TWO young people from NSW will get the opportunity of a lifetime – to walk the Kokoda Track.

ClubsNSW is offering two people the chance to trek the track as part of the 2011 Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge.

ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said flights, accommodation, meals and hiking boots would be provided and selected participants would need to train for a high level of fitness.

The two successful applicants will fly with other successful young people from across Australia to Papua New Guinea where they will walk an extended version of the Kokoda Track, which is 155kms long, 61kms longer than the original route. At the end of the 10-day trek, the group will visit the Bomana War Cemetery that contains 3819 Commonwealth burials from the Second World War.

“The successful applicants will be young people who have made outstanding contributions to their local community,” Mr Ball said.

“Those chosen from past years have come back and said through the physical and mental challenges, and emotional times of learning what Australian soldiers went through, they discovered a new appreciation of being Australian, their strengths and learnt new leadership skills.

“They come back with a clear picture and renewed motivation for their personal lives and future community projects.”

The battle of Kokoda was one of the bloodiest campaigns of the Second World War. On July 21, 1942, Japanese troops landed on the northern coast of the former New Guinea and began to march over the Owen Stanley Ranges in an attempt to capture Port Moresby.

Troops were rushed to New Guinea and within days, 1500 men marched the ranges to stop the advance of the Japanese forces. The program gives young people the chance to walk the trail marched by our troops.

Application forms are available at www.clubs- nsw.com.au/kokoda. Applications close on May 8.