1. WWW.NETWORKKOKODA.ORG
Honouring their legacy
Honouring their legacy
Honouring their legacyHonouring their legacy Honouring their legacyHonouring their legacy
Network Kokoda was established by the Hon Charlie
Lynn OL as a not-for-profit company to honour the
legacy of our Kokoda veterans and Papua New
Guinean wartime carriers, and to ensure that our
shared military heritage along the 130km Kokoda
Trail is protected and properly interpreted.
The historical integrity of the Kokoda Trail was
seriously threatened in 1996 with a proposal to mine
a large portion of the southern area. Subsistence
landowners were enthusiastic about the mine
because they had no other source of income. Less
than 100 people a year crossed the trail at the time
so there were virtually no shared benefits from
trekkers. The proponents of the mine lost their
right to proceed with the development on a legal
technicality but it was a close run thing.
Interest in trekking across the Kokoda Trail has
increased significantly since then. Over the past
decade more than 40 000 Australians have joined
the pilgrimage which has generated approximately
$25 million in earnings for local villagers. Despite
these earnings there is little evidence of sustainable
community developments and shared benefits along
the trail.
Network Kokoda supports integrated community
learning development principles established by the
former PNG Minister for Community Development,
Dame Carol Kidu DBE and by following these
principles we have:
• established the Sogeri Agricultural Learning Centre
• developed Agricultural Outreach Programs at Sogeri
National High School and Iarowari High School
which now provide fresh produce to 1200 boarding
students
• established community centres at Kokoda and
Abuari villages
• developed village agricultural projects at six villages
on the Sogeri Plateau
• established a village fish farm at Menari village
• provided school and health supplies to village
orphans at Efogi
• provided health supplies to Kokoda Hospital and
Sogeri Health Centre
• provided logistic support to ‘Help Make PNG Hep B
Free’ program which has immunised about 9000
villagers in Oro and Central Province.
Our goal in 2016 is to replicate our agricultural
programs in the Kokoda region; to develop
educational programs for teachers and community
health workers; and to establish a Kokoda bursary
program for students.
Network Kokoda has been approved as a “Developing
Country Relief Fund” by the Australian Government
and all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Background to PNG