Mrs MAY (9:24 PM) —The spirit of Kokoda has been dormant for far too long and that has been recognised on the Gold Coast by the formation of the Kokoda Challenge Association, which was launched recently at Nerang RSL. The formation of this association has been led by Mr Doug Henderson with the advice and help of Mr Charlie Lynn—a man whose passion for Kokoda is truly inspiring. Charlie visited the Gold Coast last year and, at a meeting organised by Doug at Nerang RSL, told all in attendance about the history of Kokoda and the sacrifices of some astonishing young Aussies to hold back the invading Japanese. It was a story of endurance, sacrifice, courage and mateship. In the main, our young men were untrained and inexperienced as the majority of our regular forces were fighting overseas in Europe and the Middle East.

The young men sent to Kokoda were outnumbered. They were under-resourced and fighting in terrain that was inhospitable. They were supported along the 96-kilometre track by the fuzzy wuzzy angels—natives of New Guinea who helped carry urgent supplies of food and ammunition along the track for our young Aussie soldiers. The temperatures were often freezing in the Owen Stanley Range. The fuzzy wuzzy angels were not equipped for the weather. They had no footwear or blankets and had only grains of rice to sustain them. They even often shared the rice with wounded Australians whom they stretchered to safety.

Kokoda is a story like no other, but unfortunately it is a story that Australians do not know. It is time the youth of this country were educated about the story—about the sacrifices and ultimate victories. It is time this story was taught in a meaningful way in our education system. Today the jungle has reclaimed the battle sites which are etched in the minds of our ageing diggers. Along the Kokoda Track, rusting armaments, shallow graves, empty weapon pits and spent ammunition cartridges are haunting reminders of a desperate campaign fought on our very doorstep during the darkest days of the war in the Pacific just over 60 years ago.

The Kokoda challenge will be a tough team event with four members on each team. They must complete a 96-kilomentre trek, which is the same distance as the Kokoda Track. It is to be completed within 39 hours, which symbolises the 39th Militia Battalion, the first of our Australian troops to arrive at Kokoda, on 15 July 1942. The inaugural event will be held over the weekend of 16 and 17 July in the Gold Coast hinterland. The event will be a fundraising effort to assist Charlie Lynn and the Kokoda Track Foundation in their endeavours to promote and support the education, health and general wellbeing of the surviving fuzzy wuzzy angels and their descendants still living along the track.

The program for the event has been structured so that our Gold Coast youth can experience the real spirit and soul of our amazing country and her forefathers. It challenges our youth to seize the day, to accept the problems at hand, to adapt, and to envisage and implement future strategies of success in their own lives. The Kokoda youth leadership challenge, in partnership with the Returned Services League, service clubs and local secondary schools, will identify students that are determined as suitable candidates for the challenge. We all believe that the youth of our country hold the answers to our future success as a nation. Like our forefathers, the students participating in the walk will rise to the challenges they will experience over the two days.

Charlie Lynn shared with us his own personal experiences and those of a number of young troubled and negative people with whom he has walked the Kokoda Track. It certainly was a story of endurance, sacrifice, courage and mateship. The trek was difficult. There were enormous challenges for many of the young people, but with Charlie’s encouragement and commitment to each of them they finished the walk.

The Mayor of Gold Coast City Council, Ron Clarke MBE—one of Australia’s former great athletes—is patron of our Kokoda Challenge Association. Our Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, and his wife will attend the inaugural dinner following the two-day event. The association is extremely grateful for the commitment of both these distinguished gentleman in supporting our inaugural challenge. Of course, thanks must go to the schools involved, to the local bushwalking group, who have assisted in marking out the track, to the first aid officers and to the local RSL clubs, who have embraced this event with enthusiasm and commitment. We believe that the Kokoda youth leadership challenge will be an enduring legacy to the spirit of Australia that was born at Gallipoli and held fast at Kokoda. I am personally very proud to be part of this challenge and wish all those involved every success with the inaugural event in July this year.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. IR Causley)—Order! It being 9.30 p.m., the debate is interrupted.