Kokoda Track
Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (09:49): I rise today to speak on Kokoda 2025. It was a real pleasure in the break to be able to take up to 30 kids across to PNG. Our half of the team flew into Kokoda, and we walked back to Owers Corner. Claire Lindsay was the winner of my Marsh/Tierney scholarship, the scholarship out of the seat of Morwell, where we take young 16- , 17- and 18-year-old children over to Kokoda. We walk the track some 140 kilometres, and they learn about the battles that took place. Each student is also given at the start a photo of a soldier from their region, and they carry that for the entire trek. We ended up at the Bomana War Cemetery, where the children – or the young adults as they are – got to sit in front of the actual graveside where the soldier was buried, and they were able to have a bit of a chat with them and thank them for their service. Also a big shout-out to the member for Gippsland East Tim Bull, who helps run and coordinate the trek. His knowledge certainly goes a long way to making the trip fantastic. A shout-out to the member for Murray Plains, the member for Lowan and the member for Mildura, who also have scholarships. Well done to everyone that attended.