By ANEEKA SIMONIS
RECIPIENTS of last year’s Harold Bould Memorial Award gathered words of advice and well wishes at their official farewell ceremony last weekend.
Berwick Grammar student Jake Templar and Emerald Secondary College student Ashley Ray are due to walk in the historic footsteps of gallant servicemen along the Kokoda Track in the upcoming school holidays.
Setting off on Sunday 28 June, the Year 11 students will spend 14 days trekking through difficult terrain in remembrance of the many Australians who died along the track during the World War II.
Jake said the experience would be particularly significant to him because his grandfather James Templar fought in Papua New Guinea during the 1940s.
“It will be a spiritual journey for me. My pop fought there at the Battle of Milne Bay,” Jake said.
Both students have been overseas before, but agreed this historically significant event would be the “most special” experience yet.
“I have always respected the sacrifices made by those before us,” Ashley said.
The award, in memory of Cardinia resident Harold Bould who was killed in action in July 1942 while serving with the 39th Battalion during the Kokoda campaign, is in its eighth year.
Alan Jameson from the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion Association, which selects students based on entries of a literary competition about the significance of Kokoda, said Ashley and Jake had a huge adventure ahead of them.
“They will learn how the approximately 800-strong 39th Battalion held a rampaging enemy for five weeks until reinforcements arrived.
“The Japanese were attempting to capture Port Moresby via the Owen Stanley Ranges after their efforts to land by sea were thwarted by the Coral Sea battle,” Mr Jameson said.
“Today’s youth must continue to learn of important historical events and when they do, they will appreciate the sacrifice of the young men and women of Australia during those very dark days of 1942.”
The students were officially farewelled at Eastern Victoria Region MP Edward O’Donohue’s electoral office in Pakenham on Wednesday 3 June in the company of friends, family, war veterans, Cardinia shire councillors and Bass MP Brian Paynter.
Mr O’Donohue said the award nurtured future leaders of the Cardinia shire community.
“This award gives students a unique opportunity to learn about the legacy of Kokoda and do so in memory of a local man who served in the Kokoda campaign and sadly never made it home,” he said.
