Kokoda Story
It’s a tale of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice which Wayne and Michelle Wetherall want to share with everyone.
Six years ago, the Sippy Downs couple formed Kokoda Spirit – a company which takes treks across the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.
Since then, Kokoda Spirit has educated thousands of trekkers about the bitter fight between Australian and Japanese soldiers which took place on the track 66 years ago – which Australia eventually won.
“It’s a business that Michelle and I are very passionate about because it’s such a fantastic story of what took place,” Wayne said.
“This year alone we’ve taken over a thousand trekkers ... We do anything from corporate to school groups to individuals or teams.”
While the trail is 96 kilometres long, with 7,500 meters in climbs and another 7,500 meters in descents, Wayne said the key to completing the track is having a good stamina.
“You don’t need to be an Olympian,” he said.
Hard as that may be to believe, the smallest member of the Wetherall family, Erika, 8, was recently the youngest girl to ever walk to track.
“She just smiled and laughed across the whole track ... she had a great mental approach to it,” Wayne said
The oldest child Blake, 14, has finished the trail five times and Elysia, 11, also achieved the goal.
“We were just trying to expose the kids to some different things in life and some challenges ... it’s a remarkable effort,” he said.
As well as strengthening the Wetherall family bond and changing the lives of those who have made the trek, Kokoda Spirit has helped strengthen the Papua New Guinea economy.
“We employ over 300 people in Papua New Guinea. We buy our food locally over there and pay a fee to camp at their villages ... so we’re a major contributor the economy,” Wayne said.
“Its not just some Australian company coming in there and reaping their rewards.”
In a nation where unemployment is running close to 95 per cent, Wayne said providing jobs for the locals give them a sense of purpose.
“The self esteem you see from these guys and how they grow as people is fascinating ... We treat them as our brothers over there ... It’s not just a business for us,” he said.
“These guys earn three times the national income in the space of 90 days of work ... its a great job for them.”
True blue Aussies, it was Wayne and Michelle’s genuine interest in Australian history and their burning desire to learn more which led them into the business.
“I’ve always had an interest in that inner spirit that makes Australians so unique ... It was a quest to go to some of these battlefields and get into the story,” Wayne said.
The heroic story of the Kokoda Track and the rich culture in Papua New Guinea made it a fascinating place for Wayne and Michelle to start.
“You’ve got your physical challenge, your mental challenge and the cultural exchange.
The scenery is absolutely outstanding ... and the people are just fantastic,” he said.
“It certainly has its challenges ... but the positives far outweigh the negatives,” he said.
Wayne’s depth of knowledge about Kokoda and his passion for sharing that with others was evident in his words.
“Sixty-six years ago these blokes battled on, these were just mere boys ... just kids,” he said.
“Under-trained and undermanned the soldiers fought hard and won the battle ... The greatest army in the world, at the time which is the Japanese army, never been defeated before, were pounding down and our boys stopped them.
“It’s an awesome story ... of the true underdog. I was always fascinated by what happened and I walked the track and got really caught up in the emotion of it because ... it’s still living history. You’re still finding grenades and bullets in the weapon pits ... it’s still just as raw as it was when our soldiers were there.”
But that fact that the trail is “still moving and shaking” also makes it a challenge to work there.
“It’s not like working in Australia where everything’s systems in place. It’s expect the unexpected over there,” he said.
The unexpected occurred in February this year when Wayne discovered more than just old bullets. Following a flood, he spotted a human bone and a boot sticking out of the ground.
“I did a little dig ... not to disturb too much and then realised it was a Japanese soldier ... their helmet, diary, watch cigarette box, dog tags, everything, was still all intact,” he said.
With a little more excavation Wayne discovered the full skeletal remains of four Japanese soldiers.
“They’re still there now ... We contacted the Japanese Embassy in Port Moresby ... It doesn’t appear they’re coming to get their boys. They’ve got dog tags, you know who they are ... It’s a bit disappointing,” he said.
For Wayne, and many other Australians who have completed the Kokoda Trail and know the story, it is a life-changing experience.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a multi-millionaire or a pauper, the track still hurts the same ... it brings everybody together,” he said.
“It empowers people ... people put limitations on themselves ... they realise what they thought was impossible is not.”
Already, Kokoda Spirit is the top trekking company in Papua New Guinea and is still growing.
“We’ll continue to seek new challenges,” Wayne said.
In the future, Wayne and Michelle hope to expand the business and include other tourist activities in Papua New Guinea.
“It’s got so much to offer even if you’re not remotely interested in war ... It’s just the sheer beauty of the place,” Wayne said.
“There are over 2000 different cultures... and over 700 active languages ... we want to let people see that.
“There’s a glimmer of hope there that they can turn things around ... it’s one of the last great frontiers and with the resources they have ... they shouldn’t be poor.”
Under another name – Wild Spirit – the couple has also recently expanded their business into Borneo, Vietnam, Nepal and Africa.
“They’re all adventure related ... with some sort of Australian connection,” Wayne said.
