HONOURING fallen soldiers, Tamborine Mountain RSL Sub-Branch proudly sponsors the Tamborine Mountain State High School Kokoda Challenge Team on their upcoming 96-kilometre cross-country event.
With the backdrop of the Kokoda Challenge drawing attention to a significant WWII military victory so close to our shores RSL Sub-Branch President Phil Hunter said that the RSL Sub-Branch is proud to sponsor the team.
Team TMSHS Really Sore Legs cheekily linked their team’s name to their sponsor’s ‘RSL’ acronym as well as to the challenging event.
The Challenge takes place in the Gold Coast hinterland on July 19 and 20 and involves teams of four students and one adult trekking non-stop for distances of 30, 48 or 96 kilometres to raise funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation.
The 96-kilometre event is considered one of Australia’s toughest team events, with the distance replicating that of the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.
Bravery under fire
In July 1942, Japanese Imperial Forces landed in Papua New Guinea’s north and commended their march south from Kokoda.
The Japanese forces hoped to establish an overland route to set up a land base at Port Moresby, which the Australian Government deployed 39th Battalion and later the 2/14th Battalion to counter their advance.
Both battalions marched north from Port Moresby on what later became known as the Kokoda Track.
Over four fierce months, battles were won and lost with Private Bruce Kingsbury killed whilst single-handedly attacking and blocking an advancing squad of enemy Japanese soldiers.
For his bravery under fire, Bruce Kingsbury was awarded the first and only Victoria Cross on Australian territory.
Honouring their legacy
Kokoda Challenge team members Saxon Kirkham, Finley Milligan, Bilin O’Connor-Bowrey and Ryan Scarborough said, “participating in the Kokoda Challenge gives us the chance to push our limits and honour the legacy of those who have gone before us.”
“We are driven by a passion for adventure, teamwork and personal growth.”
In appreciation of the RSL sponsorship, the team, with their leader Peter Kirkham, assisted with the RSL annual fund-raising efforts leading up to ANZAC Day.
Individuals or organisations interested in supporting a TMSHS Kokoda Challenge team can view all the teams and make a donation at https://www.kokodachallenge.com/sponsor?kw=TMSHS
