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Adventure Challenge on the Kokoda Track WHEN Rob Needham saw mountain ranges looming above the single engine Cessna Caravan flying over cloud covered trees at 9000ft, he knew he was in for the Adventure Challenge of a lifetime. Three hours behind schedule to reach the village of Kokoda from Port Morseby, the pilot of Rob’s flight received a report that clouds were touching treetops over their destination. Rob was on an Adventure Challenge for Charity and had spent months selling mountains of chocolate bars and preparing himself for what he expected would be a gruelling nine day trek on the Kokoda Track carrying a 20kg pack – a lifelong dream. He looked at several of the eight passengers on the flight; among the locals were four members of Rob’s group. Their faces said it all. The pilot looked for a hole in the clouds while his Global Positioning System (GPS) signalled their location over Kokoda. Courage: Rob Needham saw mountain ranges looming above the single engine Cessna Caravan at 9000ft on his flight to Kokoda in Papua New Guinea and knew he was in for the Adventure Challenge of a lifetime. Green terrain flickered (See beneath reverse thefor details) from their families. cloud cover below as the pilot banked hard left and pushed the plane into a spiralling descent. More green whizzed past the windows, the altimeter needle plunged, the GPS terrain warning horn was sounding and Rob could feel the fingernails of the passengers seated behind him, digging into his shoulders. The adventure had only just begun but the cloud cover would continue for days to come and Rob would soon feel more than physical pain. Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance These words would stay with Rob for the rest of his life. Four stone monuments to the sacred area where many lives were lost, surrounded him at the Isurava Memorial. Each depicted the durability of the Australian soldiers and their commitment to repelling the Japanese Army with a single word: Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance. Prior to leaving Australia, Rob had read books about the Kokoda and the lives of young men lost in a country so far The monuments impacted his emotions and tears formed in his eyes as he circled the stones and realised the extreme conditions and circumstances the soldiers faced and contended with. The words stayed with him as his legs ached along the trek, when he slipped in the mud or on the endless amount of tree roots covering the track, and when he suffered gastroenteritis for almost two days. He wanted to sleep: How on earth did those guys do it in some of the fiercest fighting campaigns during the war Rob still wondered how the soldiers did it, and questioned each day, especially when he was really hurting, how he would have coped if he was one of them. After nine days of walking up and down ridges, mountains, crossing creeks and rivers, eating ration packs, enduring the rain and heat, feeling and hearing mosquitoes trying to find flesh, experiencing illness, listening to guides sing in beautiful harmony and passing other groups and saying g’day, the Kokoda Track had changed Rob’s life. As he crossed it from his list of goals he knew his Adventure Challenge was everything and more than he expected it to be and couldn’t wait to start on the next. Adventure Challenge for Charity allows travellers to choose a destination, fundraise the cost of the fare and itinerary activities, and nominate an Australian charity as a beneficiary of the proceeds. Proceeds from Rob’s Adventure Challenge for Charity to the Kokoda Track benefit the Cerebral Palsy League. Further information: Adventure Challenge 1800 819 086 adventurechallenge.com.au Kokoda Explore TrailA one Taste of 25 of exotic BorneoEgyptInca destinations Trail Great Wall of or ChinaAfrican choose your own SafariChoose adventure.... Your Own 18
A tribute to Rene Corrie who passed away SOME of us only knew Rene for a few months, others a few years but we all felt like we had known her our whole lives. She had a colourful personality along with a colourful vocabulary and a water pistol to attack anyone who annoyed her. Every day we speak of Rene, every day we miss her terribly - this larger than life woman with a heart of gold who took all of the administration and sales consultant girls at Equipment Technology Services under her wing, often she would momentarily forget our names and refer to all of us as, “hey kid,” - she was like a mother to us. Her biggest dream was to retire in a couple of years, buy a caravan, pack up the 4WD and go around Australia with her husband, Claude. At the top end of Australia she would meet up with retired League transport friends Carol and Lorraine and drink a bottle of champagne watching the sunset. She also had a very close relationship with some of the workshop guys and often referred to them as being like brothers to her. She dedicated more than 30 years to the Cerebral Palsy League, cared a great deal for clients and their families and will be sadly missed by many. Rene gave so much of herself to all of us that there are times when we say things that remind us so much of her. As a person, friend and employee, Rene is irreplacable. We are all forever grateful to have known this wonderful women who will always hold a special place in our hearts. Written by Shelley Paulsen Equipment Technology Services Cerebral Palsy League THE Cerebral Palsy League farewelled Sidney Siviter, who passed away in August. Mr Sivitar was President of the League in 1988 and was made a Life Member of the League in the same year. The League extends its sympathies to Mr Sivitar’s family, and its appreciation for his efforts contributed to the League and people with cerebral palsy. Help us, help others MOTHER Nature tends to work in less obvious ways at times. Demand on League services continues as more children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy and their service requirements continue into adulthood. There are four fundamental issues for people with cerebral palsy, and the League: • Cerebral palsy is one of the most expensive disabilities to manage and provide services for; • Equipment needs continue to change and the ensuing costs are enormous; • Cerebral palsy is a life-long disability; • Cerebral palsy can occur in any family and there is no cure. The League needs your financial assistance to maintain services to its clients. In addition, one child is born in Australia every 18 hours with cerebral palsy. The need continues to grow and without your assistance we will struggle to meet service demands. Please, dig deep. To make a donation or assist in any other way, please contact the Cerebral Palsy League: 1800 819 086 www.cplqld.org.au (See reverse for details) 19
Page 1 and 2: League News VOLUME 30 • NUMBER 3
Page 3 and 4: Churchill Fellow IT wasn’t just t
Page 5 and 6: Council saves art program for child
Page 7 and 8: Engaging Incentive IN collaboration
Page 9 and 10: Brisbane artists opened ‘Window o
Page 11 and 12: Client Convention Survey The CCC wa
Page 13 and 14: Great contributions Dr David Jackso
Page 15 and 16: Recognition of staff excellence CER
Page 17: If you’ve got it, flaunt it! OVER

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