Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Kokoda Trek Leaders and Crew’ Category

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.

We have just received a report that one of the most liked and longest serving local guides working on the Kokoda Track has passed away.
Colin Obed from the Kokoda Track village of Naduri has passed away on Friday 16th July while resting at his Morata residence. To date we only have a very sketchy report however it would appear that he was suffering no ill health and was in good spirits when he suddenly collapsed and died without any warning.

Though Colin was not working for Back Track this season he has worked with us over the years and completed contract work for us early this year.

He was a very hard working, responsible and well liked Head Guide.  He was  leading a trek for another trekking company when members from Back Track Team 9, met and chatted with him at  the Isurava memorial.  He was in great spirits and the sudden news that he has died so quickly has left all of us who knew and trekked with him in shock and deep sadness.

We wish everyone of Colin’s extended family and all those who knew and loved Colin our deepest sympathy.

He will be forever missed but never forgotten. Not having Colin on the Track  is a great loss to the trekking industry.

One of our trek leaders sent this information to us today,  having received the list from a trekker from one of her  recent Teams.  It is posted to illustrate that trekking the Kokoda Track is just not all about  history and challenge and achievement. Trekking the Track with Back Track is also about:-
Rowan’s Top 10

1. Seeing Dacrycarpus on Mt Bellamy and all the other plants along the track.
2. Butterflies at Hoi & elsewhere
3. Birdsong in the morning
4. Service at Brigade Hill
5. Children singing at Naduri
6. Receiving carving from Kay
7. Swimming after hot day on the track – especially at Agulogo & Goldie River
8. The porters singing in the evenings
9. The guard of porters singing at the end of the track
10. Having a fantastic group of people to share the journey with

Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a joint agreement to protect the historic Kokoda Track. This is the second joint  understanding agreement and aims to support sustainable development of the Owen Stanley ranges, Brown River Catchment, and Kokoda Track region. Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith and PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sam Abal signed the agreement at Alotau PNG  on July 8.

Environment Minister, Peter Garrett and his PNG counterpart, Benny Allen said this marked  the continuation of a joint committment to protect the Kokoda Track region. It also would help improve the lives of local communities by providing access to the potential economic benefits arising from the development of resources such as hydropower and tourism, the ministers said. A key objective of the agreement will be to honour the Track’s wartime historical significance and protect and promote its values.
extract from brisbane Courier Mail Friday July 9.

At Back Track we employ professional trek leaders, ensuring a safe and informed holiday. Your trek leaders will explain the history at all the battle sites, give you an insight in to the culture of the people living in the villages and keep you well informed about each days objectives and most importantly, ensure that you all complete the trek safely. They attend to the smooth day-to-day operation of the trek so you can relax and enjoy the holiday. They remember their first time over the Track and they know the challenges you will face. It is your holiday and our crew are dedicated to ensuring that you complete the challenge and enjoy the experience. Some Back Track leaders have held Senior rank in the Australian Army and worked in elite miltary units. As we do not conduct our treks in a military format, we do not consider it important that all leaders on the Kokoda Track should have an army background.

Understanding the Kokoda campaign

If one of the reasons you wish to trek the Track is to gain a detailed understanding of the campaign and visit all the signifcant historical locations, then we would love to have you join us.

Our Trek Leaders are knowledgible and passionate about the history of the Kokoda Campaign They have detailed knowledge of the campaign, the tactics used by both the Japanese and the Australian forces and they also know the personal stories of many who fought and died along the Track. Our Leaders carry selected maps, historic photos and other pictorial reference material which will be used to assist your understanding at all the briefings during your trek.

A testimonial to a BTA trek Leader

“…our Trek Leader, Megan made the difference. She was just great. She obviously loved her job and knew how to get our mixed mob of personalities over the Track. Her guidance and encouragement from Day 1 allowed me to relax and begin to enjoy the trekking lifestyle. She kept all of us fully informed of what was happening. Her encouragement helped us gain confidence in our ability to complete the trek. She kept us constatnly informed of each days walking goals. She kept us updated throughout each days walk with safety information, the best water sources, and set plans and explained how to conquer challenging sections of the Track as they were encountered. She was a great link between us and your trekking crew and the people along the Track. She soon had broken down all the barriers and had us (trekkers) and your trekking crew mixing and working together as a harmonious group. For me personally this was a highlight of the holiday. Megs even shed a tear or two with us as she relived a tragic war time tale at Cons Rock. ……… her knowlege of the campaign was unbelievable …………….Personally I feel that 1 or 2 members though fit enough may not have been able to finish the trek had it not been for Megs. We did have a lot of rain which made parts of the Track difficult but Megs worked with all of us passing on little tips to help us cope . This especially was the case with the 2 team members who were struggling. When they finished the trek and dropped their packs I could not hear what they said to her but it was obvious that they thanked her for getting them through. Having seen and experienced what the Track is all about, I would have no hesitation in recommending Back Track to anyone considering the trip. A couple I spoke with on the trail near Templetons from a group without a leader told me that for the last 5 days they really had no idea where they were and what was happening. They still had not really met all the other group members and the crew were great people and were helpful but aloof. They were struggling to work out from their guide book, any of the historic locations and what the campaign was all about. The head Guide was great but not all that interested or able to communicate about the war history. They were enjoying their own personal challenge but sorry they had not gone with a company that offered a little more service……..”.(IM, 2006)