3. Page 3
BACKGROUND
NETWORK Kokoda was established as a not-for-profit company
by The Hon Charlie Lynn OL to honour the legacy of our
Kokoda veterans and the PNG wartime carriers. Charlie is a
Vietnam veteran and has led more than 77 treks across the Kokoda
Trail over the past 25 years. During this time he has lobbied the
Australian Government to protect the wartime integrity of the
Kokoda Trail and to seek official recognition for the legendary
‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels’. He was recently invested as an Officer of
Logohu by the PNG Government in their 2015 New Year’s Honours
list ‘for service to the development of bilateral relations between
Australia and Papua New Guinea and especially in the development
of the Kokoda Trail and its honoured place in the history of both
countries.’
Brigadier Philip McNamara OAM CSC ESM is Chairman
of the Network Kokoda Board. Phil had a distinguished army
career where he served for 35 years. During this time he saw
service in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian
Regiment. He later served in the SAS and as a commando before
his promotion as Commander of Australia’s Special Forces where
he was responsible for the Defence Force Counter-terrorist support
to the Sydney Olympics. Phil also served with the Pacific Islands
Regiment in Papua New Guinea and is fluent in ‘Tok Pisin’.
Dame Carol Kidu DBE was first elected to Parliament in Papua
New Guinea in 1997 where she served for 15 years. Between 2002
and 2012, she was the only woman in the 109 member Papua
New Guinea Parliament. She was the Minister for Community
Development and has been described as a “visionary reformer” in
a country without a welfare system. Dame Carol has championed
integrated community development policies with a special focus
on social justice for marginalised groups. Carol’s international
appointments have included membership of the James Cook
University’s international advisory board of the Cairns Institute and
the independent Global Commission on HIV and the Law. She was
also Pacific Person of the Year in 2007, the same year she received
the International Woman of Courage Award from the US Secretary
of State. She is also a knight in the French National Order of the
Legion of Honour.
The Network Kokoda Boards of Directors in Australia comprises
former Kokoda trekkers who have dedicated themselves to our
mission of honouring the spirit of Kokoda.
Network Kokoda has been approved as a Developing Country
Relief Fund by the Australian Government (Reference: www.
comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015G00222).
4. Page 4
THE BEGINNING
NETWORK Kokoda initially engaged the services of Mr Sandy
Lawson BSc (Agric) as a consultant to engage local community
leaders in the Sogeri area and report on a proposal to develop
Agricultural Learning Development Centres in the area. Mr
Lawson has more than 25 years’ experience in agriculture in PNG
and is fluent in both Motu and Tok Pisin.
As a result of Mr Lawson’s recommendation Network Kokoda
engaged a young graduate of the Popondetta Agricultural College,
Mr Oggie Erehe as a Field Manager. Mr Erehe was born in Kokoda
and has a diploma in Tropical Agriculture from the University
of Natural Resources and Environment in Popondetta. Network
Kokoda are funding his ongoing studies to allow him to obtain
his degree in Tropical Agriculture through the University of
Technology in Lae.
OUR CHALLENGE
THE most challenging task in the development of village learning
centres is to encourage local people, clans and communities to
work together. The initial phase involves much discussion, many
meetings, trust, mutual obligation, partnerships and a path to local
ownership.
We believe agriculture is the most effective gateway to community
development along the Kokoda Trail. We therefore aim to
change the subsistence mindset of villagers to one of business
entrepreneurship. PNG farmers and subsistence villagers are
currently unable to meet the demand for fresh produce in Port
Moresby. Large quantities are currently shipped in from Australia
on a daily basis. We have been advised by local supermarket
owners that they will buy as much fresh produce as villagers along
the trail can produce.
OUR CONCEPT
THE Sogeri National High School and Iarowari High School on
the Sogeri Plateau, approximately 25 km from Port Moresby, have
a combined total of 1200 boarding students. Many of these come
from villagers along the trail and their daily diet comprised a
biscuit each for breakfast, a biscuit each for lunch and a serve of
rice and tinned fish for dinner.
