Prime Minister’s emotional welcoming to PNG as he departs for historic Kokoda walk for Anzac Day
Anthony Albanese embraced PNG Prime Minister James Marape as the pair took their first steps onto the Kokoda Trail on Tuesday, in powerful scenes before thousands of locals who trekked for hours to see them.
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Anthony Albanese embraced Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape as the pair took their first steps onto the Kokoda Trail on Tuesday, in powerful scenes before thousands of locals who trekked for hours to see them.
When the Australian Prime Minister disembarked the helicopter in the jungles of Kokoda he was welcomed by thousands of locals chanting “Oro Oro,” which means welcome in the local province.
The ceremony took place on the Kokoda Plateau, where the great battles were fought between the ANZACs and the Japanese, as Papua New Guineans risked their lives to bring supplies up to the front line and carry injured Australian troops down the trail.
The friendship between the prime ministers was palpable, with the pair constantly embracing and referring to each other as “brothers.”
Schoolchildren belted out the Australian national anthem to which the Prime Minister said: “It never sounded better.”
Both prime ministers, along with local ministers, made heartfelt speeches, as Mr Marape declared the special occasion a public holiday for the province.
The message from leader to leader was loud and clear, the future between Australia and Papua New Guinea “is together.”
“Together in defence, together in climate change and together in economics,” Albanese said.
Albanese became emotional when asked by The Daily Telegraph how he would feel walking in the steps of the Anzacs and being compared to former Prime Minister John Curtain.
“I don’t quite know how I’ll feel,” Albanese said.
“I’ll find out when I start walking the track.”
Former Labor leader John Curtain made the decision to pull troops back home in 1942 and it proved to be the right one.
Japanese forces invaded Lae and Salamaua and initiated the New Guinea campaign to the immediate north of Australia, by then Curtain’s troops had returned and were essential in turning the tide against the Japanese advance in the Pacific and particularly on the Kokoda Trail.
Just moments before Albanese and Marape were pictured in the archway on the Kokoda, the Prime Minister made light of the treacherous walk he had ahead of him and said: “It’s a bit warm, I’ll try to come back in one piece.”
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