Kokoda 2016 Trek

Kokoda 2016- Connecting the Community

On Friday 17th June, Mr Hugh Austin and 5 students: Zac Bol, Kira Paunovic, Mason Scott, Zac Di Giuseppe and Lillie Butler flew off together from Melbourne Airport to trek the Kokoda track in PNG.

 

This community project, proudly supported by the Victorian Police, the Moonee Valley Council, Buckley Park College, St Bernard’s College, Mt Alexander College and the Australian International Academy was an incredible opportunity for our team. 

 

Since conception in 2007 the Kokoda Project has grown into a program that builds leaders and allows students from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to bond. For 8 days and 7 nights students, teachers, police officers and sponsors endure hot and humid conditions in remote tropical jungles walking the Kokoda Track.

 

As part of their involvement students selected to participate in the trek are set a challenge to raise money for the Dav Cavell School that is located at Nine Mile on the outskirts of Port Moresby. This school is very basic yet provides an education for children from surrounding villages. 

 

Of equal importance to achieving this personal milestone is to acknowledge the Australian and allied soldiers who fought in defence of Australia along this stretch of land during World War II.

 

The whole school community wished our team all the very best for this adventure of a lifetime – something that very few people actually get to experience. This was an amazing opportunity together to do something very special and I know they made the most of it and had a great time.

 

On behalf of the whole school community, my thanks to Mr Austin for leading the team, and hope you had the most fantastic trek imaginable!

  

Nathan Chisholm

Principal



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