Past Kokoda Kids
After a young person is selected for the KCYP they become affectionatley known as a Kokoda Kid.
In the first four years 57 Kokoda Kidshave participated in the KCYP and whilst their experiences are all very similar - their individual journey is indeed unique and special.
2008 Kokoda Kids
In 2008 the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program expanded to include 18
young people on the Gold Coast and 11 young people in two new pilot
programs taking place in Brisbane and Canberra.
Training started on the 27th April with a fitness test to measure
the young people's starting fitness. The Kokoda Kids did 10 weeks of
training before tackling the massive event of completing the Kokoda
Challenge as one whole group of 35. The Kokoda Kids and Leaders
finished the Challenge with an amazing time of 34 hours and 28 minutes.
After a further 10 weeks of training (20 weeks total) they embarked on their journey to Papua New Guinea and were divided into two groups. Those kids who would walk the Kokoda Track
and those who would complete the Village experience.
The group
who walked the entire track consisted of 20 Kokoda Kids and 8 leaders plus porters, and those in the village spent 8 days working at the local Primary School and Kokoda Memorial Hospital.
Each
Kokoda Kid showed immense appreciation for the opportunities they were provided in Papua New Guinea.
With their peak experience complete, the Kokoda Kids embarked on the community service section of the Program which culminated in their Graduation on 8th August 2009.
Brisbane
Canberra
Sophie Phelan, James Quinn, Jake Taylor, Daniel Fraser-Jangerden, Stephen Mitchell
Gold Coast
Jamie Crighton, Gabby Winsor, Jessica Grogan, Ryan Thornton, Tom Wybrew, Billie-Jo Thompson, Samara Baunach, Chelsea Kokshoorn, Nathan Sutton, Daniel Harbulot, Blake Dwyer, Joseph Hallam, Adrian Wilk, Andrew Grimmond, Kieren Mclaren
2007 Kokoda Kids
18 Kokoda Kids were selected from Miami, Nerang, Merrimac High Schools and St Michael’s College. The peak experiences for the Kokoda Kids was divided with 12 destined to walk the Kokoda Track and 6 to complete the Cairns Challenge Camp.
With the help of Welsey Mission Brisbane, a professional Youth Coordinator was appointed and the weekly training sessions were conducted with more structure and team building initiatives.
2007 saw the introduction of a weekend team bonding camp at The Outlook in Boonah and a boating day. For the first time all the Kokoda Kids competed in the Kokoda Challenge as one large team and 13 successfully completed the 96km event.
The walk of the Kokoda Track and Cairns Challenge Camps were a huge success with all Kokoda Kids successfully completing their respective challenges.
Whilst the 2007 Kokoda Kids are still completing their community service component of the program they have already volunteered at the Champions Cup International Soccor Tournament, Numinbah Land Clearing Initiative and a visit to the RSL Care Nursing Home in Labrador.
- Anna Hansson
- April DeLange
- Blake Falkner
- Brooke Hargreaves
- Carissa Staff
- Dannielle Purdy
- Gareth Stevens
- Gavin McComber
- Joe Ford
- Kieran Jankowski
- Luke Stanley
- Liz Vogel
- Maxine Milner
- Taj Anderson
- Trudi Harris*
- Nathan Newson*
- Nicole Bunting*
- Tyson Howard*
2006 Kokoda Kids
The 2006 group of Kokoda Kids consisted of 12 local youths from Nerang, Miami, Merrimac and Elanora High Schools plus several participants who were referred to our program by other Youth and Community Organisations.
The 2006 Kokoda Kids had a long training schedule as the trip to Kokoda took place in September. Each Sunday training walks were prepared and conducted by leaders, Geoff Hamilton and Robyn Cox, and the group worked well together with their physical preparations.
The walking of the Kokoda Track proved to be an emotional and incredible journey which exceeded the expectations of all involved. The sense of history proved to be a powerful catalyst for the Kokoda Kids and ensure that all successfully completed the track.
- James Moreland
- Josh Ringrose
- Tiffany Robinson
- Miles Muecke
- Ross Colvin
- Ryan Geaghan
- Brad Bishop
- Skye Williams
- Beau Lennox
- Deja Dyer
- Emmi Forster
- Jacqui Fletcher*
2005 Kokoda Kids
In 2005 12 students were selected from Miami, Nerang, Palm Beach Currumbin, Merrimac and Elanora High Schools and Veterans Education Program.
They undertook training each weekend (Sunday morning 6am), which required them to walk up to 30klms through the Hinterland and surrounding areas. This in itself was a gruelling task for many and required a lifestyle change for some of the participants as it meant each Saturday night was early to bed. Through the course of the training they improved their fitness but they also learnt to work together as a team and watch out for their team mates.
As the Kokoda Challenge was held only a few weeks before their trip to PNG and we did not want to risk injury, the Kokoda Kids completed the event in two teams with the first team walking half the event and the other completing the remainder.
In August the Kokoda Kids successfully completed the Kokoda Track in PNG with the guidance of John Nalder and Angela Delaney.
- Kris North
- Ned Ford
- Sophie Hoskins
- Ben Murphy
- Tomas Perzelt
- Shane Stedwell
- Daniel Hopkins
- Steven Lawlor
- Tianna Llewellyn*
- Ronni Walton
- Jamie Sordello
- Brodie Payne
- Andrej Maletic
* did not participate in peak experience and unable to graduate from program
