Kokoda Track
Tim BULL (Gippsland East) (09:50): In 12 days time I will be embarking on a journey on the Kokoda Trail with 25 students from around the Victorian community. They are year 11 students that have won scholarships, and they will be learning about the sacrifices made by the 39th Battalion and the 2/14th Battalion, both raised from Victoria, that were at the forefront of that battle. It is a really unique experience for those kids. They are all allocated a soldier. They get to walk in their footsteps. They get to visit the places where they died and understand how they died, and then at the end of that journey we take them to the Bomana War Cemetery, where they make a commitment to that soldier as to what they are going to do with the rest of their lives. It is very powerful for those kids. I want to thank all the sponsors from around the state who have donated money to educate a new generation of our youth on the sacrifices made not only on the Kokoda Trail but in all theatres of battle.
We have a number of MPs going this year. I am hoping next year we can have cross-chamber support. I know there are a few on the other side who have indicated an interest in coming – the member for Frankston only yesterday. I am trying to convince the member for Gippsland South to attend, but I am not having a lot of luck. I am not sure he would make it. You need a level of intestinal fortitude to get across the trail, but I am hoping that I can talk him into going. The honourable member Mr Wells has done it. He did the short version, but he has done it. Come on board, and let us give these kids a great experience.