96,000 footsteps for our veterans
Ben Myers was watching a game of Aussie Rules football at his local oval when another punter struck up conversation: he had heard Ben was planning to walk the Kokoda Trail, and he wanted to know why.
“He asked me, ‘is this to raise money?’” Ben recalls. “And at that stage, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.”
There are a myriad of reasons why people choose to hike the Kokoda Trail. Ben’s motivation was to give himself a physical and mental challenge by retracing the steps of the Australian military campaign in 1942, and to grow an understanding about what our defence forces experienced.
But this simple conversation started something much bigger. The concept was born: Ben would hike the 96 kilometer Kokoda Trail as a fundraiser for the Poppy Appeal.
VETERANS: THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE RSL
As the General Manager of Box Hill RSL Sub-Branch, Ben is in the business of supporting Aussie veterans.
“Veterans and their families are the primary reason for our existence as an RSL. We’re here to support them and our wider community.”
And that support goes both ways. In Ben’s words, veterans are the lifeblood of the organisation.
“We have veterans that volunteer for commemorative activities that we conduct as a Sub-Branch, and who volunteer to assist other veterans and their families with their welfare needs. We have veterans that volunteer their time to serve on our committee.”
So, combining his pilgrimage along the Kokoda Trail with a fundraising opportunity to support the Poppy Appeal – which funds welfare and support for veterans – was a logical step.
Ben undertook months of training to prepare himself for the trek, walking every weekend – and then every weeknight – with a weighted pack. “My dog loved it,” he recalled.
Before he left Australia, Ben spoke to his friends, family, and the Box Hill RSL community, and encouraged them to donate to the Poppy Appeal whilst he kept them informed about his progress on the Trail.
He was struck by the instantaneous response. People were donating to the Poppy Appeal – and also reaching out to Ben directly with words of support.
“Even if people didn’t make a donation, their support was enough,” Ben explained. “Just a tap on the back or a, ‘This is great, I love that you’re doing this, I’ve got you.’ That was enough for me.”
The PILGRIMAGE
Ben and his colleague Ricky Cole from the Geelong RSL Sub-Branch flew from Brisbane to Port Moresby.
They planned to complete the trek in eight days. As the crow flies, the Kokoda Trail is 96 kilometres from Kokoda Village to Owers’ Corner.
It was going to be a long, hard slog. But they recognised that it was an important pilgrimage.
On the second day, they left Port Moresby and flew to the north part of the island, arriving at a small airfield in Popondetta. And after three-and-a-half hour truck ride from Popondetta they found themselves at Kokoda Village, which is the start of the Kokoda Trail.
From there, they headed up over the Owen Stanley Ranges, and begun their journey.
Ben recalled the site that resonated with him the most: Isurava Village.
“Isurava is the site where a significant memorial is. Four pillars of Mt Gambier Granite inscribed with the words ‘courage’, ‘sacrifice’, ‘mateship’, and ‘endurance’. And if you ask me what Kokoda means, it’s those four pillars.”
“There were 20 of us on the trek, and those four pillars were something we carried with us from day two all the way through to the final day at Owers’ Corner.”
During the punishing eight days of hiking, they travelled through significant sites along the Kokoda Trail that the 39th Battalion defended in the Kokoda campaign. And as they continued along the trail, they were buoyed by their fundraising tally continuing to rise.
“Knowing that people were following our efforts and continuing to donate made us get out of bed in the morning,” Ben explains.
For the average person, one kilometre is roughly 1,000 footsteps; it is likely to be far more whilst walking the Kokoda Trail. After eight days of hiking – through rain and searing sun – Ben and his group made it to Owers’ Corner. Every single footstep was worth the effort.
But while the physical journey was over, the funds they raised would continue to impact lives. The tally as they finished was just shy of $15,000 – a huge contribution to veteran welfare.
“I’m proud to say I was able to set myself a physical challenge in completing the Kokoda Trail,” Ben explains, “but more than that, I’m proud to say that I was able to raise a significant amount of money that will support veterans and their families.”
Ben is passionate about bridging the gap between remembrance and impact. He highlights the powerful outcomes made possible by Poppy Appeal donations – from emergency housing and mental health support, to advocacy and compensation assistance.
This Remembrance Day, Ben urges Australians to buy a badge, purchase a virtual poppy, or make a donation.
“This money will make a meaningful contribution to a veteran’s life, and I’m absolutely proud to say that I have played a small role in that, and I urge the community to think the same,” he said. “Every little bit of support goes a long way.”
Together We Remember.
