APPLICATION FOR SELECTION THE 2015 RSL & SERVICES CLUBS KOKODA YOUTH LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE PERSONAL PARTICULARS FIRST NAME: LAST NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY/TOWN: STATE: P/CODE: AGE: SEX (Circle One): MALE FEMALE HOME PH: MOBILE: EMAIL ADDRESS: EDUCATION STUDENT (Circle One): YES NO YEAR: SCHOOL: OCCUPATION NAME OF EMPLOYER: POSITION: NO OF YEARS:
CADET SERVICE (ARMY/NAVY/AIR FORCE) UNIT: RANK: YEARS OF SERVICE: COMMUNITY SERVICE NAME OF ORGANIZATION: YEARS OF SERVICE: REFEREES NAME: TITLE/POSITION: CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: THIS IS A NOMINATION FOR (please circle): TREK#1: 3-14 August 2015 or TREK#2: 19-30 September 2015 WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SELECTED FOR THE RSL & SERVICES CLUBS KOKODA YOUTH LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE? (Please attach a typewritten statement of approximately 600 words) 6
Report from Jack Warr who participated in the 2014 Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you all for the efforts and funding that you have invested in me to complete my journey across the Kokoda trail just a few days ago. The experience was something I will never forget. The understanding of the hardships that the Australian Soldiers and Papuan New Guinean carriers went through, by experiencing just a fraction of what they had to endure during the Kokoda campaign, has given me a deep respect for their sacrifice and courage in order to protect Australia. Along the track I also learnt a great deal about myself and made friendships with my fellow trekkers that will endure the tests of time. I know that my time on the track will have changed me for the better. I know that I will conduct my life from now onwards in such a manner that will honour the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the track for the freedom of Australia. I will personally take advantage of this freedom by living life to my full potential, but also as a custodian of the sacrifice and the legacy of the soldiers who fought on the track. I will happily continue to serve the RSL as well as work personally in this endeavour. All of the wonderful memories and learning that I made on the track could not have been possible without the support of all involved at the RSL. I personally thank you all, the Board for selecting me, Maureen for her tireless work in communicating with, organising and informing Josh, Stevie and I throughout our preparation to the date. When conversing with other trekkers the contribution that tireless workers such as Maureen have put towards the preparation of Stevie, Josh and I for our journey was highlighted and our preparedness is in a large part down to your efforts, so thank you again. Your hard work, patience and kindness have not gone unnoticed and I thank you personally, Maureen, for the effort and investment of time and energy that you have put into this program. You are an incredible lady. I would also like to thank all of those who decided to fund such a wonderful program for their vision and commitment to the youth of the Gosford community. I certainly will endeavour to live up to the faith that you have put in me. To conclude, I am eternally grateful for the life changing experience that the RSL has given me and looking forward to applying all that I have learnt to make a difference in the community. 7
Sarah Youssef Clubs NSW: The trip was a life changer for me in so many different ways. From a personal development point of view I feel as though I have come back a different person that can really appreciate the now and all the things in life that I have personally taken for granted (family, friends, the opportunities we have such easy access to you in Australia and of course life s little luxuries aka a flushing toilet and hot showers). The many hours on the track gave me plenty of time to reflect on my life including the things that I like about myself and those that I don t, and more importantly what I am going to do to change those things and a plan to make sure I don t revert back into bad habits. I realised pretty early on, it wasn t just a physical endurance, it s a mental endurance that you build up in a place like PNG and therefore that despite the challenges thrown at me (some of which truly frightened me) that anything is achievable if you really want it (even if your shoes get stolen on day 1 :P). In all seriousness though, we still always had food readily available and sufficient shelter at night. We had the luxury of a camp fire to warm up each night and attempt to dry our clothes, as well as access to medicines and treatments to treat our ailments. The soldiers for the most part didn t. Listening to the stories of the battles, the lengths of time they were often cut off from supplies and walking in their footsteps, has provided me with a whole new outlook and appreciation for soldiers (past and present) and