Community
30 July, 2025
Kokoda students return
TWELVE students across six Corangamite Shire schools last week returned from the trek of a lifetime.
The students bravely took on the Kokoda Trail, a historic route in Papua New Guinea known for its significance in World War II.
Spanning 96 kilometres, the students went on a 10-day expedition through the treacherous terrain and finished the journey at Port Moresby just as many of their ancestors did in the past.
The trip was made possible thanks to a $48,000 scholarship from No Roads Expeditions, which will be ongoing every second year to give more students in the Corangamite area the chance to take on the challenge.
The students agreed one of the most memorable parts of the trip was the midway point when they rested for two days in Kagi.
Timboon P-12 Year 11 student Cooper Whiting said it was his favourite part of the experience.
“When we first got into Kagi, all the children and the mothers were singing to us,” he said.
“We had made it halfway and it was very emotional to have everyone be so nice to us.
“We were all struggling so those two rest days were really nice.”
Terang College Year 11 student Lucy Eldridge agreed and said she really liked the Sabbath Day.
“Going to the church and listening to them all sing and come together was really nice to see,” she said.
At one stage during the trek, the students had to tackle some tough ridges, which Cooper said was one of the hardest parts of the trail.
“We had to do two ridges in one day since we were trying to get in front of a few other groups to save a bit of time,” he said.
“That was definitely our toughest day.”
Unlike the current frosty conditions across south west Victoria, over in Papua New Guinea, the students battled with the heat.
“Trying to get to sleep in the heat was the hardest part of it,” Derrinallum P-12 College Year 11 student Jackson Lyddy said.
“The walking wasn’t too bad.”
Lucy also said the heat was tough, along with the steep ridges on the trek.
“Climbing the ridges was tough because they were really steep and it was really hot as well,” she said.
The students will be getting together at the Theatre Royal in Camperdown at 6.30pm on Saturday, August 23 and invite all members of the community to join them to hear about their experience.
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