Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Kokoda Reunions and Special Events’ Category

Once again Anzac Day 2011 was one of the most moving moments we have had on the Track since 2002.

Back Track has always commemorated Anzac Day on the remote summit of Brigade Hill situated approximately half way along the Kokoda Track.  We have chosen this location for 2 reasons.
Firstly it is one the Australian armies most sacred sites. On the exact location where we conduct our dawn ceremony, 52 Australian soldiers were buried who  lost their lives in the defence of their country.  In total 88 Australian soldiers from the 2/14, 2/16 and 2/27th Battalions  died or ‘were missing in action’ during the savage Battle of  Brigade Hill. The remains of the 52 soldiers buried on Brigade Hill and a further 2o soldiers who were buried  on nearby Mission Ridge were later  transferred to the Bomana War cemetary. 
Secondly,  Anzac Day ceremonies are also conducted at Isurava battle site on the Track and at Bomana War Cemetary in Port Moresby. However to attend either of these ceremonies involves having to trek in line for 9 days with so many other trekking companies and competiting for campsites and generally speaking this has very little appeal to us.

Over the years,we have considered possibly having a Team attend the ceremony in Port Moresby, however, unfortunately this also would mean that if we started the trek before or just after Anzac day,  we would still have to trek in queue with too many other groups. Just a bit too tight  and claustrophobic for us.

The weather was kind to us as dawn came on Anzac day and as the clear,morning sky glowed  faintly blue, the first suns rays hit our 2 flagpoles erected on the summit the day before . The Australian and PNG National flags  looked wonderful flying in the light breeze.  We had also erected 52  markers in neat lines directly in front of the summit momument and our flag poles. The markers  symbolised the 52 brave souls that died on Brigade Hill.

We had set up a small tent town just below the summit to accommodate our 4  teams, totalling 60 trekkers and with the local villagers from Efogi and Naduri and Menari who travelled to the summit with us to be part of the Dawn ceremony, plus all our trek crew, we were a force to be proud of as we sang and  conducted our Dawn Service.  Thank you to the SDA Pastor from Efogi  Village for his prayers conducted in the Motu language. Thank you to the Back Track Trek crew choir plus the singers from Naduri, Efogi and Menari villagers for their beautiful singing before, after and during the ceremony. Thank you to all our trekkers, those who shed tears and those who managed to hold them back, thank you for sharing such a wonderful morning.

Back Track has plans to be back on the summit next Anzac day 2012. Love to have you join us and be part of a very special  Kokoda/Anzac day moment.

If you would like to read the ceremony service, and view some pics, please visit our web page:- TBA

With Anzac Day 2011 still 4 months away, all  four Anzac Teams are now fully booked.  This is indicitive of the increased interest by Australians in general in regard to their history. Anzac Day ceremonies around Australia have also born witness to this renewed interest in our war time history with record numbers of older and young Australians turning out for Anzac Day Dawn Services at war memorials in every Australian City.
Due to the popularity, Back Track  added 2 additional Anzac Dday departures for 2011 which filled within weeks of their announcement.

For 2012 Anzac Day treks we advise all trekkers considering Kokoda for Anzac Day to get in early. If you think you may be interested, contact us now and we will email you when the 2012 dates are available.

One unique feature of Back Track’s Anzac Day treks is that we coordinate all our Teams to meet at the remote Brigade Hill battlesite for our Anzac day ceremony. This is a recognised sacred site by the Australian Defence  Forces.

By meeting up on the summit of Brigade Hill, half way along the Kokoda Track, we avoid the crowds which head for the more easily accessible Isurava battlefield for the Dawn ceremony. “It’s beautiful watching the sunrise on Brigade Hill at dawn on Anzac Day”. Brigade Hill is the site of one of the Australian armys most important battles on the Kokoda Track. The ceremony is held on the exact site where so many young soldiers lost their lives in defence of our way of life and freedom.

If you didn’t make it to Kokoda for 2011, you’re invited to join us in 2012.

After Team 17  finishes their trek on the 05 November,  we are intending   to hold our end of season trek party for all our trek crew.  This is a party to publicly show our appreciation for the  professional job all our trek crew have done throughout the 2010 trek season. There will be presentations, food and drink, music etc etc.

