Presidents Report July 25th
Hi All,
Boy a week goes so fast!
At our last meeting we had the pleasure of listening to Calvin Finch, winner of the Harold Bould (Cardinia) Kokoda Award 2015-16. A program Pakenham Rotary Club supports with a donation. Calvin submitted the winning essay of approximately six hundred words: - “Why they would you like to trek the Kokoda Trail and the importance of the Kokoda Campaign in the Battle for Australia”. This is an annual competition open to all year 10 students from all the Secondary Schools within the Cardinia Shire. The purpose of the competition is to encourage young people to research and understand the sacrifice’s made by so many ordinary people, like the farmer, Harold Bould from Cardinia, who went to fight in WW2 to keep this nation free. Harold Bould was one of ten children and their family farmed potatoes and onions. Five brothers enlisted for service during WW2, Harold and his brother Keith did not come home. Private Harold Bould served in B Company, 39th Battalion, and was killed in action at Kokoda Village, on 29th July 1942.
Calvin gave an in-depth insight into his experiences at Kokoda. He outlined his preparation for the journey and meeting the other participants, mostly from Trinity Boys Grammar. He found that he was not as fit as the other students were, as he found it difficult to keep up in training and on the hike. Calvin went on to describe his journey to New Guinea and how hard it was to come to terms with the plight of a third world country.
He spoke with passion about the long days staring at 4-5am and collapsing in camp after dark, sometimes as late as 10pm. He described the 96km trek and
the amazing changes in vegetation and animals that he saw continuously throughout the long days in this mountainous country. Calvin spoke emotionally about his first-hand experience of the hardships soldiers endured while fighting in Papua New Guinea and the emotions he experienced at the end, seeing the massive grave site.
Asked if he would go back? He answered with a smile; he would love to go back!
The Joker is still safe and in the pack, but the excitement is increasing each night. It was great to see Wal back and our new visitor John.
Well until next week,
Best regards to all,
Greg.