Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Harold Bould/Wilma Young (Cardinia) Kokoda Award

Ms BURNETT-WAKE (Eastern Victoria) (12:56): Recently I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the 2022 Bould-Young memorial award initiative as a new patron. The Bould-Young memorial award is an annual award that aims to inspire young leaders and honour the legacy of Australian soldiers who fought and, sadly, died on the Kokoda Track. It is named in honour of Harold Bould, a soldier who was killed in action on 29 July 1943, and Wilma Elizabeth Forster Young, who was an army nurse during World War II. Both of these individuals were residents around the Pakenham area.

Established in 2008 by the 39th infantry battalion association, the memorial award is a literacy award presented to two year 10 students in Cardinia shire. Entrants are required to write a 600-word essay on what Kokoda means to them and what Kokoda meant to Australia. This incredible initiative gives the winning students the chance to walk in Mr Bould’s footsteps during a 10-day trek over 100 kilometres of the rugged Kokoda Track in PNG.

I would like to thank the 39th battalion association for their determination in keeping this award going despite a few years of no international travel. I would also like to extend my thanks to the generous local businesses, organisations and individuals that give so much to allow this to happen. I look forward to my involvement in support of this award in the future. It is such a wonderful opportunity for our future leaders to learn firsthand how Australian soldiers fought for the freedoms we all enjoy today.