After inspecting the schools almost non-existent catering facilities
in 2012 we proposed that Network Kokoda establish a partnership
with both schools to firstly improve the nutrition of their students
and to introduce them to the commercial opportunities in
agriculture. The schools agreed to make land available and provide
on-site accommodation for our Network Kokoda Field Manager,
Mr Oggie Erehe. Network Kokoda agreed to build seed nurseries,
provide seed and fertiliser, technical supervision and labour
support utilising Adventure Kokoda trek guides and carriers.
The aim of the school projects is to engage the local community
and encourage them to develop local gardens. Once they have
established a reliable level of production we will then encourage
them to form a local co-operative.
The next phase is to establish a central Agricultural Learning
Centre where our Field Manager can conduct theoretical and
practical courses for local men, women and students. Work on this
project commenced in 2014 and will be completed in the third
quarter of 2015.
NETWORK
KOKODA
BRIEF
Boys sleeping
quarters at Iarowari
High School
Network Kokoda
staff with agriculture
teachers at Iarowari
High School
5. Page 5
We have established a ‘network’ of projects at the village level
which we support. Adventure Kokoda operates along the trail
from April to November each year and is therefore able to provide
current feedback on the progress or lack thereof.
This report provides a summary of the network of projects we
currently support.
IAROWARI HIGH SCHOOL
IAROWARI High School has four large land areas available
for agriculture, a poultry house and two fish ponds. These had
previously been abandoned because of the difficulty in preventing
pilferage from the local community. Network Kokoda has agreed
to provide fencing at a cost of K12,00 for each area. Workshops
aimed at involving the local community in the development of
various projects will be conducted within this protected area.
The school currently has three qualified agriculture teachers
responsible for teaching eight classes in grades 9 and 10. Their
aim is to ‘instil in students the appropriate knowledge and skills in
agriculture so they become competent, productive and self-reliant
citizens’.
The immediate aim of our partnership with the Iarowari High
School is to have a well-established farm capable of providing
fresh vegetables for boarding students in 2014 and to assist in
the provision of resources to help them achieve their aims in
agriculture.
The Iarowari High School project is underway with land clearing
and preparation. The agriculture department is actively involving
the students in this development as it is part of their assessment
and so within the next month most of the land preparation will
be completed. With this school terms goal “self-reliance through
agriculture “, the new headmaster has implemented the plan and
the school is kick starting their project. We are stepping in with the
agriculture department to have it in place in the best interest of the
students learning. The next phase will be planting of a variety of
annual crops. The other two projects that will also be considered
for development include Poultry and Fishpond establishment.
Mr Oggie Erehe supervises the establishment of market gardens
and has some workers to assist him. Both schools agreed to
provide the land which we arranged to be fenced, ploughed,
fertilised and planted. Mr Erehe now runs classes for students who
work in the gardens as part of their commitment to the program.
The Headmaster of Iaowari High School, Mr Andrew Moava has
since developed a corporate plan to have the school transformed
into an agricultural college within five years. Network Kokoda will
be a key partner in assisting with this transformation.
Page 5
Boys toilets at
Iarowari High
School in 2012
Land
provided
by Iarowari
High School
for Market
Gardens
7. Page 7
SOGERI AGRICULTURAL LEARNING CENTRE
IN 2014 Network Kokoda leased a hectare of land adjacent to the
Sogeri Lodge to build an Agricultural Learning Centre comprising
a classroom, a market garden, a cool room and accommodation.
The SALC will run agricultural classes for the local community
and provide limited cool room warehousing facilities for local
villagers. A Port Moresby supermarket chain will purchase the
produce directly from the SALC.
The facility will also be used to run leadership programs and
sewing/cooking classes.
Network Kokoda established its first partnership with the Sogeri
National High School in 2011. The Headmaster, Mr Benny
Rayappan, agreed to provide accommodation for the Network
Kokoda Field Manager, Mr Oggie Erehe, and three hectares of land
for a market garden.
