephen Wearing addressing KTF village workshop participants

Dr Wearing presenting his video, ‘Selo Selo Big Fella Canoe’

KTF Workshop participants from Efogi, Naduri, Menari, Kagi, Kovello and Kokoda

Dr. Stephen Wearing recording impacts of Kokoda tourism on villages since 1994

Gary Imri recording reports from group discussions

Mr. Gary Imri displaying one of the sketches participants were required to draw of each of their villages for the workshop

KTF volunteer, Ms. Natalie Shymko, recording session facilitated by Paul Chatterton from WWF PNG

Sample of 5-year plans drawn up for each village across the Trail by participants

Paul Chatterton, WWF discussing village 5-year plan with villagers

Ms. Natalie Shymko recording village Community Action Plans

Charlie Lynn coordinating activities for Day 2 with Mr Patrick Szpak a volunteer from CUSO International

Some friendly warm-up games at the beginning of Day 2

Amused villagers watching some of the light-hearted shenanigans among participants

Back to work . . .

Viewing of group syndicate plans . . .

Village women presenting their plans as a result of their workshop facilitated by Dr. Stephen Wearing

Village groups proudly displaying their 5-yea action plans at the conclusion of the two-day workshop

Participants displaying their implementation schedule for projects they had identified

Our special thanks to Natalie Shymko for her diligent recording of all KTF meetings, forums and workshops

A weary Dr Wearing waiting for the charter aircraft at Efogi airfield

loading KTF passengers and supplies for return flight to Port Moresby . . .

welcome aboard . . .

Up, Up . . .

and away . . .

Strategic Plan

A record of all stakeholder meetings, forums and workshops are detailed in this paper: