Working on Kokoda Track gives rangers new perspective

Published Monday, 05 June, 2017 at 03:19 PM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

Nine Queensland rangers gained new perspectives on life and work when they partnered with Papua New Guinea villagers, Kokoda Track Authority Rangers and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade colleagues on Kokoda Track work.

National Parks Minister Steven Miles praised the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers who lived with locals, sharing track maintenance skills and getting the route ready for trekking season in the 75th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign.

“From all accounts, the Queenslanders’ efforts were much appreciated and have further cemented the bonds between our two countries,” Mr Miles said.

“On 1 March 2017, I signed a two-year memorandum of understanding with the PNG Government aimed at increasing co-operative partnerships in tourism, the environment and conservation.

“The memorandum has already been a great success for all parties, and talks have commenced on future projects under this program,” he said.

QPWS Resource Ranger Alex Tessieri from Cardwell said the deployment to the Kokoda Track had been a brilliant opportunity.

“This was a mutual learning experience,” Mr Tessieri said.

“It was a true partnership between the workers from two countries, and it felt very natural, perhaps due to past links between Australia and PNG.”

Mr Tessieri, a former member of the Australian Defence Force, is returning to the Kokoda Track in July for the re-enactment walk, where participants will retrace the route of 39th Battalion Bravo Company while wearing the same gear.

Ranger Carol Kinnaird from Cairns, who did two rotations based at Efogi and Menari, said the Queenslanders relished the opportunity to achieve results with the local people, most of whom are farmers living a simple and sustainable life.

“We were astonished by their strength and resourcefulness, how they could use timber and rocks sourced on the spot for railings and steps, and simple tools to get jobs done,” Ms Kinnaird said.

“Six days a week, they work so hard on their subsistence gardens and food-gathering, and on maintaining the track. There is no electricity and no shops.

“They are deeply religious people, also great storytellers and singers, and made us very welcome.”

Ms Kinnaird said trekking season was getting underway as the Queenslanders were finishing their deployments, and the passing trekking parties had thanked the villagers and rangers for their work to make the route more sustainable.

The Queensland contingent included Senior Ranger Karen Whitworth, also from Cairns, whose grandfather served in the Kokoda area in World War II.

Ms Whitworth proudly wore her late grandfather’s medals at Anzac Day commemorations in Port Moresby. Her group worked on rehabilitating the track in a challenging swampy area.

Team leader Principal Ranger Dave Fuller, also from Cairns, said the crews had accomplished incredible amounts of work in difficult terrain, in monsoon conditions similar to Queensland’s Wet Tropics.

QPWS sent nine rangers to PNG on three rotations in March to May 2017, to work with the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) on track repairs and recording of natural values along some key sections of the track. The Queenslanders aimed to learn from local rangers and help maintain a safe, well-managed track that honours the historical significance and protects and promotes its special values.

The project was supported by the PNG, Queensland and Australian governments.

The Queensland Government paid staff salaries while the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded other costs.

ENDS

Media contact: Alison Brown – 3719 7336

High-resolution photos from the Kokoda project are available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5dk9bdjdt5ac955/AAAeA8OX-QHf08ozUGRaGYY9a?dl=0