KOMPLETE KOKODA NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 2010

KOKODA DAY 8TH AUGUST 2010 SHERWOOD RSL Brisbane

From the late 1960s veterans of the Kokoda battles began gathering at the home of Jack Hand at Corinda in Brisbane to hold their Annual Commemoration and lunch, with the ladies providing the catering support. This was in the days when people, including the diggers, barely spoke about Kokoda, when it wasn’t taught in schools (as it still is not nearly enough) and when Kokoda wasn’t the walking challenge, gym junkies ‘must do’ and conjuror of emotions it has become today.

After a few years the luncheon moved to Sherwood RSL sub –Branch in the Croll Hall. In February 1973, the Kokoda Stone was dedicated and unveiled on the Sherwood RSL Sub-branch property at the corner of Browne & Clewley Sts Corinda. The stone was a gift from the Port Moresby RSL which had arranged for it to be taken from the back of the Ilolo Plantation at McDonalds’ Corner on the southern and of the Kokoda Trail. From 1973, the Kokoda veterans have held their Kokoda Day Memorial Service on the second Sunday of August at the Kokoda Stone. This date was chosen as the closest Sunday each year to the second battle for Kokoda which raged for two days from the 8th August 1942, when A Coy of the 39th Btn retook Kokoda and held it for these two vital days, against all odds – less than 100 men against unknown-at–the-time hundreds of Japanese. The boys of the 39th had to pull out when they ran out of food and ammo – just missing an aircraft that flew over and dropped supplies that fell into the hands of the enemy. This was the first time the Japanese had struck an enemy audacious enough to recapture an already conquered zone and it led them to believe they were up against a much stronger force than was the reality. This battle, and the stand at Deniki, although ultimately unsuccessful, played a significant role in the final outcome of the Kokoda Campaign. If gave Bert Kienzle and his band of ANGAU assistants and Fuzzy Wuzzy angels, vital time to establish supply dumps and for Bert to locate & name Myola Lake #1 which would play such an important part in the Aussie supply line.

On Sunday 1 August 2002, the Kokoda Plaque was dedicated and unveiled in front of the club building and on Sunday 6 August 2006, both the Kokoda Stone and the Kokoda Plaque were again dedicated and unveiled at the Sherwood-Indooroopilly sub branch new property at 2 Clewley St. This annual Memorial Service, at this venue that has become a significant pilgrimage point for the diggers of the 39th Btn and their families, grows more popular each year.
Soc was guest speaker at this event two years ago in 2008 where he spoke about his father Capt Bert Kienzle and his special relationship with the men of the 39th Btn, with Soc’s sister Mary and brother John and his wife Helen, plus Soc’s wife Robyn and his youngest daughter Suzanne in the audience.

This year Soc again attended and enjoyed catching up with some of the Kokoda diggers who he has come to know quite well over the last few years:

George Palmer, a great bloke, well known to many as one of the few survivors of the famous photo Damien Parer took of the boys of the 39th struggling up a muddy slope on the track.
Cec Driscoll who was amongst the first company of the 39th who were led across the Trail by Bert in July 1942. Cec remembers Soc’s father fondly as a tall, good looking bloke with a commanding presence and with unsurpassed respect from the natives. He recalls most fondly the fresh tucker Bert got for them all when they arrived at Kokoda, sick of bully beef and hard biscuits. Bert went out to his properties at the Yodda and brought back sweet potatoes and pawpaw plus some more interesting tinned delicacies. Cec has lots of other stores to tell that will appear in Robyn’s book “Architect of Kokoda” to be published in 2011.
Colin Richardson. Colin repeats each time he meets Soc that Bert saved his life. Colin was one of the lucky few actually flown out of Myola from the airstrip that Bert worked so hard, and fast, to create. Col knows he would not have survived if he had had to be carried back to Ilolo – his wounds were horrific. In an amazing coincidence the doctor whose ability to make do with minimum medical supplies saved his life was Dr Geoff Mutton, brother-in-law of Bert’s wife Meryl’s closest friend Eve Mutton.

The Surfers Paradise RSL has also begun holding a Kokoda Day commemoration at the wonderful Memorial Wall at Cascade Gardens. Their memorial service will always be held on the 8th August so next year will not clash with Sherwood, meaning those keen enough can attend both!!

FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS DAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2010 KOKODA PNG

Plans are coming together for this event and on last advice, Soc will be there as an Official Guest, taking the original Australian Flag that was raised there 68 years ago by General Vasey in the presence of Capt Bert Kienzle. All sorts of activities are planned for the day, directed at the local people – it is their day.

Kokoda Program 3 November - Alcohol Free Days (1 - 5 November)
09:30 VIP arrivals by charter aircraft (and by road from Popondetta). Walk to Memorial Park.
10:00 Official start of proceedings.
• Official Speeches
• Welcome to Kokoda by the Koiari people (singsing)
• Presentation of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Medallion
10:30 March-Past
• Sporting, Cultural and Musical Teams
• Children dressed as FWA
• Cultural singsing performances
11:00 Sports Events
• FWA Races (at Memorial Park)
• Stretcher Carrying and Hill Climb Race
• Tug of War
• FWA Sports Winner Presentation - Touch Rugby, Volleyball and Soccer
13:30 Flag Raising (to match exact time in 1942)
14:30 Cultural Performances
• 2 groups from outside of Oro plus a group from Kokoda
15:00 VIP Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Trek departs
15:30 Close of Day. VIPs fly out.

At last, the efforts of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and their importance in the history of both Australia and PNG is going to be recognised by the people of Papua New Guinea

SPECIAL IN-DEPTH HISTORY TREK - MAY 2011-13 nights/14 days

We have put together an itinerary for this one-off trek designed for the families of diggers and for genuine history buffs who want to hear the correct history, visit all the important historical sites & hear stories and visit places known only to Soc.

FOR  MORE DETAILS AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN THIS SPECIAL TRIP
EMAIL SOC AT
kompletekokoda@hotmail.com

MOUNT VICTORIA EXPEDITION

ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF – WHAT’S NEXT AFTER KOKODA? DID YOU LOVE KOKODA, ITS PEOPLE AND ITS MAGNIFICENT SCENERY? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE – SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT?

WHY NOT JOIN US ON SOC’S ‘HAND OVER EXPEDITION’ TO
MOUNT VICTORIA IN JUNE 2011?

As we say on our website, this is a level up from walking the Kokoda Trail. We reach an altitude of 4041 m where the temperature drops to around MINUS 12 degrees C, and that’s without accounting for the windchill factor. As we climb, we very quickly leave the jungle and head into tundra like country with unique and fascinating flora and fauna. The pristine lakes we pass on the way have to be seen to be believed.

 Check out our Mt Victoria Page on this website or
Email us at info@kompletekokoda.com.au