Leongatha teens to visit Kokoda with local RSL support

Two Leongatha students will experience the lifechanging challenge of walking the Kokoda Track next year, Leongatha RSL president Bill Verboon announcing on Anzac Day that the Sub Branch will sponsor their educational adventure.
The annual trip is organised through the George Collins Kokoda Award program, with Leongatha students who will be in Year 11 in 2026 eligible to express their interest when applications open.
The George Collins Kokoda Award started in 2007 and has so far resulted in 54 students from the Baw Baw Shire trekking Kokoda.
Those at the Leongatha Anzac Commemoration Service in the town’s Memorial Hall heard from one of those who established the initiative, Gary Blackwood, along with recent participants Leith Metcalfe and Zara McNair.
Gary is a former member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, having represented the electorate of Narracan.
He and friend Bernie Rowell were inspired to start the program after their experience walking the Kokoda Track and hearing of the bravery of the 39th Battalion, comprising many Gippslanders, in halting the Japanese. 
“Bernie and I thought, we’re not taught this history in schools, and the Kokoda battle was probably strategically the most important battle Australia had fought,” Gary said.
That convinced them to ensure the memory and legacy lives on by starting a program to take Year 11 students there each year enabling them to experience the track, understand what Australian Diggers went through and how much the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels supported them.
Year 10 students applying to join the program submit an essay about what Kokoda means to them and what it means to Australia today.
There is then an interview process, those selected undertaking a training regime ahead of the physically and mentally demanding trek.
After returning from Papua New Guinea, participants serve as Kokoda ambassadors for 12 months.
Leith reflected on the bonds formed by those undertaking the Trek, the humidity that “hit like a punch in the guts”, and a demanding climb up Brigade Hill, also known as ‘the wall’.
He spoke of standing among a sea of white marble headstones, many for people his age and read his poem telling the story of the fighting at Isurava.
While clearly an emotional experience, Leith is adamant hiking the Kokoda Track changes you in many ways and all for the better.
Zara also detailed many challenges but spoke of the joy of playing soccer with local kids and with her group’s porters.
She thinks of the Track every day and the happiness of the local people despite having so little.
Zara also spoke of a war cemetery visit.
“They fought hard for our country and gave up everything for us,” she said of the many who lie beneath the marble headstones.
Leongatha RSL’s Greg Nugent declared the George Collins Kokoda Award initiative as a “very worthwhile project”, calling on community members to get behind the decision to send Leongatha students.
Donations can be made at Leongatha RSL and many fund-raising initiatives lie ahead, a total of $15,000 needing to be raised to send the chosen pair of young locals.