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At Gallipoli we fought for Britain and lost . . .
At Kokoda we fought for Australia and won!
Kokoda Day is dedicated to the legacy of the New Guinea wartime carriers who were indentured to support our Australian forces in World War II.
The carriers, immortalised as ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’, were regarded as civilian labourers and therefore not entitled to benefits reserved for servicemen and women. Their names were never recorded. They never received a medal even though many served at the front line. And many claimed to have never been paid.
Compensation has remained a vexed issue for more than 50 years since the end of the war, Many claimed not to have been fully paid for their services. Many lie in unmarked graves where they fell.
Today it’s too late to record their names, pin a medal on their chest, mark their unknown graves, or compensate them.
However, what we can do, is dedicate a day to honour their legacy of service and sacrifice to nation.
The most appropriate day is the anniversary of the raising of the Australian flag on the Kokoda Plateau at the end of a gruelling 3-month campaign across the Kokoda Trail – this would not have been possible if our diggers had not been supported by the New Guinea wartime carriers, the legendary ‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels‘.
Kokoda Day should therefore be proclaimed as a national day of commemoriation in Australia and Papua New Guinea to allow us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge their service and their sacrifice to ensure they are never forgotten.
Click here for more information on Kokoda Day – The Concept
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord is dedicated to the memory of the Kokoda campaign.
Lest We Forget.
PNG National Anthem sung by the Strathfield North Public School – conducted by Adam Casalo
Kokoda Day tribute to the legendary ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
Keyonote Speaker: The Hon Dennis Cowdroy AO KC
PNG Consul-General, Ponabe Yuwa and the Hon Charlie Lynn OAM OL raising the PNG and Australian flags
Traditional cultural group from Kokoda, Oro Province
Cenotaph guard
Pipes and drums escort
Kokoda veterans arriving at the service in a WW2 army jeep
Catafalque Party from the Australian Forces Re-Enactment Heritage Unit
Wreath laying service by visiting school group
Australian National Anthem sung by the Strathfield North Public School Choir conducted by Adam Casalo
Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Honner MC Education Center at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway
Chairwoman of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Mrs Jennifer Collins AM
Students viewing 3D presentation of the Kokoda campaign in the Ralph Honner Education Centre
Mr. Ovoru Inkiki – former Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel, for Naduri Village Constable, and Village Elder
COMMITMENT: Adventure Kokoda trek leader Peta Bull flew from Brisbane to Sydney for the service – and back to Brisbane after it was over!
THANK YOU Taubada Charlie for reminding us of the significant of Kokoda Day and the the history of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels during the WW2 along the Kokoda Track.
Your continuous support to advocate developments along the corridors of Kokoda Track is important.
CEO of KTA, Mr Jack Deia, has raised concern for a rural police station to be built at Efogi village and I hope all stakeholders support this important project for police to deliver the tourism policing concept in partnership with local and international tour guide companies for the safety and security for all people that set foot on this historic track.
Thank you!
GN. Batia