particularly what the ANZACS went through in PNG to protect our freedom (that we so often take for granted these days). The hardship and isolation they experienced whilst in PNG is beyond belief. I have personally never been to a place so remote and so difficult navigate (even with all the assistance we had available to us). The terrain was absolutely nightmarish at times. Walking from Ower s Corner to Kokoda we had 8 days of torrential rain, resulting in a very muddy and slippery track and an outbreak of trench foot within my group. Our tents and sleeping bags, along with ourselves were drenched but as uncomfortable as it was, it was a true insight as to what the soldiers themselves went through. Professionally I learnt so much spending hours and hours with those that work in clubs, their day-today life in clubs, what they think/know about ClubsNSW and much more. The leadership aspect was Catalina Moraga Masson Clubs SA 2014: I m sure that a common struggle for trekkers that return from the RSL Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge experience is finding the right words to do justice the incredibly challenging and rewarding 10 day trek. We climbed an accumulative 10,000m stretched over 138km. The terrain of steep ascends, slippery descends, river crossing and swamps was unforgiving, however nothing could prepare us for the emotional and mental battle of the track. If you want a physical challenge, go run a marathon. The Kokoda Trail is so much more than that. I have not read truer words. The history of the campaign is rich and touching. By walking in the footstep of Australian heroes, one gains an appreciation of the angelic work of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels during World War II. Their legacy continues to be lived on through the kind work of the Adventure Kokoda carriers. Up mountains, across rivers, through swamps and the thick jungle, they took our hands and led the way. Experiencing the gruesome conditions of the track makes you realize how tough the diggers had it. We were told stories depicting their mateship, sacrifice, courage and endurance throughout the campaign, and as a result, I have never felt prouder to be an Australian citizen. 8
a major highlight for me. I learnt that I don t necessarily need to be in a management position to invoke change and improve efficiencies. I learnt that acts of leadership don t have to be huge, nor do they necessarily need to be recognised, but if they instil the right kind of change, the one that makes a difference or results in improvement then that s what truly matters. I really learnt the value of support and asking for help (even when I really didn t want to) and the successes that I achieved by leaving my ego behind. Anyway, I could literally go on and on about how much I got out of this trip but my purpose was to truly thank ClubsNSW for this incredible opportunity. I doubt I ll ever have another like it... HISTORY Official Name LINKS http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/index.cfm 1942: War in the Pacific http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/thepacificwar1942/index.cfm The Kokoda Campaign http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/thekokodacampaign/index.cfm Major battles of the Kokoda Campaign http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/majorbattlesofthekokodacampai gn/index.cfm TREK PLANNING Physical Preparation Trekking Boots Head-torches http://www.kokodatreks.com/planning/physicalpreparation.cfm http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2013/01/23/adventure-kokoda-gearguidetrekking-boots/ http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2013/01/21/adventure-kokoda-gearguideheadtorches/ Health and Medical Trekking hints for keeping clean Food on the Trail Bibliograpy http://www.kokodatreks.com/planning/healthmedical.cfm Packing your backpack http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2013/01/24/adventure-kokoda-gearguidehow-to-pack-your-backpack/ http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2013/01/18/adventure-kokodatrekkinghints-for-keeping-clean-on-the-trail/ http://www.kokodatreks.com/planning/foodnutrition.cfm http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/kokodacampaignbibliography.cfm 9
TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES ABC Documentary: RSL Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=plcz7qul9ffmqihaijuadjpoa8sjiu 0D8q&feature=player_embedded&v=Q48HEYWTZVU Angry Anderson Kokoda Challenge Sydney Swans on Kokoda KOKODA: The bloody track http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=plcz7qul9ffmplk_gitgeaj33d0b NZunFh&feature=player_embedded&v=vLtFd8XnvYA http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&list=plcz 7qUl9FFmrNAQ8E39IeWYEZyZDW5sKf&v=BAiajXkG_m0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osct3whck8w&feature=player_em bedded&list=plcz7qul9ffmou6x54jsvj2g8qnk7q6zi8 10