Wayne Wetherall should have been a household name in Australia by the time he ‘discovered’ Kokoda in 2004 – according to his website in 2005 he was already an international and national champion athlete.
He should also have been well known in the wider veteran community with his international athletics profile and his proclaimed ‘passion for our soldiers and their history’.
However, it soon became apparent that Mr Wetherall was somewhat of a hustler who seldom let facts get in the way of a good story.
His transformation from a suburban air-conditioning salesman to a high-profile Kokoda adventurer, explorer, historian and philanthropist with a passion for our soldiers is a compelling tale.
So, who is Wayne Wetherall? Where did he come from? Was he really a World Athletics Champion? Is he really an explorer, a historian, a philanthropist, an adventurer? Or is it all a carefully crafted myth?
In the beginning . . .
According to Wetherall’s LinkedIn profile he was a suburban sales manager for companies dealing with refrigeration products at various levels until he discovered Kokoda in 2004.
His first venture into PNG began involved white-water rafting expeditions in Morobe Province where he advised:
‘At Kokoda Spirit we are always at the forefront of new adventures in PNG. We have successfully explored and opened up 3 new rivers in PNG.
‘Our Port Moresby operation is (sic) run by our Operations Manager and Chief Track Master Osborne Bogajiwai from the Oro Province . . .Ossie is also our Chief Raft Master, having been trained in PNG and Australia. He has rafted most of the big rivers in PNG, and is responsible for opening up the Vanapa, Angabanga and Kumusi Rivers to commercial rafting.
Unfortunately, his rafting ventures were short-lived after three Israeli rafters were drowned on one of his expeditions in May 2005. This created a diplomatic incident between Israel and PNG at the time and there were allegations that no reparations were made for the boats that were damaged on the expedition. It was probably deemed to be unsafe for him to return to Lae.
He then turned his mind to the Kokoda Trail which was emerging as a popular tourism destination.
In order to develop some expertise on the Trail, Wetherall booked himself on a trek with Kokoda Treks and Tours. The company is owned by Mr Frank Taylor, a long-term student of the Kokoda campaign and one of Australia’s foremost experts on both the campaign and the Trail due to more than two decades of research and trekking across it.
Within a short period of time Wetherall had copies of all Taylor’s administrative documentation, his detailed trek itinerary and historical information. All he then needed was some local assistance to operate in PNG.
One of the porters on Taylor’s trek was Defol Jabbar, a Research Officer in the National Parliament. During the trek Wetherall and his business partner, Frank Hasiuk, discussed the possibility of establishing a Kokoda tour company in PNG.
After the trek, Jabbar registered a company, Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions, with the IPA on 27 January 2004. He then invited Hasiuk and Wetherall back to PNG to continue their discussions.
During this time Jabbar noted that Husiuk, a real estate salesman from Sydney, was funding their research as, according to Defol Jabbar, Wetherall ‘had no money’.
In the lead-up to the 2004 Anzac trekking period, Jabbar’s local company had two groups committed to trekking with him – the Port Moresby Rotary Club and a Qantas group from Australia.
During Wetherall’s visit he acquired the contact details of the Qantas group from Jabbar so he could follow-up with them on his return to Sydney.
After contacting them, Wetherall returned to Port Moresby, without advising Jabbar who was attending a South Pacific Tourism Expo in Fiji at the time.
Whilst in Port Moresby, according to Jabbar, Wetherall visited LLLG Lawyers to arrange the purchase of a PNG shelf company, Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd.
On his return to Australia, he registered ‘Kokoda Spirit Pty Ltd with ASIC on 28 October 2004, and later arranged for the Qantas group to book with through his new company. He also quietly recruited Osborne Bogajiwa from Jabbar’s company, Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Expeditions, without his knowledge.
When Jabbar enquired about the status of the trek with Qantas staff in Port Moresby, he was advised they were dealing with another company in Australia. He was not aware of any further arrangements until he saw the group, with Bogajiwa and Wetherall at Bomana War Cemetery, after their trek on Anzac Day 2005.
In the early stages of his business in PNG, Wetherall proved to be ruthless in his engagement of PNG head guides. According to Jabbar, ‘he dumped Bonny then used Gideon, Alan and Jeff. Then he dumped Gideon and ran with Alan, Jeff and Sai. Now he dropped Alan and Jeff and he is running with Sai Lami as a head guide’.
Wetherall then published the fact that:
‘Kokoda Spirit is passionately committed to the legacy and Spirit (sic) that our Australian Soldiers (sic) and their Papuan (sic) New Guinea Brothers (sic) have left for us on the Kokoda Track (sic). The Courage (sic), Endurance (sic), Mateship (sic) and Sacrifice (sic) on this sacred track have become legend. Kokoda Spirit are dedicated to providing our Trekkers (sic) and Rafters (sic) with the Experience (sic) of a Lifetime (sic), to Experience Adventure (sic), to Experience (sic) the Spirit (sic), to Experience (sic) the Culture (sic) and Experience (sic) the People (sic) this wonderful, fascinating and awe inspiring country provides’.
Apart from his mangled prose he has never explained the connection between and the ‘legacy and spirit’ of the trail – and rafting! Or even his own connection with the spirit of Kokoda. Many trekkers are inspired by a family connection – a grandfather, an uncle, a ‘friend of a friend’ – or a desire as the result of a book, a documentary or a teacher. With Wetherall, it would seem that it’s just a ‘passionate commitment’ without a trigger – apart from a business opportunity!
The post also advised that he and Frank Hasiuk were both ‘passionate about the Kokoda Track, the Australian history, the people and the culture’ and were ‘setting up trusts to supply much needed supplies of School (sic) books and equipment.’
This proved to be the first of many bogus claims as there are no records of any ‘trusts’ as described by Wetherall ever being established.
Frank Husiak’s relationship with Wetherall was short-lived as he was eliminated from the website within a year and had no further involvement with Wetherall or PNG.
He was replaced by Wetherall’s wife, Michelle, who was described as ‘the boss of Kokoda Spirit, her enthusiasm, organisation and administration skills ensure that all facets of the business run smoothly . . . She has a wealth of knowledge about the Kokoda Track and travels frequently to PNG.’
Wetherall’s sales and marketing skill were paying dividends as Kokoda Spirit emerged as the leading trekking company on the Trail.
In 2010, he established a separate business, True Spirit Adventures, with one of his female trekkers from Melbourne – together they ‘identified an opportunity in the market to provide Elite (sic), life-changing and empowering adventures for Charity (sic), Corporate (sic), Teams (sic), Defence Forces (sic) and Schools (sic)’.
In the meantime, he was also running his other company, Kokoda Spirit, with his wife Michelle, from the Queensland Sunshine Coast.
