On 3 July 2023 eight Goulburn youth, between the ages of 14-19 years, are heading to Papua New Guinea to tackle the Kokoda Trail.
Participants come from a range of backgrounds including low socio-economic circumstances, trauma, and those of future leaders.
Preparations for this strenuous hike started early this year with support by mentors Luke Wallace and Anna Wishart from Council’s Youth Service Team, along with Senior Constable Barb Beard -Youth Officer for the Hume Police District.
“Kokoda will be a life changing experience for all participants with each one having different experiences or their take on the challenge.
Not all the participants were known to each other at the start of the program. The first thing to impress me was how quickly they appeared to accept one another despite the very different personalities. This has continued to grow throughout the program. They are learning that there will be times we will need to help each other. Not everybody will have a great day every day, as evidenced on some of our training treks.
The desired outcome I would like for each participant is for them to know that there will not be any situation in their lives that they will not be able to overcome no matter how big or small and to realise we need to sometimes ask for help through some of those hard times.” Said Senior Constable Beard.
The Goulburn Youth are undertaking an individual 20-week programme of mental and physical training sponsored by the Terry Campese Foundation through Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s Youth Services.