The market garden has been operational for three years and
provides fresh produce (pak choi (cabbage), wongbok, saladeer,
carrots, peanuts, snake beans, dwarf beans and aubika) for more
than 400 boarding students. It also acts as a showcase for the
community who are also provided with fresh produce provided
they agree to work in the garden on a voluntary basis.
A key objective of the project is to encourage students to study
agriculture and create an awareness of the business and career
opportunities in this field. Students are required to work in the
garden one day per week.
Another objective is to provide an outreach program to assist
villages on the Sogeri Plateau to develop their own gardens in
partnership with Network Kokoda who provides a seed nursery,
seedlings and technical assistance via the Chief Field Officer.
On 1 June 2015 Network Kokoda purchased a 20 foot split
freezer/chiller container to store vegetables for local villagers
on the Sogeri Plateau.
On 11 June we hosted a visit by Dame Carol Kidu and
representatives from the Port Moresby WeCare Foundation and
social workers from the National Capital District Commission.
WeCare provides support to vulnerable and marginalised women,
children and youth in the settlement (slum) areas of Port Moresby.
They support local Care Group Centres set up by a ‘Care Mother’
who has voluntarily offered to provide support for the most
vulnerable members of her community. She then recruits volunteer
assistants to help support activities within the Care Group.
WeCare is interested in the success of our Network Kokoda
Community Learning Development Centre concept on the
Sogeri Plateau.
An executive from CPL Group which owns the PNG Stop N
Shop supermarket chain accompanied the visit. As a result of his
inspection he has placed the following order with Network Kokoda
with effect from the first week of August 2015 (table below).
Our Network Kokoda Field Manager is now liaising directly with
Page 7
No Description Unit of
Measure
MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT TOTAL
(KG)
PER KG
(Aust $)
1 PAK CHOI Ctn 100 50 50 50 50 100 400 $1.50
2 CHOISUM Ctn 50 50 50 20 50 50 270 $1.50
3 GINGER Ctn 50 50 20 50 50 50 300 $3.50
4 CORN Ctn 20 20 100 20 20 20 120 $1.50
5 SNAKE BEAN Ctn 100 50 30 50 50 50 400 $2.50
6 SALADER Ctn 30 30 20 20 30 30 170 $1.50
7 SPINACH Ctn 20 20 - 20 20 20 120 $2.50
8 LEMON GRASS Ctn 10 - 30 - 10 - 20 $2.50
9 CHOC LEAVES Ctn 20 - 20 - 20 - 60 $1.50
10 PINEAPPLE Ctn 200 - 200 - 200 - 600 $2.50
11 WATERMELON Bag 1000 - 1000 - 1000 - 3000 $1.50
LOCAL PURCHASE
REQUISITION QUANTITY
PUCHASE PRICE BY CPL
SUPERMARKETS
NETWORK
KOKODA
BRIEF
8. Page 8
local villagers on the Sogeri Plateau to meet the initial demand. We
expect our container cool-room to be operational by the end of June.
AGRICULTURAL
OUTREACH PROGRAM
THE Sogeri and Iarowari High School market gardens now act as a
‘showcase’ to introduce local villagers to our outreach program.
As a result of the success of the program local villagers on the
Sogeri Plateau approached Mr Erehe to provide assistance to
their respective villages. We then developed an agreement that
they must provide the land and local labour. This eliminates the
possibility of land disputes and measures the benefits they receive
against the amount of effort they put it. Network Kokoda provides a
seed nursery, fertiliser and technical assistance.
Following is a recent extract from Mr Oggie Erehe’s
report regarding the process he is using to engage local
communities:
‘In general there are some individual farmers who are
intensively carrying out family projects which are a way
forward for some members of a community to take as an
example. With the input of Network Kokoda, people are
realising the importance of a sustainable, self-reliant
livelihood based on an integrated agriculture farming
system.
‘Our main focus within the next month is to monitor the
progress of the actively involved community groups on
how well they are performing; in this course they are able
to identify their strengths and weaknesses, to understand
the importance of decision making, know the different
management practices involved and what risks are to be
taken in order to be a successful farming community.