‘Wayne and Michelle had a dream to share the story of the courageous and heroic diggers on the Kokoda Track with fellow Australians’ he gushed on his website. ‘Immerse yourself in the cultures of traditional village life, marvel at the size and magnitude of the rainforests and mountains, enjoy the adventure of crossing swift flowing rivers to discover waterfalls, and people living in harmony with their land. Come with us on a journey to experience the Spirit of Kokoda and Papua New Guinea.’
It seemed to be a somewhat crazy-brave strategy to be now operating two trekking companies along the same trail – one with his wife from Queensland, and the other with his new female business partner from Melbourne! The arrangement inevitably ended in tears with his wife giving him the boot soon after – and his new female business partner booting him two years later.
According to Wetherall the two settlements accounted for a large portion of his assets.
Marketing ‘Without Borders’
As trekker number increased rapidly from 2005 Wetherall quickly learned that PNG authorities did not have the expertise, resources, or interest in monitoring copyright transgressions or truth in advertising – there were no borders!
His marketing strategy was therefore based on creating his own myth, plagiarising material from other websites, and making fallacious statements to enhance his reputation. Whenever he was called out, he would simply amend or remove the information, and move on!
On his first website in early 2005 he published details of an athletics record which should have made him a household name in Australia:
‘Wayne has enjoyed athletics his whole life and in addition to being an adventure athlete he has also achieved considerable success in the world of athletic competition:
‘1 world athletic record
‘1 Australian athletic record
‘4 New South Wales athletic records
‘1 Trans-Tasman athletics championship
‘26 New South Wales athletic championships
‘1 Australian cycling championship
‘Climbed Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo 4100m’.
He then modestly claimed ‘You might say Wayne is a pretty fit bloke!’
These claims, which created the foundation of his myth, were eventually removed from the website after he was asked to validate them, and he moved on!
To enhance his myth within the veteran community he claimed to have assisted in ‘opening up’ Long Tan in Vietnam. A fact check revealed that access to Long Tan had been negotiated by veterans from the 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment who had fought in the battle. Wetherall was not involved in any of the sensitive diplomatic negotiations which resulted in the erection of a Long Tan Cross at the battlefield on 18 August 1969 and its restoration in 2000.
Wetherall was born on 3 May 1965, a year after the battle. He was just 4-years of age when the Long Tan Cross was first dedicated in 1969; and a 35-year-old manager for company that sold refrigeration and air conditioning parts, when access to the site was granted by the Vietnam Government in 2000.
When these facts were revealed, he simply amended his claim, and moved on!
He later claimed to have assisted in ‘opening up’ the Sandakan death-march route in Borneo. A fact check revealed that this had been achieved decades earlier by acclaimed author, official historian, and Sandakan tour leader, Mrs. Lynette Silver AM, who was incensed at his brazen claim.
Later in 2008 he announced the establishment of a ‘Spirit Foundation’ which provided:
| Kokoda Spirit Announces the Spirit Foundation Spirit Foundation The Spirit Foundation (sic) principle focus is on the development of education programs and education opportunities for the people along Kokoda and Papua New Guinea. The Spirit foundation believes that investment in education is essential for social and economic change in PNG. Over ninety five percent (95%) of PNG children/students drop out of the PNG education system. Our focus is to identify and assist these students to have access to education and employment skills. The Spirit Foundation was created with a desire to assist the people along the track with real and achievable educational and vocational opportunities. The Foundation is supported by the management of Kokoda Spirit and a large number of trekkers who have walked the track. These trekkers have returned from PNG with a real desire to put something back into the country and the people along the track. The Spirit Foundation provides scholarships to children in PNG predominantly from the Kokoda Track, Oro and Central Provinces region and of Kiorai or Orokaivan descent to help them to attend elementary, primary and secondary school. The Spirit Foundation will also continue funding and support of the students as they progress through University, College or Vocational training. The selected students are those whose families cannot normally afford to send them to school but who have demonstrated promising academic progress in their studies thus far. Scholarship students are selected on a basis of need, effort and achievement. The Spirit Foundation is also providing school resources and supplies to all of the primary and elementary schools along the Kokoda Track. The Spirit Foundation will also support the “School Mates Reading Program” in the Villages along the Kokoda Track. The “School Mates Reading Program” is a home reader style program where trekkers are invited to support an hour of their time on their trek to read to the children in the Villagers. The Spirit Foundation will also be providing funding for educational programs and resources to selected secondary schools. The secondary schools that the Spirit Foundation will sponsor provide education to more than 2800 students throughout the Oro and Central provinces whilst the primary and elementary schools service over 800 local village children when the schools are operating effectively. The Spirit Foundation will fund a new scholarship program for students that show outstanding potential in education and leadership. This sponsorship will carry on throughout their senior high school and university years and they will be given a number of leadership, educational and community oriented opportunities. The aim of this new project is to discover and foster PNG’s future leaders. The Spirit Foundation is committed to ensuring that the people of PNG and predominantly the people along the Kokoda Track have an ongoing opportunity for access to education and vocational training. These opportunities are essential for the ongoing development of social and economic change along the track and in PNG. For more information regarding the Spirit Foundation check out our web site or Contact Wayne at Kokoda Spirit kokodaspirit@bigpond.com or Contact Kevin at Kevin@kokodaspirit.com 07 54452758 Visit http://www.kokodaspirit.com Labels: Spirit Foundation POSTED BY WAYNE’S KOKODA SPIRIT BLOG AT 8:36 |
A fact check with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) revealed the Spirit Foundation did not exist! After this was exposed Wetherall simply removed the claim from his website. He had achieved his objective of adding the perception of philanthropy to his myth, and moved on!
Over the next two years he went on to make spurious claims to have rediscovered Kokoda’s Forgotten Battlefields (which have never been forgotten) to enhance his status as a historian, and to have ‘discovered’ original sections of the trail to enhance his ‘explorer’ status. After it was found these claims could not be validated, he moved on!
A blog article regarding his claim to have rediscovered forgotten battlefield claimed:
‘Had the 39th Battalion and Templeton’s men in B Company failed in the initial fighting at Awala, Wairopi, Gorari (sic) and Oivi, then the course of the Kokoda Trail Campaign and Australia’s history could be very different. They took on the might of the Japanese Army and inflicted physical, logistical and psychological wounds on them that would eventually become terminal to the Japanese’.[i]
This is an outrageous misinterpretation of historical fact!
The 39th Battalion were gallant in their actions between Kokoda and Isurava from 29th July to the 26th of August 1942, and later at Buna and Gona during the battles for the beachheads.
However, their initial contacts with the Japanese advance party forward of Kokoda did nothing to stop or delay their advance towards the Trail. To suggest that they ‘took on the might of the Japanese Army and inflicted physical, logistical and psychological wounds on them that would eventually become terminal to the Japanese’ is pure, embellished fiction.
