A.B. Paterson College is founded on a unique Australian spirit which embodies character, determination, resilience, and integrity. Similarly, the Kokoda Youth Foundation supports Australians by inspiring them to do extraordinary things, including hiking as part of long endurance events. Twenty-six students from A.B. Paterson College, accompanied by six members of staff took part in this year’s 48 km Kokoda Challenge held last weekend.

The Kokoda Youth Program, based on the Gold Coast, is a not-for-profit organisation established to change the lives of local teenagers by instilling the spirit of Kokoda, by embodying courage, endurance, mateship, and sacrifice. 

The Kokoda Challenge events are operated by the Kokoda Youth Foundation with the mission to achieve three main things: keep the spirit of Kokoda alive through educating participants about the history of the Kokoda Campaign in 1942; raising funds for local youth programs; and delivering one of Australia's toughest team endurance events in the spirit of the WW2 diggers. 

The College entered seven teams of students led by the following A.B. Paterson College staff: Tennille Mitchell, Sona Preiszlerova, Kate Lawrence, James King, James Ellins and Craig Aitken. Special mention should be made to Tennille who had two groups due to staff absentee, Kate who only volunteered to participate in the event a few days prior due to a staff injury and James Ellin’s team finished 4th overall! A truly remarkable and memorable experience for all those concerned!

THE LIST OF STUDENTS WHO TOOK PART:

Flynn Fahy, Ben Canning, Hamish Snow, Oisin Fountain, Amelia Wolff, Sinead McNamara, Grace Woodfield, Imogen Game, Hudson Reid, Avalon Pease, Jake Ward, Joshua Hibberd, Harry Mason, Oliver Kane, Jonas Longhurst, Amelia Halstead, Phoebe Dunbier, Zoe Clacher, Bridget Rosenboom, Hugo Hawke, Riley Grimmer, Joshua Cutajar, Travis McNamara, Daniel Teren, Oliver Game and James Beh.

Andrew Sole | Head of Outdoor Education