Trotter trek

CASEY’S finest firefighters trekked through the picturesque Dandenong Ranges last week for the Kokoda Challenge.
Narre Warren North CFA Captain Shaun Trotter led his team ‘Three Firies and an Ambo’ on the 30- kilometre run starting at the 1000 steps in Ferntree Gully.
Members of the Narre Warren North, Narre Warren and Cranbourne fire brigades participated in the challenge, all in the name of charity.
Mr Trotter’s team came in third place out of the mixed teams.
‘Fire Walkers’, the two-man team from Cranbourne, came in 10th place.
The ‘Hurty 30’ team from Narre Warren North Full Circle Health finished the challenge in 9 hours and 25 minutes. The challenge raises money for the Kokoda Foundation, which helps troubled teens.
It’s the second year the Narre Warren North firies have participated.
“We actually did it last year. I gave up smoking two years ago and we decided we wanted to get fit and challenge our bodies,” Mr Trotter said.
“It’s physically and mentally challenging, but it’s a great team building exercise.”
It was an early start to the day with the teams setting off into the Dandenong Ranges at 7am.
“Before the start, kids from the Kokoda Foundation sang songs to keep the crowd of competitors busy and also told of their experiences being involved in the foundation and actually completing the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
The Casey teams were inspired by the teens from the Kokoda Foundation who spoke of their experiences with the foundation.
The challenge starts at the 1000 steps and winds its way through The Basin, Mt Dandenong and back down the thousand steps.
It’s an annual event for the Kokoda Youth Program.
Rain from the night before made the trek slippery and muddy, but it was well worth it.
“Diggers from the original Battalion were on hand to speak the oath and thank the competitors,” he said.