In 2010 he made an extraordinary claim to have solved ‘the 68-year-old mystery of the disappearance of Captain Sam Templeton’. The claim caused significant distress to the Templeton family and resulted in the hospitalisation of his then elderly son, Reg, after it was the subject of a national television story. An analysis of the validity of the claim is outlined on this link.
In 2010 Wetherall claimed to have solved ‘the 68-year-old mystery of the disappearance of Captain Sam Templeton’. The claim caused significant distress to the Templeton family and resulted in the hospitalisation of his then elderly son, Reg, after it was the subject of a national television story. An analysis of the validity of the claim is outlined on this link.
In response to a query to the Army Unrecovered War Casualties unit regarding the status of the claim, Mr Brian Minns wrote:
| ‘Over the last couple of years Unrecovered War Casualties-Army (UWC-A) has received two submissions from Mr Wayne Wetherall in regard to CAPT Sam Templeton of the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion. The first was redirected to UWC-A by the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) and the second was sent directly to UWCA. ‘In his first submission Mr Wetherall presented his contention that Templeton had been captured and killed by the Japanese and that he had been taken to where the body and been buried near Oivi. When specifically asked if he had identified and exact burial site, he replied that he had no knowledge of any burial site. ‘In his second submission, a few months after the first he alleged that his research had identified and unidentified Australian burial in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery as being CAPT Templeton. ‘In order to try and ascertain the truth surrounding the various claims being made in relation to CAPT Templeton I directed that an investigation be commenced in order to test the veracity of the various hypothesis. This investigation was conducted in late 2011 and I am awaiting the investigator’s report. ‘I can tell you that, in essence, the investigation concluded that CAPT Sam Templeton of the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion was probably captured by the Japanese around the time he left his company’s position near Oivi and killed some time afterwards. The investigation found no evidence that would allow any conclusion about how, when or where his death might have occurred. Nor did the investigation find evidence to allow any conclusion in regard to the disposition of his body.’ |
This did not concern Wetherall as he had attracted the national publicity he sought, so he moved on!
By now the myth of Wayne Wetherall as an ‘explorer’, ‘adventurer’, ‘historian’ and philanthropist, obsessed with a ‘passion for our soldiers, had been established, and his trekker numbers continued to increase exponentially.
Kokoda: The ‘new black‘!
Within five years of Wetherall’s ‘discovery’ of Kokoda, trekking across it had become the fashionable ‘new black’ for Australian bucket-listers with numbers increasing by 255% – from 1,584 in 2003 to 5,631 in 2008.
The management authority put in place by the PNG Government in 2004 was limited to a CEO with a part-time assistant. The office was soon overwhelmed with their responsibilities for licensing new trek operators; issuing trek permits; developing campsites; maintaining the trail, and meeting the increasing demands of traditional landowners.
The CEO of the authority, Warren Bartlett, was a former Australian kiap. He had worked in PNG for 40 years as a Government Administrator, was fluent in Tok-Pisin and understood the complexities of the ‘Melanesian Way’. The informal feedback he was receiving from villagers along the trail in 2008 indicated there were many more trekkers than trek permits.
Bartlett quietly appointed a local ranger, Mr Landy Noel of Efogi village, which is half-way along the trail, to audit the number of trekkers with each company as they passed through. Noel used a simple technique of seeking information from the local guides and carriers in Tok-Pisin then relaying the figures back to Bartlett via VHF radio.
When Bartlett reconciled the figures at the end of 2008, he discovered that Wetherall’s company, Kokoda Spirit, had applied for 378 trek permits – but Noel counted 855 trekkers!
Wetherall later boasted on his website that he led more than 1000 trekkers across the trail which indicates that either Landy Noel did not count them all – or Wetherall inflated the figure to enhance the status of his company.
| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008 Kokoda Story It’s a tale of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice which Wayne and Michelle Wetherall want to share with everyone. Six years ago, the Sippy Downs couple formed Kokoda Spirit – a company which takes treks across the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. Since then, Kokoda Spirit has educated thousands of trekkers about the bitter fight between Australian and Japanese soldiers which took place on the track 66 years ago – which Australia eventually won. “It’s a business that Michelle and I are very passionate about because it’s such a fantastic story of what took place,” Wayne said. “This year alone we’ve taken over a thousand trekkers … We do anything from corporate to school groups to individuals or teams.” While the trail is 96 kilometres long, with 7,500 meters in climbs and another 7,500 meters in descents, Wayne said the key to completing the track is having a good stamina. “You don’t need to be an Olympian,” he said. |
At the end of 2008, DFAT assumed responsibility for the Kokoda Trail under a Joint Understanding and appointed Mr Rod Hillman as CEO of the KTA to replace Bartlett. It was Hillman’s first trip to PNG and the rorting of trek fees by Australian operators was his first issue to resolve.
Rather than advise operators who had defaulted on their payments to pay up, Hillman sought to placate them and entered into a series of confidential agreements which resulted in significant discounts for them.
The major offender was Kokoda Spirit who failed to account for 378 trekkers across the Trail when applying for trek permits. This effectively denied local villagers up to K75,000 in shared benefits.
Wetherall’s persuasive sales skills came to the fore during his negotiations with Hillman and they became close friends. So close that Hillman wrote a letter advising that Kokoda Spirit had no outstanding trek fees in 2008, 2009, or 2010. He neglected to mention that this was because of the confidential agreement he had negotiated with Wetherall for 2008!
Eyebrows were raised when it was discovered that Hillman had not written a similar letter to Adventure Kokoda which, according to KTA records, was the only trekking company to have paid their trek fees in full, and in advance in 2008.
At the end of Rod Hillman’s term as CEO he joined Wetherall’s company, Kokoda Spirit, on a trek across the Kokoda Trail, and wrote a glowing reference as a parting gift:
| KOKODA SPIRIT BLOG 28 June 2012 Wayne and Michelle, Please accept my apologies, belated thanks and appreciation for assisting me to join your trek last year. The trek was brilliant and allowed me to spend time with my two sons focused on them instead of organizing/ leading my own trek. Kokoda Spirit’s organization and implementation was a credit to you both. The trek flowed well with competent (obviously well trained) staff who enjoyed their work. From our first meeting on Brigade Hill with the porters performing a welcome dance to flying back to Port Moresby and dinner at the Yacht Club we were treated extremely well. The relationship one of my sons developed with your porter Billy was a highlight. Cameron is excellent. He has a genuine passion for the subject and I thoroughly enjoyed his commentary and leadership of the group. This was my first experience as a ‘trekker’ on the Kokoda Track as all the other times it was work and a very different experience. It was a great insight to the experience trekkers get when they join a tour operator and if everyone supplies the experience Kokoda Spirit does then the Industry is in safe hands. Once again my congratulations and my thanks. Cheers Rod Hillman |
According to a signed statement by Rod Hillman on 8 November 2018, Wetherall advised him that the ‘thousand trekkers‘ he claimed to have led across the Trail in 2008 was just ‘a marketing statement and not actual figures‘.
