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Walking an extra mile

SHEILA LASIBORI joins the Governor General Sir Paulias Matane and a team of trekkers to walk part of the Kokoda Trail to raise awareness about the GG’s HIV/Aids Trust Fund.

It was cold, the day still being kept away by the darkness of the early morning as a group of people, a majority of them first time trekkers geared up to walk part of the historical Kokoda Trail.
This was no ordinary trekking party but one which would at dawn present the vice regal to Popondetta villagers along the trail starting up at Deniki and down to Kokoda.
This was the group made up of Chinese Ambassador to PNG Wei Ruixing, Fiji High Commissioner to PNG Isoa Tikoca, Government House and National Aids Council Secretariat staffs, a representative from the Prime Minister’s Department, journalists and experienced trail guides, about 30 in total.
The occasion was Governor General Sir Paulias Matane’s Walk along Kokoda Trail to conduct awareness of the GG’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund, which when set will raise funds for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and provide education and awareness on the virus.
It was June 20 at about 4.30am when the party departed Kokoda Memorial Hospital guest house for Deniki, most of them not knowing what to expect on just a part of the trail, but held heads up high for a lifetime experience.
After some long hours of walking dawn finally approached bringing with it mist which swiftly moved to settle on mountaintops and treetops like smoke from a bushfire.
The rising of the sun would be the only deterrent to the mist but this could take a very long time.
The climb up the steep mountain on the carefully dug out steps on the ground was a real test as these trekkers emerged from below the canopy of the virgin forest towards Deniki village, neatly set up high on the mountain.
The trekkers were compensated for their efforts on the climb by cool and thirst quenching water from a creek which was artfully directed to flow out from a cut out bamboo.
As the chapter of the trekkers’ experience on a part of the trail rested with each one, the course of the occasion surfaced as the group and Deniki villagers anxiously waited for the arrival of Sir Paulias from Isurava village..
His scheduled arrival time at Deniki was now being controlled by the mist which made it impossible on two attempts by the Defence Force UH1H IRIQOIUS helicopter to land Sir Paulias and his bodyguards at Deniki.
Finally the vice regal arrived dressed in military uniform and in runners, Sir Paulias was given a chiefly welcome by a small but well prepared community where Deniki Seventh Day Adventist choir sang hymns of welcome.
He started his awareness message at Deniki, down the mountain past Hoi village to Kovelo where another ceremony awaited his humble visit, as dancing groups and young children welcomed him.
There members of the Oro provincial administration under the leadership of administrator Monty Derari joined the party for the walk to Kokoda.
Fatigue now slowly but surely claimed some members of the trekking party but the experience on part of the trail was like a soothing cream over fatigue.
Along the road from Kovelo to Kokoda, Sir Paulias stopped to chat with locals and even a party of expatriate trekkers who were on their way from the airstrip spend about eight-10 days on the trail to Port Moresby.
On arrival at Kokoda several traditional dancing groups made sure Sir Paulias was given a rousing welcome and accompanied him all the way to the main arena where a planned ceremony awaited him.
He inspected a police guard of honor before the Ombisusu Cultural group dominated by elementary school-aged children led him to a chair before the dais.
It was here that he was bestowed the Paramount Chief of Kokoda witnessed by hundreds of villagers, Kokoda community and public servants.
An honor which caught Sir Paulias by surprise as the respect for him shown by locals could also be felt in the atmosphere.
Most local leaders while delivering speeches spoke highly of the GG’s visit as a landmark in the history of Kokoda.
Then it was Sir Paulias’ turn to speak to the people of his visit.
His message was short and simple but very important and may have also deafened majority of the people who may have heard of the HIV/AIDS virus over and over again.
“HIV/AIDS is a very serious problem. Please train your children properly so they learn to do those things that are good,” he said adding the people who have contracted the virus have been those that have heard so much about the virus.
“Train your children so once we do this (Trust Fund) we will put a stop to HIV/AIDS.”
Sir Paulias who has written a number of books donated some of them to schools, churches and communities during his visit.
“I am not a politician,” he told the Kokoda community that awaited his arrival.
His message on HIV/AIDS was a message of hope for future PNG through its human resource not only as members of the workforce but for a healthy and vibrant society free of the virus which has already claimed hundreds of lives and may be more.
The Kokoda community including the different denominations, Kokoda Memorial Hospital, schools and the Oro provincial administration contributed K6,041 in donations to help Sir Paulias kick start activities for the set up of GG’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund.
And for those trekkers an excellent effort and congratulations for walking a part of the historical trail.
Maybe next time each of them can properly prepare themselves for the full length of the trail.