State Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren is in New Guinea taking part in his second Kokoda Track walk with students from special school Lomandra. He sent this report below via email:
“I am really looking forward to supporting the Lomandra students and watching them navigate the challenges Kokoda brings – both mentally and physically.
“I also knocked up a small tribute to John Murray’s (former deputy mayor and Cobbitty resident) brother who died on the Kokoda Track at the beginning of the World War II campaign that went from July to November 1942 where we lost 625 men and had more than 1,000 wounded.
I understand John has never been able to visit him.
John’s brother is buried in the Bomana war cemetery where I have now placed the small tribute at the Isurava battle site where there’s a small museum.
It’s particularly good to be heading back this year, the 75th anniversary.
Kokoda holds a sacred place in the hearts of Australians as the widely considered final frontier of the Japanese advance toward Australia during the war – our galant men held ground, advanced back the ruthless imperial army of Japan forcing the Japanese back without any reservation.
A historic page in our nation’s proud history, written in blood of those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy the freedom we breathe today and for generations to come.’’
*Lomandra School, established in 1998 in Campbelltown, caters for students in Year 5 to Year 12 with severe challenging behaviours and/or emotional disturbances.
The students at Lomandra are preparing for life beyond school by taking part in challenging learning experiences such as the Kokoda Track walk that extend practical and academic skills, strengthen emotional intelligence and promote social responsibility.
If you’d like to know more about the 75th anniversary of the Kokoda Track campaign visit the The Anzac Portal website here.
Legend!