In 1942, during the second world war, brave Australian soldiers traversed through dense, rugged terrain, gruelling inclines and relentless rain to repel highly trained Japanese invasion forces to keep them from reaching Port Moresby in Papa New Guinea. These Australian soldiers were exposed to unimaginable conditions and many of them lost their lives fighting for their country.
Often when we hear stories like this, it is easy to feel as though our achievements, sacrifices and accomplishments are miniscule in comparison. But at the Kokoda Youth Foundation, it is our mission to try and instil the Kokoda Spirit of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice into future generations so that the legacy of our soldier’s lives on and we honour and remember all of our fallen soldiers.
You’ve probably heard us talk a lot about these four values, but what do each of these actually mean?
It is still true today that often in the media when we hear about courage, it’s usually associated with a bold, heroic act that someone has done. We are very fortunate in today’s age to live in a safe country and are privileged in many ways that past generations were not. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t show courage in our everyday lives.
To us courage embodies bravery; it doesn't always necessarily mean the absence of fear, but striving forward despite fear telling you to stop.
Sometimes it can simply mean being vulnerable, allowing yourself to be open to new ideas or simply trying new things.
Everyone has their own way of defining what courage means, but in the context of the Kokoda Youth Foundation, it means a number of things to us;
- Taking an active interest in the history of Kokoda, reflecting on the courage and bravery of our soldiers.
- Standing out from the crowd and wanting to make a difference to your life, and to that of others.
- Registering to compete in Kokoda Challenge, and crossing the start line on event day.
- Taking a leap of faith at Camp Kokoda, plunging off the side of a mountain or participating in a range of the adrenaline fuelled activities.
Experiencing an act of courage, or being courageous will push you outside of your comfort zone, it scares you but you do it any way. It means you take initiative and have the strength to pursue something despite the outcome being difficult. It is continuing to do something, when all you want to do is stop.
It's about being brave even in the face of potential failure. It provides you with memories to last a lifetime, stories to tell and experiences. Courage will provide you with adventures, opportunities and special moments - make the most of it and make it count.
Here’s some of the things you said courage means to you on our Facebook page;
“It is a sense of fearlessness; accepting that something scares you and actively doing it anyway – courage is a choice that you can actively make in every situation. You can choose courage or you can choose fear.”
“When we remind ourselves that courage is a choice, we give ourselves the strength to do anything we set our minds to.”
“I would still say they have fear it’s just no matter what hits you, you know that’s just one more hill you’re going to get over”
We’re sure there’s been more than one time in your life where you have shown courage, even if it’s small. Ask yourself; when in my life have I done something courageous? What does courage mean to me? Who do I think of when I think of courage?
Let us know what your opinion on your courage is by clicking the link below!