As part of a special powerpoint presentation I am completing  to show at the party, I am looking for all our past trekkers, especially from the 2010 season, to forward to me any pics or especially jpg’s showing the crew, or individual crew members, in action or interacting with the trekkers or in any situation at all.  Pics of our crew in any situation would be fun to have.  I would like the crew to have a few laughs when they see themselves on the big screen.   The show is going to be all about the crew . If you or other trekkers are in the shot as well that is great.
If you would like to include a  written  message to your personal porter, or to the crew in general, please feel free to do so and we will include these written notes into the presentation. Don’t feel oblidged to include a written note, as we do not expect to include 200 written notes.
Be assured that we  will handle the presentation so all crew are thanked equally.  
Email your pics to jim@backtrack.com.au.

To all Interested in the history of the Kokoda Track, you may like to consider attending the 28th Annual reunion of the 2/14th Battalion. Members and friends of the 39th Battalion will also be attending. You are all welcome. Please follow the directions at the bottom of this post  if you wish to attend.

 Dear Member/Friend,

As advised in the “Comradeship”, our annual reunion is being held in New Farm, Brisbane on Thursday, 29th July 2010 from 10am to 4pm.  A warm invitation is extended to members, wives, widows, kinfolk and friends, also to members of any associated Battalion. 

The venue is again “Riverside”, 50 Oxlade Drive, NEW FARM, adjacent to the river.  The setting and facilities are excellent.  Morning tea or coffee with goodies and a main hot meal will be provided.  The bar will open at 10.30am for drinks at public bar prices.
 Parking is available in Brunswick Street, Oxlade Drive and adjacent streets and also in New Farm.
In the light of increased catering costs, our charge per person has had to be increased to $40.  In order to subsidise reunion costs and operation of the Queensland Branch throughout the year, the usual raffle will be conducted.  Please advise if you are able to assist with a prize.
Please return your contribution of $40.00 per person with your RETURN SLIP, or email information if using EFT.

——————————————————————————————————-

RETURN BY 19^TH JULY 2008 TO:              Trevor Pryor
13 Townley Dr
North Lakes   QLD   4509

First names & surnames of

            those attending                                   …………………………………………..

…………………………………………..

…………………………………………..

…………………………………………..

Total number attending ………………… 

Cheques for reunion should be made payable to:-     

2/14^th Battalion Assn. Q’land Branch.

EFT Details:              BSB     014-672,     A/c      384073793 ,

Please include your name and email me your information.

Many of our supporters who have walked the Kokoda Track in recent years have now become members of our Association.  A warm welcome is extended to them and to all trekkers interested in our Association. 

I am in the process of taking over the duties as Hon. Secretary/Treasurer of the Queensland Branch.  I offer a grateful thanks to Andrew for his work over the last few years and his offer of assistance in the future.
Please make yourself known to me at the reunion.
Those interested in attending the reunion but requiring further information please contact:- 

Trevor Pryor              13 Townley Dr, North Lakes  Qld  4509
                                         Ph:  (07) 34824768,   Mob:  0407500588,  Email:  teepee_au@yahoo.com
Dress  -  casual.

Trevor Pryor

15/6/10

RIVERSIDE RECEPTIONS MENU

Morning Tea:         Coffee/Tea

                                 Scones with jam & cream

                                 Spring rolls & shrimp shamoi

Luncheon:              Grilled breast of chicken served in tarragon & mushroom sauce

                                 Steak Dianne – tender steak served with a rich Dianne sauce

                                 Meals served with pear potatoes, cauliflower au gratin, beans & carrots

Dessert:                   Fruit salad with ice cream

                                 Apple crumble with ice cream

                                 Tea and coffee

Back Track are happy to announce that Fuzzy Wuzzy Day 2010 is now official.  Mr James Enage, the CEO of the Kokoda  Track Authority has confirmed the a programme  for the inaugral 2010 celebration will be available shortly.

When contacted recently MrEnage advised, “ we are currently planning the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day for 3^rd of November, 2010 and have agreed on Kokoda Station as the main focus place for the celebrations. Tentative Programs in discussion are flag raising ceremony which will be followed by Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Medal Presentation that will be further complimented with Cultural Dance Festival. This Cultural Dance Festival will include various groups within the Oro Province and other invited guest Provinces in PNG and may require an additional two days.”

 A Back Track trekking  team will be  attending the inaugral Fuzzy Wuzzy day celebrations for 2010.  Our Team 17 itinerary has been designed  so we will be at Kokoda Station for the celebrations. Team 17 is completely sold out and we are now taking bookings for the same trek in 2011. let us know if you are interested in being there for 2011.  Our 2011 Itinerary will be slightly modified so  trekkers can opt to spend 1 or 3 days in Kokoda after their trek so they can take part inj some or all of the celebrations over the 3 days.

l .