Kokoda crew take life-defining hike

A ROLLED ankle on day two of the eight day trek along the Kokoda Trail could not stop Daniel Johnson from completing a long-awaited dream.

He slipped behind on several occasions, but the group, which has grown so close during the last five months of training and preparation provided him with the inspiration to keep on going.

“I missed out last year because I had knee surgery, so this has been a while coming and it was worth the wait, it was an amazing, life-changing experience,” he said after stepping on to the Bundaberg train station platform on Friday afternoon.

Daniel lost eight kilograms during the eight day hike in Papua New Guinea and was looking forward to a warm shower and a big meal.

“I've already started preparing tea, I think he deserves a treat,” his mother Tracey said.

“It is like talking to another person, the trip has had such an impact on him.”

The 10 other teenagers and four adults all managed to complete the journey and returned home with huge smiles on their faces after an adventure they will never forget.

“We had a memorial service and it started to rain, it was very moving and you really see another side of life,” Scott Young said.

The group hiked from dawn until dusk for eight days, stopping at villages and campsites overnight.

“I think they would tell you they did it tough, but the training we did meant that they all did it fairly well,” said RSL youth committee chairman Col Baldwin, after completing the hike for the second time.

“I won't be doing it next year, but we will definitely be organising another trip.

“It was another huge trip and they were a really happy group, the Japanese would have heard us coming five kilometres away.”

Muddy tracks greeted the group despite only having one day of rain, and each night ranged from stinking hot to freezing cold.

“No amount of training or reading could have prepared us for what is was like, but we all got through alright,” Scott said.

Bundaberg RSL sub-branch president Phil McNamara was thrilled with the success of the second expedition, particularly because the extra funding allowed three lucky reserves the chance to hike the trail as well.

“They all showed they were worthy, so we decided to send all 11 instead of the original eight, they all thoroughly deserved the opportunity,” he said.