Reclaiming Our History: Why Young Australians Should Walk the Kokoda Track

Reclaiming Our History: Why Young Australians Should Walk the Kokoda Track

Having just come back from PNG and witnessing some young kids successfully complete the Kokoda track and listening to them I penned this:

In an age where comfort is abundant and hardship can feel like a distant memory, it’s more important than ever that young Australians reconnect with the foundations of their freedom. Walking the Kokoda Track is more than a physical challenge—it's a rite of passage that calls the next generation to step out of their privilege and into the story of sacrifice, courage, endurance, and mateship that helped shape our nation.

Kokoda is not just a name in a history book. It’s the ground where young Australians—barely older than many of today’s high school and university students—faced the brutal realities of war in 1942. They fought, suffered, and died not for glory, but to defend the values of freedom, democracy, and the Australian way of life. Their legacy gave rise to the opportunities we often take for granted today.

For modern youth, the Kokoda Track is a living classroom. It strips away distractions, forces self-reflection, and builds resilience. It offers perspective—a reminder that the privileges we enjoy were paid for in blood, sweat, and immense sacrifice. When a young person completes Kokoda, they don’t just finish a trek. They reclaim their history and return changed—more grounded, more grateful, and more connected to what it truly means to be Australian.

Now more than ever, when identity and values are up for debate, Kokoda offers a compass. It teaches respect, personal responsibility, and above all, gratitude. Our young people deserve that rite of passage—and the fallen deserve to be remembered not just with words, but with footsteps that honour their path.

Are you ready to take that step?