Skippers Trek - Kokoda 2025 Thanks

Hi All,

As I sit here and reflect on an amazing experience that was Skippers Trek - Kokoda 2025, I thought I’d share with you all a little about Parkinson’s disease and how it affects me. Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological disease that affects everyone differently; no two cases are quite the same.

I have always been a quiet person, and now, as a result of Parkinson’s disease, my voice is getting weaker. It takes a great deal of effort to make sure that I am speaking loudly enough for people to hear what I have to say clearly. It has also robbed me of my facial expressions, which can make me look disinterested or as if I am not paying attention when someone is talking to me. However, as anyone who knows me well will tell you I have excellent hearing, so don’t assume I haven’t heard what is being said! Adding to this is the slowness that Parkinson’s brings. I can think quickly, but turning those thoughts into actual words is another challenge. Then, when I do start talking, my brain function slows down, and it is very difficult to think and speak articulately (let’s not talk about the bodily issues). It also plays with your emotions; you may have noticed my tendency to cry or get emotional easily and quickly.

I would like to share my perspective of our trip along the Kokoda Track. Just a year after first completing the trek, I believe I was fitter and more prepared for the track. But I still had apprehensions about what I was about to embark on. It was a shame the flights from Brisbane weren’t coordinated better, but it was lovely to meet Valma, Sharon, and Brad in Brisbane before departing for Port Moresby. As we got to meet all the trekkers, we saw and heard the same apprehensiveness and questions: Have we done enough to be prepared? Are we ready for what we are about to face? I think by now we should be able to answer these questions for ourselves! It was a great trip with many opportunities to reflect on different aspects with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

We all saw some of the huge challenges for the trekkers. But we saw them rise to the challenges, buoyed up by the people around them, finding new beliefs in themselves and their ability to meet the challenges head on and prevail.

Although there are many highlights, for me, the most memorable will be the way in which the team pulled together to get up that last steep hill to Owers’ Corner and through the arches. To get that far was no simple feat for most of us. There were doubts along the way in all our minds.

Finally, I don’t think any of us could have achieved this without the Porters, who do a fantastic job. A special thanks to them and all the support staff. Then, of course, Lee, John and the rest of the trekkers who made the trip such a worthwhile and memorable experience.

To support people living with Parkinson’s and to try and help find a cure, Penny, Ian, James, and myself set the goal of raising $15,000 for The Hospital Research Group Foundation- Parkinson’s; we managed to achieve that and a bit more! If you would like to read our story and contribute, please follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/team/skippers-a-team or look at the Facebook page via https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565356329781 and a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lugb1uJu5FI.

Feel free to share our story and pass on Skippers contact details: email skipperstrek@gmail.com

I could go on but I will close with the picture that tells a story!

Download the brochure at https://kokodacourage.com.au/skippers-trek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lugb1uJu5FI

Please note that when donating there is no obligation to leave a tip, this is not tax deductible and will not reach the charity.

Why Parkinson's and Kokoda

The Kokoda experience is embodied in its four pillars: Courage - Endurance - Mateship - Sacrifice. These characteristics are what is needed if you are to live well with Parkinson's.

In 1976 I joined the Royal Australian Navy on a short service commission then moved to defence industry, and after a short stint working for the Commonwealth, back to defence industry before retiring in 2019.

In 2020, after years of feeling like an old man before my time, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

I had been looking forward to a long and happy retirement flying my homebuilt experimental Lancair IVP round the country. I did get a few trips away in the plane before I had to surrender my pilots licence.

All my shared aircraft interests were disposed of. It was sad but an inevitable consequence. I had been involved with a variety of warbirds include a Spitfire, Mustang, Chipmunk and then the home built experimental Lancair IVP.

Having left that all behind we had to readjust, my family (wife, children and grandchildren) were all a great support helping me to readjust to a new and different life. Of course they had to readjust to the new life as well, particularly my wife.

I had passed on the opportunity to do the Kokoda Trek many times before retirement. In 2023 a group of my ex work mates were organising a trek, so I took the plunge and said I would go, quickly volunteering my Daughter and Son (see the A Team for more details).

There was a lot of trepidation about doing the trek, and of course all the ex work mates found reasons that they could not do the trek. So it was left to the A Team.

Training started in earnest for the Trek in October 23. Was I worried about coping with the myriad of Parkinson's symptoms, of course I was.

March 24 came around pretty quickly and before we knew it we had completed the Trek. (See the A Team story for details)

After completing the Trek it was suggested that we do this again as a Fund Raiser for Parkinson's. This is where we are today.

Launching:

Skippers Trek

Looking for your support in raising funds for Parkinson's research. It is planned to make this an annual ongoing event.

You can support us by:

Donating - Your donations will go directly to THRFG Parkinson's to support research on finding better ways to live with Parkinson's and the cure.

Join us on the Trek - Sign up to join us on the Trek and and help raise funds.

Form a Team - Fundraise as a Team, or if you are joining us on the trek start your Fundraising Team.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your tax deductible donation directly to The Hospital Research Foundation Group Parkinson's. This is the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the THRFG Parkinson's.