Ph 3259 1900 (24 hours) - Queensland Police Union

The Kokoda Challenge
the top ridge of Nerang forest, with
just a steady decline to the finish line
… but this year they have changed
the route and we are sent back down
the mountain towards where we had
already been.
Officially, ‘Chequered Band of
Brothers’ has finished in 28hrs and
7minutes. It is 11.11am, and we have
gone well over our predicted finish.
The new course and the mud had
conquered us.
“We are now passing many injured people who
are limping along, and at this point the event is
starting to look like the historic photos of the
real Kokoda with injured soldiers.”
Now I really start to abuse the
organisers, but Rod stays optimistic
and gives positive comments, which
are the exact opposite of what I want to
hear. The kilometres slowly run down
on signs at two kilometre intervals. The
distances just don’t seem right.
THE END (ALMOST) IN SIGHT
With one last checkpoint at four
kilometres to go, we realise we still
have an hour left because we have
been walking an average of four
kilometres per hour. But we can now
hear the hum of the M1 motorway,
and a bit of cheering and microphone
noise from the finish line.
Slowly, wry smiles start to appear
on our faces and we pick up the pace
again, despite the pain. The sooner we
get there, the sooner we finish.
Finally, with little notice, we are
thrown out of the bush and onto a
cycling track at the Nerang velodrome.
We walk to the centre and can see the
finish line, which is decorated with
army camouflage netting.
We can see hundreds of people, and
with our tired, dazed eyes, it is hard
to find any family. But all of a sudden,
they are there.
MADE IT!
It is unbelievable how fast the pain
drains away and is replaced with pride
and achievement. We walk over to the
final checkpoint and swipe our digital
wristbands for the last time.
We have a quick hug with family
before they point out how much we
smell. We are now back to earth.
We are presented with certificates
and dog tags to commemorate our
achievement.
There are two World War II diggers
present to welcome us in, and
suddenly our achievement feels
insignificant compared to what they
must have gone through.
Not even a minute later, Craig walks
up to me and says, ‘I’ll see you later.
I’m out of here’. He must have been
imagining the same shower and bed
that I had been. After 28 hours, there
is no point hanging around: we have
spent enough time together.
THE AFTERMATH
At home, the shoes come off, and I
examine the mess that used to be my
feet. It doesn’t look pretty, and I know
I am going to lose some toenails.
Hopefully, it’ll be less than last year’s
10 missing nails.
In time, we hear about our other
colleagues’ times, and realise we
are not the only ones who found it
harder this year. Best of everyone was
Detective Superintendent Hutchinson,
with a time of 17 hours and 41 minutes.
To put it in perspective, that is a full
shift and a few hours of overtime that
he finished before us.
We also learn of some seizures
and serious medical situations that
Keith Payne OAM, recipient of The Victoria Cross for
Gallantry and Ambassador of the Kokoda Challenge.
“There are two
World War II diggers
present to welcome
us in, and suddenly
our achievement feels
insignificant compared
to what they must
have gone through.”
occurred during the race for other
teams. One member’s wife had to have
her toe amputated, which is a fairly
heavy price to pay for a charity event.
GET INVOLVED!
Although I seem to have highlighted
the negatives, there is nothing more
rewarding than knowing you have
achieved something of this magnitude.
It is the hardest thing I have ever done,
but also one of the most satisfying.
We are now tighter mates for what we
have been through together. We know
that no matter how much we describe
it to others, they are never going to
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012
43