In 2016 the Australian High Commission wrote a personal letter congratulating Wetherall for the ‘great work he was doing on the Track’.
It was noted that the Australian High Commission neglected to write to other trekking companies who had established community learning centres and agricultural projects across the Trail and who provided generous support to local schools and health centres. They obviously did not have the charm that Wetherall oozed when he needed to.
| Dear Wayne, By way of introduction I am responsible at the High Commission for the Australian government work in the Kokoda region. I’ d like to pass on our congratulations in general to your company for the great work you do on the Track. I see your teams out there, they’re clearly well prepared, your potters are being treated well, and your companies interaction with campsite owners and the local communities is positive. Terrific stuff. It’s great for those individuals involved, both from PNG and Australia, it’s good for the economy, and it helps strengthen the bilateral relationship. Recognise you must be working hard to bring up the number of trekkers – that’s not easy in this economic climate. I’d welcome the opportunity to meet with you if you have time next time you’re around Moresby Always keen to hear and learn more about the Track, and discuss the Australian government approach, including to some of the challenges. Respectfully yours, Tim Bryson Counsellor Australian High Commission – Port Moresby Ph +675 3259333 Ext. 379 I Mobile + 675 7200 7872 I Fax +675 325 5535 Australian High Commission – Pott Moresby Locked Bag 129, Waigani NCO, Papua New Guinea www.dfat.gov.au |
The Australian High Commission was obviously unaware that, according to the Annual Return filed by Kokoda Spirit in 2016, the two directors of the company, Wayne Wetherall and Lee Frank Huang, were both Australian citizens. The company was not registered as a Foreign Enterprise in accordance with the IPA Act and was therefore operating illegally in PNG.
Wetherall’s powers of persuasion are also evident in his LinkedIn endorsements for management, strategic planning and program management by the DFAT Strategic Management Advisor for the Kokoda Initiative, Mark Nizette. Nizette has been embedded in CEPA and the KTA since 2012.
| Skills & endorsements Management Endorsed by Mark Nizette, MBE (mutual connection) Strategic Planning Endorsed by Mark Nizette, MBE and 2 other mutual connections Program Management Endorsed by Mark Nizette, MBE (mutual connection) |
It is instructive that DFAT agencies responsible for ensuring good governance in the management of the Kokoda Trail i.e., the Australian High Commission, the Kokoda Initiative, and the Kokoda Track Authority endorsed an Australian company which had been caught out cheating villages of their entitlement to shared benefits, making false claims on their website, and operating illegally in PNG by failing to register as a Foreign Enterprise in accordance with the IPA Act.
On the other hand, Australian companies who have met their obligations in full and complied with the IPA Act have been ignored!
Trolling for the Truth
Trolling for the truth regarding Wayne Wetherall’s claims on the Internet Archive is a difficult, time-consuming exercise which leads to the conclusion that he either has mathematical dyslexia, or he tells fibs.
In 2013:
Wayne Wetherall announces his retirement from trekking after completing 50 treks on this link.
In 2014:
Wetherall came out of ‘retirement’ and, according to this link he completed 56 treks with Kokoda Spirit having led 4000 trekkers.
In 2015:
- According to this link, Wetherall claimed to have completed 56 treks with Kokoda Spirit having led 5000 trekkers.
- According to this link he led 60 treks with Kokoda Spirit leading 6000 trekkers.
According to these links, Wetherall either did no treks with his company leading 1000 trekkers across the Trail, or he did six treks with his company leading 2000 trekkers across the Trail.
In 2016:
- According to this link Wetherall claimed to have completed 65 treks with Kokoda leading 5000 trekkers.
- According to this link Kokoda Spirit had led a total of 6000 trekkers across the Trail.
- According to this link Wetherall claimed to have completed 70 treks with Kokoda Spirit leading 7000 trekkers across the Trail.
According to these links, Wetherall either completed nine treks or 14 treks in 2016 with Kokoda Spirit leading minus 1000 trekkers, nil trekkers, 1000 trekkers, or 2000 trekkers
According to Kokoda Track Authority records they issued 477 trek permits to Kokoda Spirit in 2016.
In 2017:
- According to this link Wetherall completed 80 treks with Kokoda Spirit leading 7500 trekkers.
- According to this link Kokoda Spirit led 7000 trekkers.
According to these links, Wetherall either completed 10 treks or 15 treks with Kokoda Spirit leading either 1000 trekkers, 2000 trekkers, or 2500 trekkers.
According to Kokoda Track Authority records they issued 464 trek permits to Kokoda Spirit in 2017.
In 2018:
- According to this link, Wetherall completed 10 treks in 8 weeks between December 2017 and February 2018. This is difficult to reconcile in view of the fact that an average trek takes 8-days to complete and the period covers the wet season in PNG – Kokoda Track Authority records show that few people trek across the Trail during this period.
- According to this link Kokoda Spirit has led 7000 trekkers across the Trail – but according to this link they have led 7500. There is no guidance as to which is the correct figure.
- According to the Kokoda Spirit website they led either 900 or1400 trekkers across the trail in 2018.
- According to Kokoda Track Authority records they issued Kokoda Spirit with 534 trek permits in 2018.
The Kokoda Spirit staff in 2018 included Wetherall and two female administrators.
In 2018, according to the Kokoda Spirit and Wild Spirit Adventures website they advertised:
- 74 treks to Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa;
- 26 expeditions to Everest Base Camp in Nepal;
- 7 treks to the Sandakan Death March in Borneo;
- 62 treks across the Kokoda Trail.
A total of 169 international expeditions. If Wetherall completed 11 treks across the Kokoda Trail in 2018, as claimed, he would have been absent from his home office for a period of five months!
In 2019:
- According to this link Wetherall claimed to have completed 85 treks with Kokoda Spirit leading 8500 trekkers across the Trail.
- According to this link Wetherall claimed to have completed 95 treks with Kokoda Spirit leading 8900 trekkers across the Trail.
The Business of Kokoda – and its Exploitation!
The cessation of trekking due to Covid has exposed the dysfunction of the management system established by the Australian Government via DFAT since they assumed responsibility for the Kokoda Trail in 2008.
The result of this dysfunction, after an investment of more than K150 million in aid funding is summarised a FB post on the Koiari Strategic Forum from a leader in the local Koiari community on 3 August 2021:
‘We are totally forgotten, there is NO FALL-BACK PLANS during COVID 19 period. We are been isolated as a result, dead rate increased to people dying within weeks, students left schools, teachers absent from classes, projects ceased, medical drags shortage, health issues raised to an alarming rate etc. No transport services and people walked days and nights to Port Moresby city to get basic services. Mothers and Children walking during rainy season with cold in the difficult terrains is painful’.