‘It will be a slow process over time and hence will be
effective only with patience and commitment towards
each community due to the fact that everyone has
different views and opinions. The difference will be
made by those who had taken ownership of the available
resource they possess and are willing to exploit.
‘For communities such as Kailaki and Magere, they
have set up their farming committee therefore we will be
committing ourselves to assist them meet their objectives.
We will be using them as examples toward the other
communities. There will be a few recommendations for
project assistance to the Network Kokoda management on
behalf of necessary community groups’.
NETWORK
KOKODA
BRIEF
Seed nursery at
Magere Village
Network Kokoda
Water Project at
Sogeri Health Centre
9. Page 9Page 9
We now have five villages on the Sogeri Plateau operating market
gardens under Mr Erehe’s supervision at Magere, Vesilogo,
Ararodei, Kailaki and Doe.
SOGERI
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
BISIATABU COMMUNITY SCHOOL
BISIATABU is the location of the first Seventh Day Adventist
Church in Papua New Guinea. The community has a local school
supported by Network Kokoda which has provided three water
tanks and school supplies.
SOGERI HEALTH CENTRE
THE Sogeri Health Centre is the major health facility on the
Sogeri Plateau however the building is quite derelict and facilities
are poor. Network Kokoda was asked to provide a water tank in
2013. Adventure Kokoda trekkers consolidate any surplus medical
supplies they have at the end of each trek and donate them to the
centre. This is their main source of such supplies.
VILLAGE
COMMUNITY CENTRES
ABUARI
ABUARI village is located on the Western side of the Eora Valley
in Oro Province. Few trekkers visit the village because of the
rugged nature of the terrain and the distance from the village of
Alola which is located on the main trail. The area is significant
because the Australian 53rd Militia Battalion and the 2/16th AIF
Battalion fought to prevent the Japanese advance from Kokoda.
Network Kokoda
Water Project
at Bisiatabu
Primary School Donated medical supplies at Sogeri Health Centre
10. Page 10
NETWORK
KOKODA
BRIEF
Cooking gear at Abuari Community Centre
School supplies donated to Efogi Orphans
Community campsite at Efogi built with support from Adventure Kokoda
Trekkers visiting Abuari
Community Centre
11. Page 11Page 11
Network Kokoda agreed to a request from villagers to assist them
to build a Community Centre as they had received some sewing
machines and cooking pots from AusAID but did not have an area
to set them up.
Network Kokoda provided building materials, desks, chairs and
dress-making material and flew them into Kokoda. The villagers
then carried the supplies up the mountain and built the centre
which was opened in April 2012. The villagers have since attached
a house to the learning centre with funds received from Adventure
Kokoda trek groups.
EFOGI ORPHANS
EFOGI is the largest village about half-way across the Kokoda
Trail. There are a number of orphans in the village who live with
their relatives in the local clans however they are usually at the end
of the food chain within the environment of a subsistence village.
Adventure Kokoda provided financial assistance to the local
community to build a campsite which now collects fees to assist the
orphans with their everyday needs. We ask our trekkers to bring
one or two items from a list we provide and we fly the consolidated
consignment directly into the village for presentation when our
trekkers arrive.
Official
opening
of Abuari
Community
Centre
Trekkers donating school
supplies to Efogi orphans
12. For further information contact:
Ms Heather Crichton
Development Officer – Network Kokoda
PO Box 246
Drummoyne, NSW 1470
P: +614 0822 9820
E: heather@networkkokoda.org
W: networkkokoda.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(AUSTRALIA)
Brigadier Philip McNamara OAM CSC ESM (Ret) – Chairman
Mr Jack Burston
Dr David Dunn
Mr Daniel Dwyer
Commodore Simon Hart
Mr Tom Hayward
Mrs Vi Le
The Hon Charlie Lynn OL
Ms Caroline Pemberton
Mr Andrew Tracey
Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tracey
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (PNG)
Ms Marianna Ellingson
Dame Carol Kidu DBE
Mr Andrew Kidu
The Hon Charlie Lynn OL
Consul-General Sumasy Singin
Mr Warren Bartlett – Hon Sec/Treasurer
Elementary students at
Alola Community School
