Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Archive for April, 2010

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels  by Sapper Bert Beros

Many a mother in Australia,
When the busy day is done,
Sends a prayer to the Almighty
For the keeping of her son,
Asking that an Angel guide him
And bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers are answered
Up on the Kokoda Track,
Though they haven’t any halos,
Only holes slashed in the ears,
And with faces worked with tattoos,
With scratch pins in their hair,
Bringing back the wounded,
Just as steady as a hearse,
Using leaves to keep the rain off
And as gentle as a nurse. Read the rest of this entry »

On the morning of November 3, Team 17, our last team on the Track for 2010 will commemorate the recapture of Kokoda and the historic raising of the Australian Flag over the site where the Kokoda campaign started.

Although B Company of the 39th Militia Battalion had briefly engaged the vanguard of the advancing Japanese forces before they reached Kokoda station,  it was the battle for Kokoda and our subsequent forced  withdrawal which marked the start of the Japanese advance over the Owen Stanley Ranges towards their goal of Port Moresby. It was a moment of great pride when in the early hours of November 3, 1942, the advancing Australian forces raised the Australian Flag in the same clearing that had been so heroically defended 4 months earlier.

Raising the flag will be only one of the highlights of this trek. We will be starting this trek at Ower’s Corner and walk South to North following the battle history of the Australian soldiers  as they pushed the Japanese back over the Track. Rather than camp at Kokoda, we intend to stay the night in a village Homestay which should be a lot of fun.

Click here to view our Team 17 Itinerary >

Click here to read more about this special commemorative trek >

“I would like to thank you for the perfect Kokoda trek which Back Track provided. Right from the initial dealings with you I could in no way be any happier with the help-infomation-service & experience in which Back Track and all your support staff provided me. From the first meeting with you at the infomation day to all the training at Mt Cootha & Mt Glorious onto the trek, the friends that I have met along the way will last with me.A special thanks to Steve Foster,the unbelievable knowledge of Steve mixed with his fantastic attitude and love of his position is an absolute credit to him.The highlight was ANZAC day, it was perfect. I have no hesitation in recomending anyone to Back Track and I will continue to walk at Mt Coot tha with a eye on Shaggy Ridge in the coming future.

Once again thank you for helping me fullfill a dream!!!!!”

MS, Kokoda Anzac Day Trek 2009

Trekking the Kokoda Track is tough and physically and mentally challenging. The fitter you are the more you will enjoy the Kokoda Track. Your personal training programme starts as soon as you book. If you book a Kokoda Trail trek with Back Track a detailed, simple to follow Training Schedule is provided in your Confirmation Kit that will illustrate how to start your own personal walking training programme wherever you live.

Back Track has also created a series of short videos giving you some basic tips to help with your fitness preparation. Visit our Fitness on the Kokoda Track page on our Kokoda website for more information. We are always adding new videos so keep checking back to help with your Kokoda Track fitness preparation. Or visit our YouTube website >

Sydney 29th October 2010

Every year the Kokoda Track Foundation conducts this special fund raising dinner and you are cordially invited to attend.

Honner is of course, the legendary commander of the 39th Militia Battalion that fought so couragiously on the Kokoda Track.

Born 17 August 1904 and died 15 May 1994, Honner was a true inspiration to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. The soldiers under his command on the Kokoda Track always spoke of him with the deepest respect and affection. He was a great man and a great army officer.The Annual Oration Dinner is always a very popular gala event attended by Kokoda veterans, trekkers, historians, celebrities and supporters of the Kokoda Track Foundation. A memorable night is guaranteed.

I’ll keep you posted with details of costs and venue as information comes to hand.