This section explores one of the symptoms of the dysfunction relating to the relationship between Wayne Wetherall’s Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and their inability to monitor his obligations to register as a ‘Foreign Enterprise’ in accordance with the IPA Act and meet his employment and taxation responsibilities in PNG.
We will attempt to match claims made by Mr Wayne Wetherall on his LinkedIn Profile against those made on his Kokoda Spirit website, and the compliance of his PNG company with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) Act regarding their governance requirements as a Foreign Enterprise.
Background
Foreign companies who wish to establish a business in PNG usually engage a local solicitor to act on their behalf. Wayne Wetherall engaged Leahy Lewin Lowing Sullivan Lawyers.
Goosey Ltd was a PNG shelf company registered with Leahy Lewin Lowing Sullivan Solicitors. On 24 January 2005 it was re-registered as Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd, No 1-47149 with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority (IPA).
Directors and Shareholders, Gwen Tauaole, Sharon Nalu and Amanda Namaliu were solicitors working for LLLS Lawyers at the time.
The 2004 Annual Return listed Gwen Tauaole as the shareholder in the company with Sharon Nalu as Director. The company had assets of K100 ($50). In 2005 Amanda Namaliu replaced Gwen Tauaole as shareholder. Assets remain unchanged at K100 ($50). There were no changes to the company in their 2006 and 2007 Annual Returns.
After establishing a company there is a requirement to meet annual compliance costs with the IPA however inefficiencies within the PNG bureaucracy means these are rarely followed up.
LLLS Lawyers filed Annual Returns for Kokoda Spirit PNG from 2006-2008. No further returns were filed after 2008, either because Wetherall did not pay his account, or did not wish to meet the annual compliance costs.
In 2016 Wetherall engaged Christopher Smith Chartered Accountants who filed Annual Returns for 2009 and 2010 in May 2016 – and for 2011-2014 all in one day, on 30 August 2016.
In 2017, Wetherall changed accountants again and engaged Lee Frank Huang from ‘DFK Mayberry Chartered Accountants’ to submit Annual Returns for 2017-2020.
Wetherall and Lee Frank Huang are both listed as Directors of Kokoda Spirit PNG. Both reside in Brisbane which is in breach of the IPA Act which requires such businesses to obtains a ‘Foreign Enterprise’ certification to ensure they meet their employment and taxation obligations in PNG.
According to their Annual Returns from 2005-2015 Kokoda Spirit PNG did not have any employees.
From 2015-2018 they employed four full-time employees and nil part-time employees. This was reduced to three full-time employees for the period 2018-2020.
During the period 2009-2015 the cumulative asset value for the company totalled PNGK1,310,953, and liabilities totalled PNGK1,821,602. This would have ensured they did not have any taxation liabilities to meet in PNG.
It is not known how they calculated the values of their assets and liabilities each year from 2009 because the Annual Returns for this period were up to seven (7) years overdue.
Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)
The IPA is the responsible government agency for the establishment of business names, companies, and foreign enterprises.
The following information can be validated by visiting the IPA website at https://www.ipa.gov.pg/ and following these steps:
- Click on ‘Online Services’
- Click on ‘Company Search’
- Enter ‘Kokoda Spirit’
- Click on ‘Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)’
- Click on ‘Filings’
- Click on the relevant Annual Return.
| CURRENT DIRECTORS Wayne WETHERALL: Appointed 29 July 2011 15 Sandleigh Crescent, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia Po Box 1829, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea Nationality: Australia Lee Frank HUANG: Appointed 23 January 2017 Unit 12, Kwilla Apartments, Granville, Port Moresby, National Capital District, 121, Nationality: Australia FORMER DIRECTORS Gwen TAUAOLE: 2 Sep 2002 – 16 Dec 2005 Po Box 1173, Port Moresby, National Capital District, 121, Papua New Guinea Christopher Michael SMITH: 2 Jan 2015 – 1 Jan 2017 C/-Smiths Chartered Accountants, P O Box 478, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Nationality: British Indian Ocean Territory Amanda NAMALIU: 16 December 2005 – 21 November 2006 Po Box 1173, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea Nationality: Papua New Guinea. Sharon NALU: 21 November 2006 – 29 July 2011 Po Box 1173, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea Nationality: Papua New Guinea Note: Michelle Wetherall, listed as a director on the 2008 Annual Return is not listed as a former director on the IPA Website |
2004 ANNUAL RETURN:
| Gwen Tauaole listed on 2004 Annual Return for Kokoda Spirit PNG as a Director and Shareholder. Return signed on 20 June 2006 by Sharon Nalu as a Director. Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit >Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return 31-Dec-2004 12:00:00 |
2005 ANNUAL RETURN:
| Kokoda Spirit (PNG) Limited (1-47149) was registered by Amanda Namaliu on 16 December 2005. Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Notice of Change of Directors and Particulars of Directors 28 Dec 2005 10:58:51 |
2006 ANNUAL RETURN
| The 2006 Annual Return, signed by Sharon Nalu on 20 June 2007, lists Sharon Nalu as a Director and Amanda Namaliu as Shareholder. 21 November 2006: Amanda Namaliu appointment as Director of Kokoda Spirit ceased. Sharon Nalu appointed as Director of Kokoda Spirit Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Notice of Change of Directors and Particulars of Directors, 28 Dec 2005 10:58;51 |
2007 ANNUAL RETURN:
| The 2007 Annual Return, unsigned and undated, lists Sharon Nalu as a Director, and Amanda Namaliu as the Shareholder. |
No Annual Returns were filed with the IPA from 2008-2015
- On 7 January 2015, Christopher Smith, of Smith’s Chartered Accountants, filed a Notice of Change of Registered Office for Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd.
- Smith was also appointed a director of the company on 2 January 2015.
- 24-May-2016 11:30:06 Annual Return for September 2009 (7 years overdue)
- 26-May-2016 09:26:21 Annual Return for September 2010 (6 years overdue)
- 30-Aug-2016 10:27:22 Annual Return for September 2011 (5 years overdue)
- 30-Aug-2016 10:29:04 Annual Return for September 2012 (4 years overdue – submitted 2-minutes after filing the 2011 Annual Return).
- 30-Aug-2016 10:30:08 Annual Return for September 2013 (3 years overdue) – submitted 1-minute after submitting the 2012 Annual Return).
- 30-Aug-2016 10:31:03 Annual Return for September 2014 (2 years overdue) – submitted 1-minute after submitting the 2013 return).
- On 25 January 2017, Wayne Wetherall submitted a Notice of Change of Directors which advised that Christopher Smith ceased his appointment on 1 January 2017 and was replaced by Lee Frank Huang from 23 January 2017.
