We interrupt the birthday celebrations (but come back for the final collage tomorrow! )The Kokoda Track or Trail is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres (60 mi) overland — 60 kilometres in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The track is the most famous in PNG and is renowned as the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942.
The Kokoda Track memorial Walkway is 800m long, along the Parramatta River in theh suburbs of Concord West and Rhodes. It provides a lasting memorial to those who served in WW2, especially in the South West Pacific theatre. The centrepiece is this beautiful series of granite walls, with images of the Kokoda campaign sandblasted on them. Water and rainforest also play a central part.
Click here for previous Anzac day posts.
I have written an account of my grandfather's experiences in the First World Way, from training in Melbourne, to Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front. It is based on official records including his service record, histories and 21 letters and cards he wrote home, which remain in the family. Click here to have a look at it.
Hi Sally, I didn't know about this memorial. I will seek it out sometime. I used to live in PNG and visited the start of the Kokoda track, I assure you I would not like to have walked it.
ReplyDeleteI will come back and read the story of your Grandad one day. My father was in WW2 and kept a diary right throughout ... made for very interesting reading when I was doing my family history research. The hardest thing was trying to imagine him as a young man, rather than the father I knew, when he was writing it.
What an amazing memorial. Would be lovely to see it.
ReplyDeleteLovely post for this day, Sally. Like Joan I did not know that it existed. But I often react like that to places in my city on which you focus.
ReplyDeleteThank you for seeking this out ...
Hi sally,
ReplyDeleteThis year also came many australians for anzac day to the Gallipoli in my country.
Next year you may think to come here, nice and honorable place.
Very nice photography. The sandblasted work is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour photograph is, by the way, excellent.
Quite interesting Sally. I've heard of this memorial walkway but haven't seen it yet myself.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great place to learn more about the Kokoda Track especially for the kids. My kids also enjoyed the little playground while we had a cuppa at the cafe.
ReplyDeleteKokoda Track