Parkop completes Kokoda challenge

Caption:  Governor Parkop arriving to a joyous welcome from his officers, family, and friends.

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, October 1, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

A CLEARLY exhausted, but fit looking Governor for NCD Powes Parkop arrived at the finish point of the Kokoda Track at Owen’s Corner at Sogeri just before midnight on Sunday to complete his bid to raise funds for the Charles Luwanga High School in the nation’s capital.

Governor Parkop along with 14 others and 15 porters on made the trip to the Oro Province to begin the trip over the Owen Stanley Ranges to emulate the famous footsteps of Australian soldiers and PNG locals in the defense of Port Moresby, and ultimately the defense of Australia.

Taking an unprecedented 5 days to complete the challenge from Wednesday September 24 to complete on Sunday 28, Governor Parkop is said to have led the way to achieve his goal to raise the necessary funds for the cause, adding also to his personal goal of a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking at the monument to commemorate the battle for Kokoda he thanked everyone that contributed to the success of the walk for their support.

“It was a bit crazy for us to complete the track in five days as a result we had a number of casualties with blisters- some of our trackers had to be airlifted out of Efogi,” Governor Parkop said.

“Today I want to commemorate our people from Koiari, from Kovelo all the way here, people who are among the most peaceful in our country, most hospitable, and very respectful.”

“It was physically and mentally challenging, there were moments were we could have given up, but the people kept pushing us in every village.”

He gave credit to his preparation as one of the biggest factors in helping him get through the daunting task, announcing that the event now called ‘Kokoda Doga’ (Tusk) to be an annual event under the NCDC calendar in partnership with the Kokoda Track Authority.

“I trained for 6 months, wake up 5am and was put through a booth camp training I am grateful for that,” he said.

“From now onwards we will make it an annual thing and we are going to put money in the authority to make it the Kokoda Doga (Tusk) Walk- with the idea behind it to create stars to challenge young people in our city with low self esteem.”

“They can get registered and we can get a process done through the Kokoda Track Authority so they can be trained and be prepared mentally to walk the track and not for five days only but much longer for them to see the historical sites along the track.”

Parkop announced that they had raised a total of K1.4 million that would go to the upgrading of Charles Luwanga High School to a secondary school status.

“From yesterday, our goal K1.8milliom, but from yesterday I heard that we have raised K1.4 million,” he revealed.

“I could have done the traditional corporate fundraising, but that has become stale as everyone is doing it, I wanted to have an innovative idea to raise funds.”

“Congratulate Oro leaders for their support in Ijivitari MP David Arore, Sohe MP Delilah Gore’s pledge of K10,000, Kokoda Track Authority pledged of K5,000, and other leaders and communities there.