Each year we have the privilege of continuing a tradition that means a great deal to our Brookes Blooms family, taking on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.
This year marked our fourth year on the Kokoda Trail, and we were incredibly proud to send two of our own, Joel and Bec, to take on the journey.
For us, Kokoda is about much more than a challenging trek. It is an opportunity to step into a place deeply connected to Australian history, to remember those who served, and to pay our respects to the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice of those who walked these mountains during the Kokoda Campaign.
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The history of Kokoda carries a great deal of weight, we walked the track with deep respect for those who served, as well as the people of Papua New Guinea whose land and communities were so deeply intertwined with the campaign.
Walking the track also creates a deeply personal experience, one shaped by the people you meet, the challenges you overcome, the friendships you make and the memories you carry with you long after you leave the track.
Into the Jungle
After arriving in Papua New Guinea, Joel and Bec had a short window to prepare before making their way from Port Moresby to Popondetta and onwards to Kokoda Village.
Before taking their first steps onto the track, the group visited the Kokoda Museum and Plateau, learning more about the opening stages of the campaign and the significance of the ground that lay ahead. Then, beneath the iconic Kokoda arches, the group gathered for a photograph before beginning what would become eight days of trekking through the Papua New Guinean jungle.
The opening hills tested the group early, with steep climbs, heavy packs, humidity and the ever-changing terrain quickly reminding everyone that Kokoda demands something from you physically and mentally. There were fallen trees to navigate, long climbs to conquer and plenty of moments when tired legs had to keep moving.
Yet there were also incredible rewards.
The track carried the group through lush jungle, choko fields, villages and mountain ranges, with spectacular scenery appearing around every corner. The weather was kind for much of the journey, helping the team maintain a strong pace, but it was the people they encountered along the way who truly shaped the experience.
At Isurava, the group paused at the famous battle site and the Four Pillars Memorial - Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice.
Here, they listened to stories and recordings that brought the history of the campaign to life and took time to remember the Australians who fought and died on this ground.
Standing there, surrounded by the mountains and jungle made the history feel very real.
The stories of the men who served, including Corporal John Metson, Charlie McCallum, Lindsay Bear and Bruce Kingsbury VC, became more than names in a history book. They were stories connected to the very ground beneath their feet. The group visited the historic Surgeon's Stone, where further stories of the campaign were shared. Among them were moving accounts from veteran Stan Bisset, including memories of his brother, Thomas "Butch" Bisset, and the hardships endured by those who served on the Track.
Those moments of reflection sat alongside the everyday realities of trekking, of waking before sunrise, carrying a heavy pack, finding your rhythm on the track, sharing meals, arriving into camp tired but smiling, and falling asleep knowing there was another mountain waiting in the morning.
And despite the exhaustion, the messages coming back from the track were filled with excitement and gratitude. There was something about being completely immersed in the jungle, away from everyday life, that made the challenge feel worthwhile.
But perhaps the most unexpected and memorable part of the journey was the welcome they received along the way.
The People of Kokoda
Kokoda is famous around the world for its history and its physical challenge, but it is the people who leave perhaps the greatest impression.
The porters who travelled alongside the trekkers became an incredible source of strength and encouragement. Their resilience, kindness and unwavering support helped carry the team through some of the toughest moments. More than simply travelling alongside them, they became an important part of the journey, offering encouragement, sharing their knowledge of the track and helping the group through each challenge along the way.
And then there were the villages.
At each stop, the group was welcomed with generosity, warmth and genuine hospitality. There were smiles, stories, laughter and moments of connection that transcended language and circumstance.
It was a reminder that Kokoda is not simply a track to be conquered. It is home to communities and families who have their own deep connection to this land and its history.
One fellow trekker, Greg Ella, shared this reflection after travelling alongside Joel and Rebecca:
“Both of them were outstanding ambassadors for your company, in the way they conducted themselves during the trek. They were very impressive in their interactions with the children during our overnight camp in the villages and when giving out gifts.”
They went on to say:
“Both are wonderful people and I now have the honor of calling them friends.”
That is something we are particularly proud of.
Because while we set out each year to honour the history of Kokoda, we also want to leave something positive behind.
A special part of our Kokoda journey is the opportunity to give back to the communities who welcome us. This year, the children of Khagi Village were delighted to receive Brookes Blooms Ads and Dunks shirts, a small gesture, but one that created some very big smiles.
[IMAGE: Villagers receiving shirts from Joel and Bec]
And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all: sometimes the moments that stay with you aren't the ones you expect.
They are the smiles around a village camp. The encouragement from a porter when your legs are tired. The laughter shared over dinner. The person you met on the track who started as a stranger and left as a friend.
A Journey We Won't Forget
Looking back, the physical challenge of Kokoda was only one part of the experience.
It was the early mornings, the steep climbs, the heavy packs and the exhaustion. It was the history, the stories and the moments of quiet reflection. It was the incredible landscape and the communities who welcomed our team with open arms.
And it was the people who walked beside them.
To the incredible porters who supported Joel and Bec throughout the trek, thank you. Your strength, resilience, kindness and unwavering support made an enormous difference. You carried far more than packs, you carried spirits on the toughest days, always with encouragement and a smile.
To the villages and families who welcomed our team so generously, thank you for sharing your homes, your stories, your laughter and your friendship.
The Kokoda Track carries an extraordinary history, but its spirit lives on through its people.
We are incredibly grateful to have been welcomed into your communities and to have had the privilege of walking this track, remembering the past while experiencing the warmth and strength of the people who call it home.
And to Joel and Bec, we are so proud of you both.
The courage it takes to take on something like Kokoda is not simply about making it from one end of the track to the other. It is about continuing when you're tired, finding strength when the climb gets hard, supporting the people around you and embracing every part of the experience.
As we have learned from every team that has taken on Kokoda before them, the challenges faced on this journey don't simply disappear when you step off the track.
They stay with you.
The memories, the friendships, the lessons, the history and the moments that tested you become something you can draw strength from for years to come.
That is why we return.
To remember.
To challenge ourselves.
To give back.
And to honour the extraordinary history of Kokoda while making memories that will stay with our Brookes Blooms family for a lifetime.
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