Berwick’s Michael Molloy and David Mounsey as part of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) have just completed the most physically and mentally challenging trek along the 96km Kokoda Track which started at Owers Corner finishing at Kokoda Village seven days later, in memory of our World War II Australian Diggers.
This gruelling challenge had 18 trekkers and 22 porters (Fuzzy Wuzzies) complete the journey.
The Fuzzy Wuzzies were a necessary part in helping the men complete the trek as they carried their backpacks, set up their tents at the end of the day, and navigated them up and down the treacherous tracks, holding them and picking them up off the track when we fell over.
“Most of these porters walked in bare feet like they did when they helped our World War II diggers who were injured on the track,” Mr Molloy said.
“A few of us trekkers gave our hiking boots to the Fuzzy Wuzzies at the end of our journey to help them out, as they would never be able to buy their own.
“To be one of these porters is like a badge of honour and it was a privilege to walk with them as they helped us out.”
On day six of the trek the two men were descending onto a river in monsoonal rain when a landslide started on the hill they were about to climb. There were trees, logs and rocks tumbling down the hillside into the river taking everything with it, but the downside was that they all needed to get through this mess.
Very quickly all of the Fuzzy Wuzzies chopped up trees and secured ropes to try and make their passing a safe one, because there was no turning back.
These guys made a human chain and safely escorted everyone through the fallen trees, mud, debris and raging torrent to safer ground.
“It wasn’t the most comfortable thing I have experienced in my life time but you move a bit quicker when the adrenalin kicks in,” Mr Molloy said.
“How the locals performed displayed true heroism and would have duplicated how they looked after our predecessors fighting in the war.
“Nothing was ever too much for these porters as they protected us along the track.”
In finishing, on behalf of the AFA, 11 trekkers on this Kokoda Pilgrimage have raised nearly $115,000 on behalf of four charities namely Legacy, The Black Dog institute, MS Organisation and the Make a Wish Foundation.
If any of the public would like to donate please click on either of the links listed below.
https://give.everydayhero.com/au/michael-molloy (https://give.everdayhero.com/au/michael-molloy)
https://give.everydayhero.com/au/david-mounsey (https://give.everdayhero.com/au.david-mounsey)
