The Kokoda Track which runs 96 km through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea was the location of the 1942 World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in what was then the Australian Territory of Papua. The track runs from Owers Corner in Central Province 50 km east of Port Moresby, across rugged isolated terrain which is only passable on foot, to the village of Kokoda. It reaches a height of 2,250 m as it passes around the peak of Mount Bellamy. The track traverses primarily through the land of the Koiari people.

Peak Learning Adventures was approached by Mr Scott O’Reilly of the iPi Group of Companies (PNG domiciled) six months ago to design, manufacture and install a plaque in the remote Naduri village located at 1511 m, halfway along the Kokoda Track. While there are many memorials along the Kokoda Track commemorating Australian soldiers, there is very little that acknowledges the significant contribution of the PNG carriers and soldiers.

Installation of the plaque occurred over the long weekend of 9-11 June by the Kokoda Memorial Foundation (KMF) team of Grant Robinson, Mark Evans, Peter Evans, Len Thompson, Meech Phillpott and Eric Winn (The Monument Men). They were assisted by Peak Learning Adventure’s guides Zac Zaharias, Eric Uwea, Nikki George and Rick Moor (The Planning Team). The team was inserted into Naduri by helicopter along with the construction stores consisting of 50 bags of cement, form-work and tools.

Arrival by helicopter	The plinth is unveiled.
Foundations first.	Construction underway
The plinth in place.	The main text.

This magnificent plaque is the largest and best along the Kokoda Track and a great credit to the KMF for their highly professional work – all done by volunteers. The plaque was designed and sculptured by Dr Ross Bastiaan from Melbourne who has produced well over 200 plaques, many of which are in PNG and Gallipoli.

The Naduri villages were overwhelming in their support for the plaque which also commemorates Ovoru Idiki, a long time Naduri resident and Fuzzy Wuzzy angel who passed away in 2013. Ovuru spent countless hours educating trekkers on the sacrifices of the carriers during the Kokoda campaign.

The community has shown overwhelming support, many ceremonies, sing sings, services and prayers have taken place over the week. Most of the community carved their name on a stone, these were placed in a case that was inserted as time capsule items into the plinth. The three clans that reside in the village gave their blessing verbally and in writing.

Villagers with a time capsule item	Another time capsule item.
Another important item	The Ovuru Idiki Text

This memorial could not have been possible without the foresight and generosity of the iPi Group and its CEO, Mr Scott O’Reilly, OBE.

Postscript:

An evening with Ovuru Idiki Sept 2013.

In September 2013, I walked the Kokoda track with my son and had the privilege of meeting Ovuru Idiki, to shake his hand, to thank him and honour him for his great work both during the war and since. It is most fitting that this plaque recognises Ovuru and the people of his home village, Naduri, for whom he worked so tirelessly. [ Web editor]