After trekking across the Kokoda Trail for 15 years and realising the impossibility of the sacrifice, endurance, and compassion PNGs wartime carriers exhibited in saving so many sick and wounded diggers across the Kokoda Trail, I proposed that a special day be dedicated to their selfless legacy.
It seemed to be the least we could do as they were not entitled to a medal because of their civilian status, and no attempt had been made to record their names as the basis of establishing a national Roll of Honour in PNG.
We proposed the 3rd of November would be appropriate as the Australian flag would never have been raised the day after we recaptured Kokoda if it had not been for their support:
The PNG Government compromised by rebadging it as ‘Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angel Day’.
Whilst it was well intended the change effectively killed off the marketing and fundraising potential of the proposal in Australia as the term ‘fuzzy wuzzy angel’ is not familiar to most Australians – many who are unfamiliar with the Kokoda campaign regard it as a patronising term.
It obviously didn’t have any resonance in PNG either as it now barely rates a mention.
A Sunday Chronicle article on 8 November 2009 captured the essence of PNGs ambivalence towards their own unsung heroes of the Kokoda campaign on 8 November 2009:
In contrast to PNGs ambivalence, former NSW Premier, The Hon Dominic Perrottet MP, who had previously trekked Kokoda twice was fully aware of the sacrifice made by the Papuan wartime carriers in support of our diggers – he formally proclaimed ‘Kokoda Day’ as a day of commemoration in NSW on 20 October 2022 and each year it increases in popularity as can be seen from the following link:
The 50th year of Independence coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of the War in the Pacific – it would therefore be an appropriate time for National Executive Council to revisit the proposal which would be a great source of pride in their education system as well as being a catalyst for a coordinated fundraising campaign in Australia to provide assistance in their honour.
