The Challenge required us to attend leadership workshops, participate in community service activities, and maintain a high level of physical fitness, with the end goal of trekking the Kokoda Trail in September.
One of the first activities we embarked upon was the two-day retreat at Grange Cleveland winery in the Macedon Ranges. Here we bonded as a group, engaging in exercises of conflict resolution and introspection.
We then established fitness groups and activities and met regularly for leadership workshops, which covered theoretical styles of leadership and group lateral thought puzzles. We were also conscious to fulfil social obligations, with everyone endeavouring to make their own contributions as well as give back as a group, by cooking breakfast for the less fortunate at St Peter’s Church.
Finally though, on 16 September, we left for Kokoda. We arrived on National Independence Day, and for many it was a culture shock.
After staying the night at Sogeri Lodge and getting used to the diminished creature comforts of Papua New Guinea, we flew out to Kokoda, at the other end of the Kokoda Trail – placing 120km of mountain ranges between us and our destination at Owers' Corner. We landed around 9am and, after a briefing, walked to our first campsite and found our tents already set up for us by the local men.
The next few days were physically challenging, but highly enjoyable; songs and jokes were in full flow. Highlights were the memorial at Isurava where we read poetry and exchanged national anthems with the locals, and Lake Mayola, a huge crater lake where we saw a p-40 warhawk downed during the Kokoda Campaign.
As we continued through the jungle, the briefings about the war from our trek leader, Commodore Simon Hart, intensified as we passed through strategic points for Australia and Japan, such as Surgeon’s Rock and Brigade Hill. The locals were all very keen to meet us, with a couple of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels appearing to show us their collections of medals.
Eventually though, we passed through the Owen-Stanley Ranges and over the impossibly steep Imita Ridge, to land ourselves at Owers' Corner. All of us were extremely happy that night to have warm showers and use soap!
The next morning we set off home, but all of us took a piece of Kokoda back with us in our minds. Certainly, it was a trip that none of us will ever forget – the spiritual and physical imprint of the Kokoda Trail is lasting. And so was the outcome of the Leadership Challenge; standing on the other side of it, I can say that we are all stronger people, more confident leaders, and better friends.
Robert Holt (2nd year Science)
