Kokoda Journey

Thanks for joining me on Windermere’s Trek to End Family Violence.

Keeping our children and families safe is one of the most important things that we can do.

Imagine growing up in a home filled with fear and anxiety. Imagine the damage this does to your long term wellbeing.

Sadly, violence in the family home, supposedly a place of trust and safety, is one of the most common forms of violence in Australia today.

It’s hard to think of this happening in a home, especially when kids are involved. Let’s work together to create a community where family violence is not tolerated, and where families have support networks if it does.

The funds raised from our trip to Kokoda will assist Windermere to make a positive difference by building a stronger community which is free from violence.

Windermere does this by giving people the skills to build respectful relationships and community connections. Windermere also assists the victims of family violence, many who have had to flee their homes, to have safer, happier futures.

I know the Kokoda challenge won’t be easy. But we will be able to make a positive difference along the way.

I’ve been told that a typical day on the Kokoda Track can involve around seven to ten hours of trekking in steep terrain. There are no mountain tracks close to where I live. Instead I’ve managed to get out to the Glasgow Track in Mount Dandenong a few times to train there. The Glasgow Track is very steep. It goes straight up Mount Dandenong and the views at the summit are amazing. How is everyone else going with their training?

It’s awesome to hear that our team is achieving both training and fundraising goals. Congratulations to Garry and Paul, who have already achieved their goals, and now hope to exceed them. Garry and Paul held a fundraising gala night together which was a huge success.  There are also several other team members who are well on their way to reaching their fundraising targets, while others have made a great start.

On ANZAC Day I watched a documentary about the wartime history of Kokoda, it really hit home about what we are going to face in five months time. It’s hard to imagine what it would have been like for those men and women who fought, struggled and died along the jungle tracks of Kokoda. If you have personal or family connections to Kokoda that you are happy to share, I would love to hear about it. Also, feel free to share with the group any useful information or resources that you have seen on Kokoda through the Windermere Kokoda Team closed group Facebook page.

If you would like to find out more about the history of Kokoda the ANZAC Portal website can help get you started.

You can make a difference to children and families in need by making a donation to Windermere here.

Rachel, one of our Kokoda team members, enjoying the view on the Glasgow Track recently.

#trektoendviolence