ANZAC Day and the 39th Militia Battalion
We got up at 4:30am this morning and headed to the Shrine of Remembrance for the Dawn Service.
Jeremy and I started going to Dawn Services about 9 years ago, the first time in Adelaide and since then we have attended them in Glenelg, Burnie (Tassie), Melbourne and Apollo Bay. We try to get to them no matter where we are living or holidaying at the time.
This years is the first time we have been rained on, I think we have been lucky so far. Anyway can't complain the diggers did it much worse!
This year was great because I got to go with my Uncle Don who served in the army for around 22 years.
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| Jez, Adam, Jeremy, Don |
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| Mel, Don |
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| Adam, Don |
ANZAC day is a remembrance of the Australians & New Zealanders who fought at Gallipoli during WWI. Now, the commemorations extend to include everyone who have died & served in Military operations.
So this year due to our upcoming trek I wanted to commemorate the 39th Battalion.
The 39th Battalion
http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11908.asp
The 39th were the first battalion who went up the Kokoda track to fight the Japanese and saved Australia from certain Japanese invasion.
The 39th Battalion were a militia unit, as a militia battalion there was only a slight possibility they would be sent overseas, their role was initially to defend Australia at home.
Times were desperate and so they were sent to Port Moresby. A more unlikely unit couldn't be found anywhere else in the Australian army. They were made up of young civilian men (I should say boys as most were 18-21 years old) who had been called up to service. They were nicknamed by the other battalions as Chocos' or 'Chocolate Soldiers' as the regular soldiers thought they would melt under pressure. There were 550 remarkable men, who in 8 weeks stopped the advancing Japanese troops, of the 'Nankai Division', (6000 men), cross the Owen Stanley Range to take Port Moresby.
I am currently reading this amazing story (my boss gave me the book last year for my birthday) and I recommend everyone to read it, the courage, the loyalty, the spirit in which they conducted this campaign and the things they went through leave me astounded.
http://shop.abc.net.au/products/kokoda-5
Lest we forget.
Someone asked me last night if I was writing a blog for our lead up to our Kokoda Trek, and I said no. After thinking about it for 2 minutes I decided that why not? I've already bought a journal to write in when we will actually be on the trek so why not start now?
So the countdown is on - 10 weeks this Monday - we have been sent the final paper work, signed it, chosen our size trek t-shirt and sent the paper work off with the final payment.....no backing out now!
OK lets start at the beginning though, what was the reason, inspiration or idea to do this? Well, apart from having grandparents and Uncle's who fought in World War II, being regulars at the dawn Service and also being very patriotic Australian's, it's something we have been saying for a long time 'would love to do that one day'. It's a journey that will be emotional, character building, satisfying and rewarding on so many levels and to be able to do it with your partner and a family member will be the best part.
Last year a good friend, Lauren, told me she was going to trek The Great Wall of China in March 2012 (she has just finished it). I thought awesome, why not, Jeremy and I should join her bandwagon, then we started talking and realised that no, why do that when we've always really wanted to trek to Kokoda. (PS Well done Lauren & Renee!).
We decided to do it in a years time - the following July (2012) - that would give us time to research, save some money and get fit enough to actually do it! In January 2012 after lot's of googling I chose a trekking company that had dates that suited us. We sent an email out to a few of our friends as there had been some interest over the 6 months prior every time we told someone new. In then end due to money, family & time commitments we had one person who was able to say they could do it with us, my cousin Patrick put up his hand - he was in the army, and with his permission I will tell you more about him later.
At this stage we only had to pay a deposit for the actual trek but I did go ahead and book the flights, that meant we were serious!
Then the training began, we started walking the Kokoda Memorial Steps or 1000 steps as they are known to many.
Kokoda Memorial Walk - 1000 Steps - Dandenongs
Ha ha the first go nearly killed us, ok slight exaggeration but they are tough, we stopped 6 times and took about half hour to walk to the top, now we can do it without stopping and walk it in about 20mins. Over the next couple of months we did them on and off and did a couple of big walks, Fitzroy to Ivanhoe, Anglesea to Port Addis, Cathedral Ranges (thanks Ben & Summer) and walks to Kew & Coburg. We rode the exercise bike and did basic fitness.
We had a holiday booked in Fiji at the end of March this year (it was devine) so decided that when we were back from that the serious training would begin - good thing to, as I stacked it on over Easter & the trip!
I set out a three month program of 5-6 days of training a week - weeknights 1-2 hour walks & steps and weekends longer and harder walks. Last week I also joined the gym to get a couple of cardio classes in a week as well (thanks Amy).
So this brings us to today. I should mention that last Saturday we walked 18kms to a friends house (Courtney) for dinner Fitzroy - Hampton, took us 3.45hrs and the beer that Courtney handed us as we walked in the door tasted soooo good!
Tomorrow we will be doing a similar walk, this time through the Dandenongs starting with the 1000 steps. Feeling a lot fitter than I did a month ago so definitely looking forward to seeing how I go tomorrow.
I'm also researching my Grandfather, Great Grandfather & two Uncles who fought in the war and now have past away. With the help from my Uncle Don (who also served in the Army), my Mum & Dad I will hopefully be able to put up pictures and service history as I go along.
This is the first time I have ever blogged, so I hope I am doing it right and if you are reading this you aren't bored! I will also add links which I have come across that would be of interest. Starting with this link about Stan Bisset born August 1912 and passed away in 2010, he fought in the Middle East during WWII, after Pearl Harbour was bombed he and his brother Butch (who died on the track) were sent up the Kokoda Track to relieve the 39th Battalion, who had been fighting the Japanese for weeks and were holding out against the enemy at Isurava. Stan and his brother are true Aussie heroes and even while typing this it brings a few tears to my eyes.
Stan Bisset - Aussie hero
Stan Bisset
