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Merv Hains
has had an awful lot adventures for an accountant and he has the scars to
prove it. In his early 20's, Merv
miraculously survived a land mine explosion while serving in the Vietnam
War. Since then, the 59-year, old father-of-two has hiked the strenuous
Kokoda Track not once, but five times. Now, he's building vital
infrastructure for impoverished villages along the track, dramatically
improving the health, hygiene and lifestyle of the affectionately named
`Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels'. Despite the praise and gratitude from the villagers,
Merv shies at the suggestion he's a local hero. "Oh no," Merv cringes,
shaking his head. "I'm not looking for that, and I don't want to be treated
that way".
Though some would argue he should be. In 1969 Merv was drafted and served as
platoon signaller with the Seventh Battalion of the Royal Australian
Regiment. He can still remember the heavy task of carrying his pack and
radio equipment, which weighed approximately 42kgs, through the steamy
Vietnam jungle. However that same pack became a godsend one dark night in
December 19?0, when Private Hains' patrol stumbled upon a hidden land mine.
"I was number six in the line," Merv recalls. "Seven of us actually walked
over the mine, but the eighth guy trode on it, it went off and he lost his
leg." Merv was peppered with shrapnel to the back
After 12
months in Vietnam, Merv returned to Bundaberg and studied accountancy and
taxation, spending any spare time hiking with his family in the great
outdoors. In 2005 an old friend challenged Merv to the ultimate adventure,
to follow in the footsteps of Kokoda diggers through some of the world's
most rugged and inhospitable terrain. While the nine-day journey provided
plenty of challenges, it was the poverty and plight of the local villagers
that hit Merv the hardest. "They've got no education, no medical supplies,
and very basic housing," Merv explains. "Tour groups walk through their land
and make quite a good profit, but the villagers receive very little in
return." With the help of his employees back in Cairns, and with the support
of needy locals, Merv decided to set up Kokoda Track Experience. In the past
year he has taken four groups, including nine cadets from the region, along
the track, giving 500 Kina (approximately A$230) from each participant
back to the community.
In November, all those Australian footsteps finally lead to a new way of
life for one of the poorest villages on the track, loribaiwa. Enough money
was raised to purchase and install a gravity fed water system carrying water
from a nearby creek to the village. "Before they had to walk about 400
metres to fill up their cooking pots," Merv says. "It's often wet, slippery
and muddy which makes it really difficult. But now we've put in two showers
and two taps so they have running water to their doorstep."
This won't be the only community project Merv and Kokoda Track Experience
will embark on. More than 70 people have already signed on to do a hike next
year, and Merv hopes to raise enough money to supply villagers with gas for
cooking, solar panels for basic electricity, a school library for the Kokoda
Elementary School, and better toilet facilities to improve sanitation. One
of the local guides has asked Merv to support him while he studies to become
a teacher, and the local school is also desperate for facilities. "It really
depends how much money I can raise," Merv calculates. "There are so many
projects, for example Rotary built a hospital in Kokoda but there's no
medicine there - none at all. I'd like to fix that."
The only thing stopping Merv from completing all these projects is whether
he can keep making the exhausting journey. "I don't know how long my legs
will stay up," Merv laughs. "I've seen a 74-year-old grandmother do it,
so if I'm blessed with good health I'll just keep going."
Gas
The gas cylinders for these will have to be purchased at Port Moresby which will be organized by
our company. Because these cylinders cannot be taken aboard aircraft they
can only be used on a north bound trip from Owers' Corner to Kokoda
Please note shown above are some cooking and serving
dishes. They are very small and lightweight, and are great to put some more
fragile items in (eggs, gas lamp, etc.).
There is a great variety of camping utilities and knives. Any of them will
be good as long as it serves your purpose, but it is better to make sure
that your knife will have a safely retractable blade, and will be small
enough to fit in your pocket.
Below is the picture of my old favourite that I take with me on every
trekking adventure.
Track or Trail
Although the official name is "Kokoda Trail" we have chosen to
use "Kokoda Track". The company feels that the word
"track" is more Australian than "trail". If you look at
the attached photographs you will note that on one side of the entry arch
at Owers' Corner says "Trail" while the other says
"Track".
Owers' Corner to Kokoda or Kokoda to Owers' Corner
This is a personal choice but for some reason people believe it is
"easier" going from Kokoda to Owers' Corner. No matter which way
people travel it is still strenuous. The advantages of going from Owers'
Corner to Kokoda are as follows:
- 7th
Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Association1. The Australian
Troops all left from the southern end and as such you will be
following in their footstep'
- You
actually finish at Kokoda Station and not Ower's Corner where there is
only a park
- You
will spend a night and a day at Kokoda which will give you plenty of
time to visit the Museum, swim in the creek and visit the early
morning market where you can obtain the freshest of fruit and other
foods
- It
is safe walking around Kokoda Station where you will not see any razor
wire
- The
cost of staying at Kokoda compared to Port Moresby is considerably less
- It
is most relaxing sitting on the lawn of the guesthouse with a cold
beer or other beverage
- You
will have time here to give your gear a thorough cleaning to comply
with Customs. This is easier in Kokoda than in a motel room at Port Moresby
- You
will be able to purchase artifacts from the people of Kokoda.
Traditional items such as bilums handmade from natural fibres can be
purchased with prior notice
- This
is a great opportunity to mix with the local people which you will not
be able to do in Port Moresby
Having said the above the
company will organize a trek either way. The cost of staying in Port Moresby is extra
to the company's quoted price.
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