After much preparation for their journey of a lifetime, the 14 Hale boys along with teachers, Mr Brett Will and Mr Simon Hunt, returned from their Kokoda trek excited, albeit somewhat exhausted!
“What an adventure”, Mr Hunt said. “We found the trek everything we hoped for and much more. There is nothing you can do which will prepare you for that track…..especially the mud and humidity!”
The group took a Hale flag over the track and proudly displayed their specially made tour shirts for all to see. Mr Indiki (the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel) was presented with a special 150th badge which he now proudly displays on his hat. The team also took with them bags of stationery and toys, handing them out to children in the villages they stayed at.
They had half a day in the middle of their trip, where the boys made traditional stretchers out of young trees and vines and carried their backpacks on them for a few kilometres into camp. They also made rafts and learnt how to start a traditional fire…..much to their entertainment!
There were only 5 rainy days out of the 9, and a whole lot of mud! One boy commented, “There was so much mud it felt as if our boots weighed 5 kilos each.”
Both Mr Wills and Mr Hunt are extremely proud of the boys. “There was not one complaint, not one injury, not one upset stomach. All their precise planning and preparation paid off, and the boys came home beaming from ear to ear. They now have a real common bond and experience that will live with them forever.
Lest we forget.