Two off to hike Kokoda
TWO Tweed-based army reservists are about to relive some of the suffering of their military predecessors - they will take on the famous Kokoda Track next week.
Jon Chemello and Chris Evans will don hiking greens and backpacks to trek 96km through dense jungle and hot conditions on the rugged and steep mountainous track.
"We are expecting to be challenged," Mr Chemello said.
"But I'm sure it's still nowhere near as tough as it was for the diggers in World War Two."
Both men have been deployed as reservists and they are no shrinking violets.
They have known some tough times as soldiers.
"I think this will prove to be right up there as one of the greatest challenges we've ever faced," Mr Evans said.
"But the experience will help us to form an affinity with those men who made the original journey."
The Twin Towns Foundation bought tickets for the challenge through a fundraising auction for the family of Detective Senior Constable Leeding who died after being shot while on the job last year.
The reservists will join eight Queensland police officers on the 10-day trek.
"You are only as fast as your slowest man," Mr Chemello said.
"So teamwork is really important."
