By Helena Adeloju
Last year’s Harold Bould Kokoda Award recipients will take on the challenge of their lives when they walk the Kokoda Track next month.
Pakenham Secondary College’s Mehdi Ahmadi and Emerald Secondary College’s Jared Copey, both in Year 10, will walk in the footsteps of the Australian soldiers who fought to hold off the Japanese during World War II.
The 10-day trek from 7-17 July will cover 100km of difficult country, giving students a first-hand experience of some of the hardships soldiers endured while fighting in Papua New Guinea between 1942 and 1945.
The students will be accompanied by 16 other trekkers, led by native guide Kila Jons and Pacific World War II historian David Howell.
“This will be my 40th crossing and the ninth time for the Harold Bould Award,” Mr Howell said.
This year marks 75 years since Australians first arrived in Papua New Guinea, and the beginning of the Kokoda legend.
To commemorate the iconic anniversary, this year’s participants will wear replica clothing from the time and only have access to the same pack supplies as the original soldiers would have used.
“We are trying really hard to replicate what the Australian soldiers did 75 years ago,” Mr Howell said.
In the spirit of the anniversary Mehdi and Jared will take on two of the Australian soldiers’ names – Reg Markham and Harry Evans.
Mehdi said he already felt an affinity for Harry Bould, the award’s namesake. Harold was from Cardinia and died while posted for service along the Kokoda Track.
“Harold had 10 family members and I have 10 family members,” Mehdi said.
“I am looking forward to understanding more about how much soldiers sacrificed during that period in Australia’s history.”
Jared will be walking in Harold Bould’s footsteps, as well as those of his brother.
“My brother won the award and has done the Kokoda Trek,” Jared said.
“It is going to be a big adventure and it will give us the opportunity to understand what the soldiers experienced.”
The students were officially farewelled by army veterans, the award’s sponsors, previous winners and community representatives at an afternoon tea at Edward O’Donohue’s electorate office on Thursday 15 June.
39th Battalion Association member Allan Jameson said the award was named for Harry Bould, but he served as a symbol of the many young men who had fought to defend Australia.
“Everyone who has been on the trek has described it as a life-changing experience,” he said.
Applications are now open for the Harold Bould Kokoda Award 2017.
Year 10 students in Cardinia Shire can apply for the Harold Bould Kokoda Award by visiting the website:
