Christmas Party!

6¼ Tough Days on the Kokoda Trail

From Our Own Correspondent

Moresby, Jan. 8.

[7HEN a party from Port Moresby, V comprising 10 members of the PNGVR and five civilians, dked from Sogeri, over the Owen anley Range and down into Dkoda, in 64 days, during the hqli ys, without carriers and each with 50 lb pack, they confounded the itics, who declared that it could it be done by untrained people.

This was the Kokoda Trail—the credibly broken, mountainous and sak trek which both the Japanese id the Australian forces twice oming—and going) climbed over 1942. The tracks then made tve largely disappeared, and the oresby Christmas party found the ing exceedingly rough and ex isting. They lived mostly on the scuit and bullybeef they carried, id their overnight camps were ost primitive.

But they got through, carrying all ar and food, and all but two arched the last three miles into okoda in smart military style, and a route-march pace. The other r o came in later, and were not too hausted to tackle a highly wel me meal put on by Mr. and Mrs. 3oman, of the Government station.

The only one who did not carry a ick was Miss Vellacott-Jones, of e ABC. She took along two native rriers.

Practically all collected feet isters and a few stiff muscles. eut.-Col. N. P. Madden, CO of the !*JGVR who led the party, came )me with no blister, and loudly •aising the magnificent qualities an Australian Army boot. Those bo made the trek were;— PNGVR—Lt.-Col. N. P. Maddern and t. B. Parker (Army) and CMF members >m Grotty, W. Wyatt, J. Grose, R. •well, Max Little, J. Fisher, A. North, Straughen.

GUIDE—Pte. Kora, of Kokoda.

CIVILIANS—Messrs. Frank Vincent, mneth Wood, Ray Harris, J. W. Bax id Miss K. Vellacott-Jones.

Sydney Territorians are at present intributing to a fund wherefrom • make a presentation to Miss adge Bvrne, who presides over a irt of the entertainment section ’ Ushers Hotel. Servicemen’s Club scretary Alan Fagett says: “As the lofficial Information Centre for ew Guinea, Miss Byrne’s well lown bar has done a very good ib,” Miss Byrne is to be married l the New Year and Territorians link this is a chance to show their 'atitude for many kindly deeds, nobtrusively performed.