Harold Bould Trek 2013

The Harold Bould trek is on again for the fourth year in a row and readers are invited to take part in this very special event. Each year the 39th Battalion Association run the Harold Bould (Cardinia) Kokoda Award. Year 10 students who are enrolled in secondary schools in the Cardinia Shire are eligible to enter. The award provides the opportunity for the winning students to walk the Kokoda Track and visit the Northern Beachheads of Buna, Gona and Sanananda.

This year’s winners Jack and Natalie will be off to trek Kokoda between 30 June and 14 July 2013. Already the trek is starting to come together with both students and fellow participants getting involved in some group training and recently went for a hike at Lerderderg Gorge in Bacchus Marsh, not far from the original 39th Battalion training ground.

Harold Bould was a resident of Cardinia and one of 5 brothers, who served Australia in WW2. On their tour they will visit the village of Oivi which is near to the place that Harold Bould of “B” Company 39th Battalion was killed in action on July 29th 1942, only 3 days after Captain Sam Templeton went missing and only 8 days after the Japanese invasion of Papua New Guinea commenced.

Harold’s remains were never found and neither were those of the other brother who didn’t come home. Brother Keith serving with the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion was taken prisoner by the Japanese. Keith was being transported from Singapore aboard the Kakuyo Maru, carrying 1317 prisoners back to work in factories in Japan. On the way it was sunk by a US submarine the USS Sea Lion on September 15th 1944.

The Memorial trek is named in memory of Harold Bould and commemorates all those gallant men who lost their lives defending Australia during the Kokoda Campaign. Mr Alan Jameson of the 39th Battalion Association and Cardinia Shire MP Edward O’Donohue have been the driving force behind the success of the Harry Bould Awards. Edward’s fundraising efforts and the generosity of Cardinia people have ensured that another two students from Cardinia can make the pilgrimage to Kokoda. Both students will follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners, Harry and Indie who both successfully completed the trek in June/July 2012.

You too can be a part of this pilgrimage; we have spaces available and are looking for people with an interest in history and a sense of adventure. It will not only be a great opportunity to trek the famous Kokoda Track but you will also be able to participate in the delivery of much needed school supplies to local villages that live within the Kokoda area.

To become a part of this very special trek, call or email David Howell direct on 0405 007 700 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. David is also running monthly meetings were the group gets together for a bush walk and information session. The dates for the trek are:

30 Jun - 11 Jul Kokoda Track Tour

30 Jun - 14 Jul Kokoda Track & Beachheads Tour

Read more about the Harold Bould Award here.