Brad Bishop - KK 2006

Brad's Story 

This year I began a journey which at the start I thought would change my lifestyle for the worst because all I could think about was turning up every Sunday for training. I knew I’d be getting up at 5.30am and be out in the bush walking and climbing hills all day. It seemed like it would be such a long year ahead.

Along the way I made the effort to show up and make the best of the situation because I saw all these people volunteering their time and effort to see me through the program. At the beginning I basically turned up to training so that they weren’t doing it for nothing. I was also thinking about my sponsors and the money they had donated to allow me to make the trip to New Guinea. I did not want to let them down. I wanted them all to think I was worth it. 

As the weeks went on, the all day bushwalks didn’t actually bother me as they were fun and I met so many different people and was getting so fit it felt good. With my focus being on getting fit enough to complete the Kokoda Challenge in July I became determined that I wanted more than anything to cross that finish line to show everyone what I could do. Never did I imagine how it would feel after 29hours of non stop rain drenched climbing hills and unbelievable pain. I was so tired and felt so weak that so often I fought the temptation to drop out. But I just kept reminding myself of the months I’d put into training and that I had to make it to the end. I didn’t want all those 5.30am Sunday mornings to have been for nothing. It was pretty well one foot in front of the other and I got there. The pride I felt in myself crossing that finish and hearing everyone cheering for me will never be equalled. I felt that Challenge weekend was the best preparation I could have had for the Kokoda Track itself.

In New Guinea it wasn’t so much completing the Kokoda Track that was the most rewarding part, it was the New Guinea people and experience of seeing how they live and the lifestyle and history that they shared with us that had the most impact on me. The wisest quote I’ve ever heard was from a Kokoda Legend (Delta-a direct descendent of the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels) when I was telling him how much more luxurious life in Australia is he said “sometimes more is not better”. It just showed me their appreciation for life itself without material things is good. The feeling from retracing the footsteps of the soldiers that fought for us so long ago was so spiritual that it changes you forever. I imagined what it was like for them. How hard it was, but also how determined they were to protect our country. They were the same age as me. I grew up on that Kokoda Track.

The advice I offer to future Kokoda Kids is to take this time in your life to put all your energy into the Kokoda Challenge Youth Leadership Program and in doing so many doors will open and your life will change. At the beginning of this year I was not getting on with my family and had no direction or plan for my future. Life was pretty tough and seemed very hopeless. The Kokoda Youth Leadership Program is exactly what it’s title says. A program that provides youth with the support and self confidence to accomplish anything. I now know what rewards there are if you put in the effort and don’t quit.  Accept help and work hard. It feels great to be a part of my family again and have them say they are proud of me. I also now have a couple of options open for a career and new future.

I can never give enough thanks to the countless volunteers that make this program the success it is. They are the most generous people you can meet.

THE PROUDEST AUSTRALIAN
Brad Bishop
KOKODA KID 2006