- Lee Frank Huang is an Australian citizen who was a Partner with DFK Mayberry Chartered Accountants from 2015-2019. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Jani-King, Brisbane.
- 14-Mar-2017 14:49:50 Annual Return for September 2015 14-Mar-2017 14:54:05 Annual Return for September 2016 (Submitted 5 minutes after the 2015 Annual Report).
- 11-Oct-2017 16:14:42 Annual Return for September 2017
- 25-Oct-2018 15:07:26 Annual Return for September 2018
- 19-Nov-2019 14:37:37 Annual Return for September 2019 01-Oct-2020 13:45:47: Annual Return for September 2020
2008 ANNUAL RETURN:
| The 2008 Annual Return, signed by Wayne Wetherall on 2 February 2015, lists Wayne and Michelle Wetherall as Joint Directors and Shareholders. Assets: K11,226 Liabilities at K44,967. There are NIL employees. |
2009 ANNUAL RETURN:
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 24 May 2018, 11:30:07. Note: The link at the bottom of the 2009 (88710 (2).pdf) is for the previous year’s Annual Return i.e., 2008 |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2009 Annual Return: September 2009 | IPA HARD COPY 2009 2009 Annual Return (filed on 24 May 2016): |
|---|---|
| Directors: Wayne Wetherall Christopher Smith Shareholder: Amanda Namaliu | Directors: Wayne Wetherall Christopher Smith Shareholder: Amanda Namaliu |
| Assets: K180,160 Liabilities: K120,461 NIL employees |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2009: There is no official IPA notification of Michelle Wetherall ceasing to be a Director of Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd. The Annual Return (Form 22) differs in form between the Web Copy and the Hard Copy (pdf): . The Web Copy lists Wayne Wetherall and Christopher Smith as Directors and Amanda Namaliu as the Shareholder in 2009. . The Hard Copy lists Wayne and Michelle Wetherall as Joint Directors and Joint Shareholders in 2009. |
2010 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company >Kokoda Spirit >Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 26 May 2016: 09:26:22. Note: The IPA Hard Copy, 183334.pdf, is for the previous year’s Annual Return i.e., 2009 |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2010 | IPA HARD COPY: 2010 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2010 | 2010 Annual Return |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Christopher Smith Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu NIL Employees | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Michelle Wetherall Shareholders: · Wayne Wetherall · Michelle Wetherall NIL Employees |
| Assets: K404,380 Liabilities: K460,586. |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2010: · The 2010 Annual Return was not submitted to the IPA until 2016. · The Web Copy lists Wayne Wetherall and Christopher Smith as Directors and Amanda Namaliu as the Shareholder in 2010. · The Hard Copy lists Wayne and Michelle Wetherall as Joint Directors and Joint Shareholders in 2010. |
2011 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings> Annual Return (Form 22) 10:27:22. Scroll to the bottom of ‘Annual Return for September 2011’ and click on 199878.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| PA WEB COPY: 2011 | IPA HARD COPY: 2011 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2011: | 2011 Annual Return |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Christopher Smith Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu NIL Employees | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Michelle Wetherall Shareholders: · Wayne Wetherall . Michelle Wetherall NIL Employees |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2011: The 2011 Annual Return was not submitted to the IPA until 2016. Wayne Wetherall was listed as a Director for Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd in the 2009 and 2010 Annual Returns for the company, but IPA was not notified of his appointment until 29 July 2011 when he replaced Sharon Nalu as a Director of the company. The Web Copy lists Wayne Wetherall and Christopher Smith as Directors and Amanda Namaliu as the Shareholder in 2011. The Hard Copy lists Wayne and Michelle Wetherall as Joint Directors and Joint Shareholders in 2011. |
2012 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services>Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return Form 22 10:29:04. Scroll to the bottom of ‘Annual Return for September 2012’ and click on 199879.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| PA WEB COPY: 2012 | IPA HARD COPY: 2012 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2012: | 2012 Annual Return |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Christopher Smith Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu NIL Employees | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Michelle Wetherall Shareholders: · Wayne Wetherall . Michelle Wetherall NIL Employees |
| Assets: K125,222 Liabilities: K87,217 |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2012: On 13 July 2012 IPA advised ‘since Wayne Wetherall is the sole director, he must ordinarily reside in PNG’. The 2012 Annual Return was not submitted to the IPA until 2016. The Web Copy lists Wayne Wetherall and Christopher Smith as Directors and Amanda Namaliu as the Shareholder in 2012. The Hard Copy lists Wayne and Michelle Wetherall as Joint Directors and Joint Shareholders in 2012. |
2013 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Service >Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 10:30:08. Scroll to the bottom of ‘Annual Return for September 2013’ and click on 199880.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2013 | IPA HARD COPY: 2013 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2013: | 2013 Annual Return: |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Christopher Smith Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu NIL Employees | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Michelle Wetherall Shareholders: · Wayne Wetherall . Michelle Wetherall NIL Employees |
| Assets: K152,482 Liabilities: K111,573 |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2013: The 2012 Annual Return was not submitted to the IPA until 2016. The Web Copy lists Wayne Wetherall and Christopher Smith as Directors and Amanda Namaliu as the Shareholder in 2012. The Hard Copy lists Wayne and Michelle Wetherall as Joint Directors and Joint Shareholders in 2012. |
2014 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 10.31.03. Scroll to the bottom and click on 199881.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2014 | IPA HARD COPY: 2014 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2014: | 2014 Annual Return |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Christopher Smith Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Christopher Smith Shareholders: · Wayne Wetherall Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees |
| Assets: K157,698 Liabilities: K110,354 |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2014: The return does not contain an official date-stamp of receipt from the IPA. On 24 February 2014, a Notice of Change of Directors, (Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg > Online Services > Search for a Company > Kokoda Spirit > Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149) > Notice of Change of Directors and Particulars of Director Form 16) was lodged with the IPA which listed Directors as Christopher Smith, Wayne Wetherall and Lee Frank Huang. Christopher is not included in the IPA Web Copy Return but he is included on the IPA Hard Copy Return. Lee Frank Huang is not included on either return. |
2015 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 14:39:51. Scroll to the bottom and click on Form 22 – ye2014_signed.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2015 | IPA HARD COPY: 2015 |
|---|---|
