Community
25 June, 2025
Students to take on the Kokoda Trail next month
TWELVE students from six Corangamite schools will soon be departing on an epic expedition.
On July 6, the students will head to Papa New Guinea to take on the Kokoda Trail, courtesy of a new scholarship chaperoned by No Roads Exhibitions Papa New Guinea operations manager Darcy Walsh.
“I graduated from Cobden Technical School and I wanted this to be an opportunity for not only growing leadership for the schools but in Corangamite Shire itself,” he said.
“November-December 2023 I led 20 school students across the Kokoda Track where I could see the change in these Year 11 and 12 students.
“When I returned, I went to the school for a leadership presentation day, I had an extra half a dozen students who wanted to go but were unable due to financial burden.
“That’s why I thought of arranging the scholarship to arrange $48,000 so that way every student has an equal opportunity to attend if they’re interested in going.
“This is the first year I’ve done one for the Corangamite Shire – Peter Walsh from the Murray Plains district is where I got the initiative from, and will continue in Corangamite Shire bi-annually.”
Two students from each school within Corangamite Shire were selected for the expedition.
To be considered, the students had to answer a questionnaire through their school and receive parental consent, as well as receive the go-ahead from Mr Walsh on the training days.
Year 11 Derrinallum P-12 College student Jake Burleigh said he decided to join the Kokoda Track team because of his ancestry.
“Because of my past, grandparents and stuff, who were fighting the wars,” he said.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing how different it will be over there compared to Australia.
“I’m also looking forward to learning more about the war and what everyone had to go through at the time.”
The students depart on July 6 with chaperone Mr Walsh and will return July 17.
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