Goulburn students tell of Kokoda Trail's life-changing experience

But swift comfort came from her new found friends and fellow Goulburn students, who rallied to support her as she addressed a recent Soldiers Club function.

For those watching, it was a touching reflection of the mateship formed on the 10-day Papua New Guinea trek.

Elise, Trinity Catholic College students Jack Burke and Alex Parlett, and former Goulburn High School student, Blake Robertson, completed the arduous walk in September/October as part of the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge.

It aims to create greater awareness of the Australian diggers' sacrifice as they fought back the Japanese in the famous 1942 campaign.

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The Goulburn Soldiers Club sponsored the students a total $35,000 for travel and equipment for the trek, led by Charlie Lynn's Adventure Kokoda. On Wednesday night, the youngsters told directors and family members of a life changing experience.

Elise, an Australian Catholic University second year nursing student, was inspired to undertake the 97km walk by her great-grandfather, James Gilbert McMahon, who served in the 9^th Division's 2/3^rd Pioneer Battalion in World War Two.

"Leadership radiated from all the trekkers as we accomplished each challenge as one team," she said.

"The four words forever etched into my core are courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice. I would like to thank my great-grandfather, 'big Pop,' for looking over me on the trail, holding both my heart and my hand as I walked in his footsteps."

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Elise said the 40 people, many of them secondary school students, shared a common goal in completing the Kokoda trail. What they encountered would "break or remake them" but also mould their leadership skills for years to come.

"The challenges we faced collectively, both physical and mental were tremendous, and I cannot be more proud of us," she said.

"...Leadership provides people with hope for the future. Knowing when to step up and be a leader, or to be a follower of great leaders, is crucial for meaningful change. In the words of Mother Theresa 'You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things.'"

Good mates and members of Trinity's First XV Rugby team, Alex Parlett and Jack Burke, were fighting fit before they left but, like the others, put in extra training.

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"Alex did the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge course and said how great it was so that's how I became interested. It was the physical challenge," Jack told The Post.

"This was the closest thing to being in the war itself but of course we didn't have bullets going over our heads. You start to understand what our soldiers went through and ask yourself how they fought a war in those conditions."

He described it as 12 days of "laughter, tears, sweat, blood, rain, spam, powdered milk and milo and the realisation of the events and sacrifice that occurred in Papua New Guinea in 1942 had made its mark in all our lives."

Alex also said he'd always cherish the life experience of walking the trail and the strong friendships formed.

"While walking Kokoda and meeting people from all around the country, it taught me in our individual introductions to the group that no individual is the same and humans need each other to band together to achieve common goals - ours being walking in the footsteps of our fallen soldiers," he said.

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Illness struck him in the last five days but he praised the level of support from trek leaders and his "very own fuzzy wuzzy angel", Intzy.

The pair were able to pay their respects at the grave of Robert Blaydon, who served in the 39^th Battalion and died on the Kokoda Track. They did so on behalf his niece, and Trinity teacher, Beverley McGreevy.

Blake Robertson, a military history buff, also put in the hard yards before the trip but said he found the mental aspects more challenging.

"Visiting Bomana cemetery was a very emotional experience, (as was) going through all the different villages and seeing how they live," he said.

"The most emotional part was visiting the headstone of Private Bruce Kingsbury at the cemetery. I heard about Kingsbury years ago and was always been interested in going and visiting the cemetery where he was put to rest. I did some reading on him before I left and found out he was awarded the Victoria Cross."

The memorial at Isurava also made him realise that Kokoda wasn't just something one read about in books.

"Kokoda changed me and everyone who has been on it," he said.

The Goulburn Soldiers Club sponsors the students as part of the RSL and Services Clubs of Sydney's support of the Challenge.

President Mick Donnelly said it was money well spent. The club usually sent two students but this year sponsored four, given the "high quality of the candidates."

"I think the change in these young people who do the trek is remarkable. We can see that it has completely altered their lives."

The club has sponsored 25 youngsters to walk the trail since 2008.

General manager Toni Mitchell said the next round of applications would open in January and urged the community to nominate an individual.

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