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees. | No Hard Copy was filed with the IPA for 2016. |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2015: Michelle Wetherall had been removed as a Director and replaced by Sharon Nalu. According to IPA Records, Sharon Nalu ceased to be a Director on 29 July 2011 – there are no other IPA notifications authorising her re-instatement. |
2016 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 14:54:04. Note: The link at the bottom of the ‘Annual Return for September 2016’ is for the previous year’s Annual Return i.e., 2015. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2016 | IPA HARD COPY: 2016 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2016: | No Hard Copy was filed with the IPA for 2016. |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholder: · Amanda Namaliu · Wayne Wetherall Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees. |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2016: Michelle Wetherall had been removed as a director and replaced by Sharon Nalu. According to IPA Records, Sharon Nalu ceased to be a director on 29 July 2011 – there are no other IPA notifications authorising her re-instatement. |
2017 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 16:14:42. Scroll to the bottom and click on Form 22 – ye2016_signed.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2017 | IPA HARD COPY: 2017 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2017: | 2017 Annual Return: |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholders: · Amanda Namaliu · Wayne Wetherall Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees. | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholder: · Wayne Wetherall Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees |
| Assets: Illegible Liabilities: Illegible |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2017: The 2017 Hard Copy return does not have an official date-stamp of receipt from the IPA. Amanda Namaliu is listed as a Shareholder on the 2017 IPA Web Return but is not listed as such on the 2017 IPA Hard Copy. |
2018 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 15:07:27. \ Note: The link at the bottom of the ‘Annual Return for September 2018’ is for the previous year’s Annual Return i.e., 2017 |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2018 | IPA HARD COPY: 2018 |
|---|---|
| Annual Return: September 2018: | There is no record of an IPA Hard Copy Return for 2018. |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholders: · Amanda Namaliu · Wayne Wetherall Four (4) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees. |
| 26 Feb 2018 CLAIM BY WAYNE WETHERALL: ‘We are also the largest employee of PNG Guides, Carriers and Porters and employ our staff from the Villages and surrounding areas of the Kokoda Trail corridor. ‘We are proud to employ locals and provide income, training and a career to the local people of the Kokoda Trail.’ FACT CHECK: According to the Kokoda Spirit PNG Annual Return they have four (4) full-time PNG employees and nil part-time employees. |
2019 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 14:37:37. Scroll to the bottom and click on Signed YE 2018 AR.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 2019 | IPA HARD COPY: 2019 |
|---|---|
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholders: · Amanda Namaliu · Wayne Wetherall Three (3) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees. | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholder: · Wayne Wetherall Three (3) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees |
| Assets: Illegible Liabilities: Illegible |
| NOTES ON IPA ANNUAL RETURN ANOMOLIES FOR 2019: The Hard Copy return does not have an official date-stamp of receipt from the IPA. Amanda Namaliu is listed as shareholder on the 2019 IPA Web Return but is not listed as such on the 2019 IPA Hard Copy Return. |
2020 ANNUAL RETURN
| Ref: https://www.ipa.gov.pg>Online Services> Search for a Company>Kokoda Spirit>Kokoda Spirit PNG Ltd (1-47149)>Filings>Annual Return (Form 22) 13:45:47. Scroll to the bottom and click on Signed YE 2019 AR.pdf to access the IPA Hard Copy. |
| IPA WEB COPY: 20120 | IPA HARD COPY: 2020 |
|---|---|
| 2020 Annual Return: | |
| Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholders: · Amanda Namaliu · Wayne Wetherall Three (3) Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees. | Directors: · Wayne Wetherall · Lee Frank Huang Shareholder: · Wayne Wetherall NIL Full-Time Employees NIL Part-Time Employees |
| KOKODA SPIRIT WEBSITE CLAIM: ‘Our business is registered in Australia as Kokoda Spirit Pty Ltd, and we are registered with the PNG Internal Revenue Commission in (SIC) PNG as Kokoda Spirit PNG Limited. ‘We operate within the laws and requirements of both countries and pay our tax in both Australia and PNG. ‘Our PNG employees are registered with the PNG Internal Revenue Commission for income tax. ‘This ensures they are covered for tax and superannuation benefits.’ FACT CHECK: The PNG Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) is the responsibility government agency for registering Business Names, Companies, and Foreign Enterprises. The Internal Revenue Commission is responsible for the collection of taxation. According to the 2020 Annual Return, Kokoda Spirit PNG employs three (3) full time employees and nil part-time employees. Kokoda Spirit Australia was recently found not to have paid the required superannuation levy for a long-term employee and has been placed on a time-payment system by the Australian Taxation Office. |
Wayne Wetherall
Chronology of transition from suburban salesman to Kokoda ‘Big-Man’
Date of Birth: 3 May 1965
1995-1996
NSW Technical Sales Manager, Kirby Refrigeration
1996-1999
NSW State Manager, Kirby Refrigeration
1999-2002
NSW State Manager, Actrol Pty Ltd
Actrol is a wholesaler of parts to the refrigeration, air conditioning and allied industries.
2002-2003
National Sales Marketing Manager, Reliance Grou0/TubeFit
Note:
‘TubeFit’ does not generate any results in the Reliance Group Search Engine – it is not possible to gauge the extent of Wetherall’s ‘National’ responsibilities in this position.
2003-2006
National Sales Marketing Manager, RES (Refrigeration Equipment Supplies)
Note:
RES does not have a website – it is therefore not possible to gauge the extent of Wetherall’s ‘National’ responsibilities in this position.
2004
Kokoda Spirit Pty Limited (ACN:111 575 378) registered with ASIC 0n 28 October 2004.
Kokoda Spirit (PNG) Limited (1-47149) registered in PNG on 16 December 2005.
The following is an extract from the first Kokoda Spirit website on 11 February 2005:
‘Kokoda Spirit is passionately committed to the legacy and Spirit (sic) that our Australian Soldiers (sic) and their Papuan New Guinea Brothers (sic) have left for us on the Kokoda Track (sic). The Courage (sic), Endurance (sic), Mateship (sic) and Sacrifice (sic) on this sacred track have become legend. We at Kokoda Spirit are dedicated to providing our Trekkers (sic) and Rafters (sic)with the Experience (sic) of a Lifetime (sic), to Experience (sic) Adventure (sic), to Experience (sic) the Spirit (sic) and to Experience (sic) the Culture (sic) and the People (sic) this wonderful, fascinating and awe inspiring Country (sic) provides.
‘At Kokoda Spirit we are always at the forefront of new adventures in PNG. We have successfully explored and opened up 3 new rivers in PNG. We can also organise treks to Mt Wilhelm and Mt Victoria. We are also opening up trips to Alotau at Milne bay and Buna and Gona on the North Coast (sic). Kokoda Spirit has offices in both Sydney and Port Moresby. This allows us to provide you with local contacts in Australia, while our strategically based Port Moresby office provides all the advantages of local knowledge and local infrastructure. This support network ensures your trekking or rafting adventure is enjoyable and trouble free.
