By PETER DOUGLAS
A GROUP of eight adventurous students from Emerald Secondary College have just returned from a trip of a lifetime, tackling the Kokoda Track.
After receiving the opportunity to take on the challenge, thanks to the school and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the students completed the 10-day journey in Papua New Guinea and all agreed it left lasting memories.
Participating in the adventure were students Matilda Sinclair, Tyler Wills, Chloe Robinett, Ryan Hall, Brad Francis, Hamish Burnie, Kealy Jordan-Hill and Nathaniel Vanderhulst.
Teachers Shane Closter and Tanya Moran also joined the enthusiastic bunch on their journey and said they couldn’t be prouder of their students’ achievements.
The adventure is designed to build skills in young people that will equip them for life and work.
Judging by their responses, the trip seems to have lived up to expectations.
Brad said he had never completed anything so fulfilling.
“It was full of physical and mental barriers that you had to keep climbing to get over,” he said.
“Getting there is the most exciting part of the trip as the anticipation builds.
“Each flight and step brings you closer to Kokoda.”
Meanwhile, Chloe said, upon completion of the track, it was difficult to express the sense of achievement.
“Right now, for the first time in my life, I cannot even find words for what was the most amazing experience in my life,” she said.
“And I know why.
“There are no words to describe the breath-taking views.”
Some of the students trained to partake in the walk, while none expected an easy time.
Ryan said he needed to prepare mentally.
“I knew we had to put in some hard yards over the next four months, conditioning our bodies to take on the track,” he said.
“Overall, the trip was an experience that I will never forget.”
