Kokoda And Back


Story By Ian Bown – For the Forbes Advocate

In June 2007 a group of blokes from the town of Forbes in NSW fullfilled an ambition to complete the Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea. Over the course of 8 days all of us were able to get achieve a small insight into what the Australian diggers experienced during World War II, while furthering our appreciation of the sacrifices made, and hardships endured during this pivotal time in Australian History. Apart from the historical knowledge gained from the trek we had an experience that will never be forgotten.

Andrew Drane

Back (L to R) Andrew Drane, Josh Baker, Steve Cook, Ian Bown, Scotty Reid, John Milton, David Hoggets, Zac Rennick. Front (L to R) Ralph Baker, Norm Cook, John (Tractor) Rennick, Michael (Harry) Walker, Peter Hollstein, Viv Russell.

Back (L to R) Andrew Drane, Josh Baker, Steve Cook, Ian Bown, Scotty Reid, John Milton, David Hoggets, Zac Rennick. Front (L to R) Ralph Baker, Norm Cook, John (Tractor) Rennick, Michael (Harry) Walker, Peter Hollstein, Viv Russell.

Click here to see complete photo gallery of Kokoda trek

On returning back to Forbes, Ian Bown documented the journey in a diary that was published in the Forbes Advocate. I have published Ian’s diary on Bushroots in a blog format as a permanent record and encourage comments from people who have also done the trek or are just interested in the experience.

 

Kokoda Blog Diary – Table of Contents

Day 1 – Arriving in Papua New Guinea
Day 2 – Owers Corner to Ua-Ule Creek
Day 3 – Ua-Ule to Naoro Village
Day 4 – Old Naoro to Efogi Two
Day 5 – Efogi 2 to Kagi Village
Day 6 – Kagi Village to Templeton’s Crossing Two
Day 7 – Templeton’s Crossing 2 to Isurava
Day 8 – Isurava Guest House to Deniki
Day 9 – Deniki to Kokoda Village

Combined Blog – All 9 days

Click here to see complete photo gallery of Kokoda trek