‘Our Australian office and operation is run by Wayne Wetherall and Frank Hasiuk. Both these men are passionate about the Kokoda Track (sic), the Australian history, the people and the culture. Both Wayne and Frank have accompanied “Ossie” on the Kokoda Track (sic) and his explorations of the PNG rivers. They have established strong bonds with the local villagers, setting up trusts to supply much needed supplies of School books and equipment. Wayne and Frank’s expertise in Business (sic), IT and Tourism (sic) provides the professional support and infrastructure to the team in Papua New Guinea. Wayne Wetherall has an intimate knowledge and passion for the Australian war history on the track and is our Chief Australian Guide. He has also written a number of stories on the history and his experiences on the track. His enthusiasm and knowledge will give you an insight into the Kokoda Tracks (sic) history.
‘Kokoda Spirit has also run small group trips to explore the history and sites of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Borneo. (Details on request.)
‘Wayne Wetherall achievements in Brief:
‘Kokoda Spirit is the only Trekking/Rafting Company (sic) in PNG. Kokoda Spirit is also the only commercially operated Rafting (sic) company in PNG. Kokoda Spirit can offer you rafting at the completion of your trek – either on the Kumusi River near Kokoda or on the Vanapa and Angabanga Rivers near Port Moresby.’
| FACT CHECK: Kokoda Spirit ventures into white-water rafting in PNG ended after three Israeli rafters were drowned on one of their expeditions in May 2005. There is no record of Wayne Wetherall and Frank Hasiuk ‘setting up trusts to supply much needed supplies of School books and equipment’ for local villagers in 2005. There is no record of Wetherall publishing ‘stories on the history and his experiences on the track’ prior to 2005.There is no record of Kokoda Spirit organising or leading ‘small group trips to explore the history and sites of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Borneo’ prior to 2005. Prior to 2004, Frank Hasiuk worked in Real Estate in South-Western Sydney. According to a PNG guide on his first trek across the Kokoda Trail in 2004 he provided the funding for Wetherall’s initial ventures into PNG. He was mentioned on the Kokoda Spirit website for a short time before being removed. According to Wetherall’s LinkedIn profile he was employed as the National Marketing Manager with Refrigeration Equipment Supplies from 2003 until December 2006. |
2006:
Celsius Journal: Vol 34. No 5. May 2006. Page 14. Industry News – The Official Journal of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association of Australia
‘Wayne Weatherall is the National Sales Manager for RES. Wayne has been a great help assisting us with Worldskills.’
| FACT CHECK: It is difficult to understand how Wetherall could have been ‘at the forefront of new adventures in PNG; exploring and opening and opening up new rivers in PNG; and opening up trips to Alotau, Buna and Gona whilst he was employed as the National Sales Manager for Refrigeration Equipment Supplies at the same time in 2005-2006. There are no known records of his ‘exploring’ and ‘opening up’ of ‘new adventures’ in any of these locations – it can therefore be assumed that he fabricated them to enhance the myth he was cultivating in the early years of his involvement with the Kokoda Trail. |
According to an interview with the Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper on 15 April 2009 he informed the reporter, Anne Lousie Brown, that he was:
‘a building industry sales executive, but “had a nagging need” to make his Kokoda Spirit dream come alive.’
| FACT CHECK: There are no known records of Wayne Wetherall’s engagement in the building industry as a sales executive. He has not mentioned this fact in his LinkedIn profile or any other forum. It is possible he might just have been trying to impress the young female reporter. |
2011:
THE AWCI 66th Annual Conference:(Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries)
Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island, QLD: 6-9 November 2011
Motivational Speaker: Wayne Wetherall
‘Wayne Wetherall is currently the owner and Managing Director of Adventure companies, Kokoda Spirit and Wild Spirit Adventures. Wayne had a very successful career in the corporate world as a National Sales and Marketing Manager and General Manager, until in 2004, he walked the Kokoda Track in PNG; a life changing experience that he has turned into a passion and lifestyle.
‘In 2007 he took on the fulltime role as Managing Director of his own company Kokoda Spirit, which quickly became Number One operator of adventure treks across Kokoda and PNG, escorting over 4000 trekkers across the track. Wetherall’s adventure company has now expanded into Borneo, Africa and Nepal, with his passion to deliver life changing adventures.’
| FACT CHECK: Wayne Wetherall established his myth on the pillar of his international, national, and state athletic records which were listed on the Kokoda Spirit website on 11 February 2005. When challenged to validate these claims in 2010, they were quietly removed from the website. But by then the aura of the adventurer, explorer, and historian with a passion for our soldiers had been well established, and Kokoda Spirt was the leading trek operator on the Kokoda Trail as the result of his slick marketing talents. If Wetherall’s athletic records were true it is fair to assume they would have featured in his profile as a ‘motivational speaker’ of some note at the AWCI 66th International Conference in 2011. |
Wayne’s expertise in Adventure tourism, Business, Management, Leadership, Motivation and Life changing experiences, provides the professional support and infrastructure to the team in Papua New Guinea. Wayne has had a very successful career in the corporate world as a State Manager, National Sales and Marketing Manager and General Manager.’
| FACT CHECK: According to Annual Returns submitted for Kokoda Spirit PNG, Wetherall did not have a ‘team in Papua New Guinea’ as the company did not employ any full-time or part-time employees. |
‘Founded in 2004 by adventurer, Wayne Wetherall, Kokoda Spirit began with an earnest desire to experience a legendary track that was once all but forgotten to time until a small band of Soldiers trekked into the interior of Papua New Guinea and fought back an invading Japanese force during World War II. This formidable frontier became known as the Kokoda Trail Campaign.’
| FACT CHECK: It is a stretch to relate the term ‘adventurer’ to the various suburban sales manager positions listed on his LinkedIn profile prior to 2004. |
According to Wayne Wetherall’s LinkedIn profile he has also ‘thrown himself out of a perfectly good plane skydiving 4 times’, and ‘caged dived with the Great White sharks off Port Lincoln’.
| FACT CHECK: He did not actually ‘throw himself out a perfectly good plane skydiving 4 times’ as claimed. According to Skydive.com.au a parachutist must have completed nine AFF training stages which involve assisted jumping ‘with two instructors holding on to you’ before one is permitted to jump solo. This FB post indicates that Wetherall participated in a ‘tandem jump’ firmly attached to the bosom of a qualified parachutist in the same fashion as this 95-year-old skydiver. According to Shark Diving in Port Lincoln: ‘Our crew strive to ensure all groups get a similar experience in the cage, based on shark interaction . . . Please remember that the day isn’t just about being in the cage as there is also ample viewing opportunity from on board the vessel while waiting for your turn to dive’. |
The principle of the old Latin proverb ‘Caveat Emptor’ i.e. let the buyer beware should therefore apply in any assessment of claims made by Wayne Wetherall on his Kokoda Spirit website which is a reflection of his disregard for truth.
This is contrary to the values of our Kokoda veterans which were based on trust, honesty, mutual respect and loyalty – values that are still part of the ethos of those who have worn the uniform but foreign to imposters who haven’t.
[i] https://web.archive.org/web/20100308103443/http://www.kokodaspirit.com/blog.html
