Hawks players will wear special edition camouflage jumpers in a bid to raise awareness for the history of the battle.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Kokoda, and the Club will be hosting diggers from the 39th, 2/14 and 2/16 battalions as guests in the official President’s function. These diggers will form a guard of honour as the players run out on the field before the game.
Captain Luke Hodge says the team is proud to be playing in the camouflage jumpers in Round 21.
“It means a lot to our playing group that we get to contest the Kokoda Game each year in memory of the battle of Kokoda. Having completed the trek, we have seen firsthand the great work The Kokoda Track Foundation does in supporting the descendants of the ‘fuzzy wuzzy angels’ by assisting with their education and healthcare, as well as trying to protect their environment,” he said.
The Club is proud to again partner with the Kokoda Track Foundation for this match, and is supporting the foundation’s current fundraising activity as they raise money to build the Kokoda College.
Support Kokoda Track Foundation and WIN
By purchasing a raffle ticket for just $20, your contribution will go straight towards raising much needed funds to build the The Kokoda College. The state-of-the-art training facility will offer courses in Elementary Teaching, Primary Teaching and Community Health work.
By entering, you go into the draw to win a once in a lifetime prize, which includes a trip for two to a Kokoda village in Papua New Guinea for Kokoda Day in November 2012. There, you’ll attend the official flag raising ceremony in this very special year, the 70th anniversary.
You’ll also have the opportunity to attend the building site of Kokoda College, and even put your skills to work and help out on the building.
As part of the prize you’ll be invited to an exclusive lunch with a couple of Hawks players, Kokoda veterans and Hawks vice president, Geoff Harris. You’ll also receive a Hawks Kokoda Guernsey signed by Hawks players and coaches.
The Kokoda College will be the first of its kind; a college in a remote, rural area able to graduate 200 elementary teachers, 60 primary teachers and 60 community health workers each year.
That is enough teachers and community health workers to satisfy the need of the whole Kokoda Catchment area in the first three years of operation. The College will then open its doors to students from other regions in PNG.
For more information about Kokoda College, visit their official website.
Papua New Guinea
With over 800 individual languages and an abundance of unique flora and fauna, Papua New Guinea is a land of unlimited adventures just waiting to be discovered.
From rugged mountain ranges with lush tropical rainforest to pristine coastlines offering spectacular diving sites, cruising, surfing, fishing and over 700 species of birds, Papua New Guinea not only beckons adventure travellers, but also those in search of unique and authentic cultural experiences.
Find out more about travel options to Papua New Guinea.
