Kokoda Challenge Association
The Kokoda Challenge Association Incorporated is a registered not-for profit organisation.
General Association meetings are held on the fourth tuesday of each month and all members and invited guests are welcomed.
To join the Kokoda Challenge Association your application must be nominated by one current Association member and be ratified at a General Association Meeting.
If you are interested in joining the Kokoda Challenge Association, please contact us by clicking here to receive an application form.
Executive Committee
The Kokoda Challenge Association has four Executive positions - The Chairman, The Vice-Chairman, The Treasurer and The Secretary. Each year at the Annual General Meeting, two of these positions are elected.
The current Executive Committee members are:
Chairman - Mr Doug Henderson
Doug is a Vietnam veteran who served with 6th Battalion RAR as a medic in 1966-67. He was wounded in service and discharged from the Army. He went on to own and operate successful Insurance Assessing Company and Express Courier businesses in Sydney, before retiring on the Gold Coast in 1994.
Doug served as the National Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia, as well as on the Federal Government’s National Suicide Prevention Committee and the Departments of Veterans Affairs National Operations Working Party.
In 2004 he resigned from his 10-year tenure as a Veteran Advocate to pursue his interest of Kokoda and Young Australians, as founder of the Kokoda Challenge Association.
Vice Chairman - Mr Geoff Hamilton
Previously employed for Telecom/Telstra over a 41 year period before retiring in 1999. Since retirement he has been involved in numerous charity organisations. Geoff is the Walks Co-ordinator for the Gold Coast Bushwalking Club and is very passionate about bush walking and the environment.
As a founding member of the KCA, Geoff has been intimately involved in the Kokoda Challenge from day one. He was the first person to walk the entire route to trial if it was a viable course for the event. Geoff is also a lifetime member of Junior Chamber of Commerce International.
In 2006 Geoff was the group Youth Leader for the Youth Program and led them on the historic walk on the Kokoda Track in PNG.
Treasurer - Mr Gary Scott
Gary Scott is a Pit Boss at Jupiters Casino Gold Coast. He has worked at Tabcorp for the past 20 years and has lived on the Gold Coast for 32 years with his wife Deb and raised 3 boys.
In Gary’s spare time he enjoys bushwalking, cycling, kayaking and travelling. Gary was intimately involved in the establishment of the Kokoda Challenge and is one of the founding members of the Association. In 2007 Gary was a KCYP Group Leader and walked with the Kokoda Kids in PNG. He was elected as Treasurer in November 2008.
Secretary - Mrs Kim North
Kim has been a member of the Association since 2004 and for the last 3 years has been our start and finish co-ordinator for the Kokoda Challenge.
Kim is employed as a medical secretary and her son Kris was one of our original Kokoda Kids in 2005.
General Manager - Ms Johllene Elson
Johllene was previously employed in Federal Politics for 9 years for the Federal Member for McPherson, Margaret May MP. During that time Johllene worked as the Electorate Officer for 5 years, being the first point of contact for all people contacting the office and in the last 2 years was the Personal Assistant and responsible for the organisation and management of numerous events and functions for the MP.
Prior to working in politics, Johllene was employed in varied fields including hospitality, and fundraising (for the Horizon’s Foundation).
Member of the Executive - Mr Lindsay Hicks
Lindsay has a degree in Agricultural Science and was a researcher at two Universities before returning to the Gold Coast where he now runs a family property partnership. Linsday was the Treasurer of the KCA for 3 years. A foundation member of the Association and a member of the Gold Coast Bushwalkers, he's an highly experienced bush walker and was instrumental as part of the team which set the Kokoda Challenge event course. On the weekend of the event Lindsay is the Command Centre Manager.
Public Fund Committee
In August 2006, the Kokoda Challenge Association was granted Deductible Gift Recipient status under the Department of Communities Harm Prevention Charter. As such, the Kokoda Challenge Public Fund Committee was estalished to ensure that all donations received under DGR status was accordingly spent on harm prevention measures for young people.
The Public Fund Commitee members are:
- Mr Ron Workman OAM - Chairman, Currumbin/ Palm Beach RSL Memorial Club Inc.
- Mr John Millsom - St Vincents De Paul Society, State Chairman Homeless and Response Committee.
- Ms Laurie Schaple - Director, Life Without Barriers and Past Director, Youth Alliance.
- Mr Douglas Henderson - Chairman Kokoda Challenge Association Inc., Past National Vice President Vietnam Veterans of Australia
