Central Coast students to walk Kokoda for Duke of Ed

A DOZEN Brisbane Water Secondary College students will walk the Kokoda Trail as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award.

Brisbane Water students Sala Harington and Mat Fisk try out their backpacks. Photo: Sue Graham

A DOZEN Brisbane Water Secondary College students may have taken the “Adventurous Journey” component of their Duke of Edinburgh Award a little too seriously, as they attempt to conquer the Kokoda Trail.

Bradley Beever, Brent Valentine, Danielle Witchard, Hayden Crowson, Jack O’Connell, Jessica Lent, Lachlan Mottlee, Matthew Fisk, Max Zappavigna, Sala Harrington, Zac South and Ebony Millgate left the Coast on Sunday, and will spend nine days traversing the mountains of Papua New Guinea.

The students, along with three accompanying teachers, have been selected as one of only four award groups from around Australia to be funded to undertake the journey.

Brisbane Water Seconday college students doing the Kokoda Trail through Duke of Edinburgh. Photo: Sue Graham

The 96km trek is an arduous one, with the group confessing it had been training in recent weeks for the mountainous terrain.

“Last week, we decided to do a big, three-hour hike just up a big hill — just up and down, up and down,” Matthew said.

“We probably could have done more,” Sala added.

The students are eager to experience what Kokoda offers from a spiritual and emotional standpoint.

“We go to see some memorials and we really learn about what actually happened there,” Sala said.

“It’s a real-life history lesson that we get to go and experience instead of being in the classroom and reading about it in the books,” Matthew said.

The Kokoda Trail. Picture: Evan Morgan

Teacher George Ruzek is no stranger to the Kokoda Trail, having made the trip with a different school group two years ago through the program.

The award leader said the opportunity was a unique one for the teens.

“By walking in the footsteps of the Kokoda heroes, our students learn what true grit and determination is all about. Too many things come easily for the youth of today, so this challenging experience pushes them to discover their true potential,” Mr Ruzek said.

“Students have been selected for their exemplary leadership skills, community involvement and commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program.”

The trip would not be possible were it not for the assistance of the Flight Centre Foundation, which has been in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh program since 2011, and businesses including Bendigo Bank at Ettalong, SNP security and Rotary services at Woy Woy, Umina, and Kincumber.

Japanese memorial at Eora Creek along the Kokoda Trail. Picture: Evan Morgan