For more information about Kokoda Spirit and treks visit www.kokodaspirit.com
Visit http://www.kokodaspirit.com
Six years ago, the Sippy Downs couple formed Kokoda Spirit – a company which takes treks across the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.
Since then, Kokoda Spirit has educated thousands of trekkers about the bitter fight between Australian and Japanese soldiers which took place on the track 66 years ago – which Australia eventually won.
“It’s a business that Michelle and I are very passionate about because it’s such a fantastic story of what took place,” Wayne said.
“This year alone we’ve taken over a thousand trekkers ... We do anything from corporate to school groups to individuals or teams.”
While the trail is 96 kilometres long, with 7,500 meters in climbs and another 7,500 meters in descents, Wayne said the key to completing the track is having a good stamina.
“You don’t need to be an Olympian,” he said.
Hard as that may be to believe, the smallest member of the Wetherall family, Erika, 8, was recently the youngest girl to ever walk to track.
“She just smiled and laughed across the whole track ... she had a great mental approach to it,” Wayne said
The oldest child Blake, 14, has finished the trail five times and Elysia, 11, also achieved the goal.
“We were just trying to expose the kids to some different things in life and some challenges ... it’s a remarkable effort,” he said.
As well as strengthening the Wetherall family bond and changing the lives of those who have made the trek, Kokoda Spirit has helped strengthen the Papua New Guinea economy.
“We employ over 300 people in Papua New Guinea. We buy our food locally over there and pay a fee to camp at their villages ... so we’re a major contributor the economy,” Wayne said.
“Its not just some Australian company coming in there and reaping their rewards.”
In a nation where unemployment is running close to 95 per cent, Wayne said providing jobs for the locals give them a sense of purpose.
“The self esteem you see from these guys and how they grow as people is fascinating ... We treat them as our brothers over there ... It’s not just a business for us,” he said.
“These guys earn three times the national income in the space of 90 days of work ... its a great job for them.”
True blue Aussies, it was Wayne and Michelle’s genuine interest in Australian history and their burning desire to learn more which led them into the business.
“I’ve always had an interest in that inner spirit that makes Australians so unique ... It was a quest to go to some of these battlefields and get into the story,” Wayne said.
The heroic story of the Kokoda Track and the rich culture in Papua New Guinea made it a fascinating place for Wayne and Michelle to start.
“You’ve got your physical challenge, your mental challenge and the cultural exchange.
The scenery is absolutely outstanding ... and the people are just fantastic,” he said.
“It certainly has its challenges ... but the positives far outweigh the negatives,” he said.
Wayne’s depth of knowledge about Kokoda and his passion for sharing that with others was evident in his words.
“Sixty-six years ago these blokes battled on, these were just mere boys ... just kids,” he said.
“Under-trained and undermanned the soldiers fought hard and won the battle ... The greatest army in the world, at the time which is the Japanese army, never been defeated before, were pounding down and our boys stopped them.
“It’s an awesome story ... of the true underdog. I was always fascinated by what happened and I walked the track and got really caught up in the emotion of it because ... it’s still living history. You’re still finding grenades and bullets in the weapon pits ... it’s still just as raw as it was when our soldiers were there.”
But that fact that the trail is “still moving and shaking” also makes it a challenge to work there.
“It’s not like working in Australia where everything’s systems in place. It’s expect the unexpected over there,” he said.
The unexpected occurred in February this year when Wayne discovered more than just old bullets. Following a flood, he spotted a human bone and a boot sticking out of the ground.
“I did a little dig ... not to disturb too much and then realised it was a Japanese soldier ... their helmet, diary, watch cigarette box, dog tags, everything, was still all intact,” he said.
With a little more excavation Wayne discovered the full skeletal remains of four Japanese soldiers.
“They’re still there now ... We contacted the Japanese Embassy in Port Moresby ... It doesn’t appear they’re coming to get their boys. They’ve got dog tags, you know who they are ... It’s a bit disappointing,” he said.
For Wayne, and many other Australians who have completed the Kokoda Trail and know the story, it is a life-changing experience.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a multi-millionaire or a pauper, the track still hurts the same ... it brings everybody together,” he said.
“It empowers people ... people put limitations on themselves ... they realise what they thought was impossible is not.”
Already, Kokoda Spirit is the top trekking company in Papua New Guinea and is still growing.
“We’ll continue to seek new challenges,” Wayne said.
In the future, Wayne and Michelle hope to expand the business and include other tourist activities in Papua New Guinea.
“It’s got so much to offer even if you’re not remotely interested in war ... It’s just the sheer beauty of the place,” Wayne said.
“There are over 2000 different cultures... and over 700 active languages ... we want to let people see that.
“There’s a glimmer of hope there that they can turn things around ... it’s one of the last great frontiers and with the resources they have ... they shouldn’t be poor.”
Under another name – Wild Spirit – the couple has also recently expanded their business into Borneo, Vietnam, Nepal and Africa.
“They’re all adventure related ... with some sort of Australian connection,” Wayne said.
For more information about Kokoda Spirit and treks visit www.kokodaspirit.com
Visit http://www.kokodaspirit.com
Labels: Kokoda Story
posted by Wayne's Kokoda Spirit Blog at
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