Allan Amber, MGA Group Deputy Managing Director recently undertook
a journey to Papua New Guinea and trekked along the Kokoda trail, and has
provided a brief outline of some of his experiences of Kokoda along with
some photographs.  




Kokoda. In July this year, after 6 months of preparation I spent 8 days
walking the Kokoda Track. It was an experience that I will never forget
and has been rarely far from my mind since.
I read the book "kokoda" prior to my trip and it gave me an insight to the
Military history that is with you every step of the track.




The track (if you can call it that in places) is 160km long over the Owen
Stanley range from Kokoda on the north side of Papua New Guinea to
Owers corner just out of Port Moresby on the south coast .The track is
steep going up or down and is constantly challenging.

Many now are walking the track and learning more about the Australian
soldiers, mostly 18 to 20 yrs old that fought in unimaginable conditions
(most losing their lives) to stop the advance of the Japanese invading
Australia in 1942.



I expected this trek to be another memorable adventure, but the experience
of Kokoda, the terrain, the people (the fuzzy wuzzy angels) and the sacrifice
and true heroism that happened hour by hour for 3 months by young Australian
soldiers, who new exactly what was at stake (Australia itself), and against
overwhelming odds defeated the Japanese and removed the threat of
invasion, has left me with a feeling of immense pride and gratitude. I will never
forget Kokoda and its legacy.