PMs take on Kokoda trail

By ZARA KANU LEBO
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Port Moresby yesterday to walk the gruelling Kokoda Track, accompanied by Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape, last night during dinner, promised the Australian PM that “I will try my best to walk with you as tomorrow’s walk is important for our two nations”.
Both leaders will fly direct to Kokoda today, before hitting the track later in the day from Kokoda village after meeting with Northern Governor Gary Juffa.
Trekking with Marape and Albanese will be Australian Defence Force personnel and a selected team of journalists, and Governor Juffa.
PNG authorities said a team of PNG Defence Force and police personnel was already on the ground along Kokoda and in Isurava as part of the prime ministers’ security detail.
An advance Australian security team had been in the country for more than a week preparing for Albanese’s visit, and was understandably now in Kokoda and Isurava.
Albanese will make history as the first sitting Australian prime minister to trek part of the Kokoda, where he will join Australians and Papua New Guineans for the annual Isurava Anzac Day dawn service on Thursday. The trekking along Kokoda would cover at least 13km of the total 96km trail.
During dinner last night at Parliament’s State Function Room, Albanese said: “The Kokoda campaign and the Kokoda Track form part of our national identity, a defining chapter in the story of those who risked and lost their lives in defence of Australia and in our shared history with Papua New Guinea.
“Kokoda is a name that lives in Australian legend. It captures the spirit of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice forged between Australia and Papua New Guinea during World War II.
“Participating in this walk is a solemn way to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who walked this same ground, people from Papua New Guinea and Australia, serving and sacrificing together in defence of their homeland,” he said.
He said Isurava was significant because it was here that 99 Australian soldiers were killed and 111 wounded over six days in August 1942.
Prime Minister Marape said: “The PNG Australia relationship is at its highest.
“We have many relationships elsewhere but I could not be more satisfied with the relationship we have with Australia.
“Our past is littered with many tears and many sacrifices, and none could be more evident than the spirit of Anzac that became manifested in what we call the Kokoda Track.
“I’m privileged to associate myself with you (Albanese), and you choose to walk the track this year and I want to say upfront that you have a very resilient spirit that really depicts the true blue blood Auzzies who are strong and courageous; and I thought you would not take up the challenge but we are one night away from walking the Kokoda.
“As truly as the fuzzy wuzzy angels who assisted those soldiers, I will try my best to walk with you as tomorrow’s walk is important as two nations will continue to build and support each other,” Marape said.
According to history, Japanese forces landed in Buna and Gona on the north coast before making their way over the Owen Stanley Range.
Over four months, the Australian and Japanese forces fought along a number of foot tracks, including at Kokoda, Deniki, Efogi and Isurava.
Papuan Infantry Battalion soldiers fought alongside Australians, while thousands of civilians – who became known as the “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” – provided support, carrying supplies, building bases and evacuating the sick and wounded.
The Battle of Isurava was the scene of some of the most intense fighting during the Kokoda campaign.
This evening, the Marape-Albanese contingent would arrive and overnight at Deniki village, and take to the tracks again tomorrow morning to Isurava where they will, again, spend the night.
On Thursday morning, both prime ministers will take part in the Anzac Day dawn service.