Kokoda Historical recently took Tikvah Education Australia, over the Kokoda Track. This was a wonderful experience for all the students, most of whom are Aboriginal Australians.
The group consisted of 8 children ranging in age from 9 to 13 years of age and 4 adults. It is important to note that 3 of the children including one of the 9-year-olds, were accompanied by their father and a further 3 children including the other 9-year-old, were accompanied by their mother.
The group are from the north coast area of NSW and had undertaken months of lead up training prior to undertaking the trek. In addition, they received from Kokoda Historical, support and advice on what to take and how to prepare for the trek prior to arriving in PNG.
Of note, key participants including both the parents, visited PNG earlier in the year and the father of the 3 children had grown up in East New Britian (his father was an SDA church leader in Kokopo). The group were not only prepared for their trek but had a greater than average knowledge of PNG than most trekkers coming from Australia. They certainly satisfied our requirements. Otherwise, we would not have taken them, nor would we have proceeded if at any time we thought the participants were at risk.
Unfortunately, the self-appointed sheriff of Kokoda, Charlie Lynn, decided to make a vexations complaint to the Tourism Promotion Authority of PNG.
This is not that first time Charlie has been caught up to his nasty tricks (click here to read more his tactics)
We have come into possession of Charlie's complaint, and we have decided to publish in the interests of alerting the wider public.
Before you read Charlie's complaint, note that Charlie Lynn has issues with the leagal entitiy that administers Kokoda trekking, the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA). Adventure Kokoda was banned from taking treks across Kokoda due to operating trekking without valid permits. The same year Adventure Kokoda had a death on the track.
Below is copy of the letter cancelling the licence of Adventure Kokoda.
This is the vexatious and nasty letter that Charlie wrote to the CEO of the PNG TPA. Note Charlie's remarks about Tikvah Education Australia. All because they decided not to go with him.
Charlie never lets the truth get in the way of one of his vexatious lies!
Here is his letter below followed by our response:
Good morning Eric,
I feel compelled to write to you regarding my concerns over a Kokoda trek group which commenced from Owers Corner late yesterday.
The group is from a fringe educational institutional, Tikvah Education Australia, which is conducting a pilot project for disadvantaged children - the group includes vulnerable 9-year old primary school students.
One of their patronising objectives of the group is to be ‘immersed amongst the people and the culture of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby when we donate chickens to needy people’.
My concerns over this trek relate to their personal safety and the demeaning of the value of pilgrimage across the Kokoda Trail.
These students have been raised in the comforts of a temperate urban environment in Australian - they therefore do not have the natural physical resilience required for a tropical environment in such a remote and rugged area as the Owen Stanly Ranges.
An accident or a serious illness to such vulnerable young students will result in controversial negative publicity for PNG
The KTA should never have issued trek permits to that couple – and they should not have issued them to this fringe school group.
I have argued for many years that the Kokoda Trail is a high-value, world-class pilgrimage tourism destination with the potential to provide a sustainable economic future for traditional landowner communities across it.
However this will never be realised while PNG allows it to be used as a ‘low-value bucket-list venture’ or as an egotistical social experiment for teachers from fringe schools.
For the record our company, Adventure Kokoda, has a minimum age limit of 16-years for trekkers, or 14-years if they are trekking with a parent - we were originally asked to lead the Tikvah Education group but declined to do so after they advised us of the ages of the students.
I assume they then approached David Howell, the owner of the Business Name, ‘Kokoda Historical’
Howell has been leading treks a across the Kokoda Trail since 2005 and claims to have led more than 4000 trekkers Trail during this period.
A review of his IPA record (copy attached) reveals that his Business Name expired on 31 August 2023 so he is currently operating illegally in PNG!
His IPA records also reveal he has never paid any tax on the profit he has generated in PNG over the past 18 years - a check with the IRC will verify this fact.
So in essence, we currently have a group of vulnerable young students being led across the Trail by an illegal Australian Kokoda tour operator.
The PNG Government could therefore be exposed to legal action if the trek is allowed to continue and any of the group suffers a serious injury or illness.
I believe TPA and KTA have a duty of care to instruct KTA Rangers to call a halt to the Tikvah Education trek and turn them around at the earlies opportunity.
Tikvah Education could then be invited to immerse themselves ‘ amongst the people and the culture of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby’ – it will also make it easier for them to ‘donate chickens to needy people’ on the Sogeri plateau.
Best regards,
Charlie
Charlie Lynn OAM OL
PO Box 303
Camden NSW 3570
0439 303 303
Kokoda Historical met with the CEO of TPA at the KTA Trek Operators Forum.
This is Kokoda Historical's reponse:
Dear Eric,
As discussed today at the KTA forum in Brisbane, I am writing to you to address the claims made by Charlie Lynn of the now unlicensed trekking company Adventure Kokoda and by the board member of PNGTPA Andy Able.
For transparency, I have copied in the CEO of KTA, the head of the Kokoda Initiative and Samantha Patrick who not only participated in the trek but is also the Director of Tikvah Education Australia.
The claims by the before mention people, seem to centre around three key issues.
- The children due to their age, were at risk of either serious injury or death by undertaking this activity.
- My company was operating illegally.
- The Tikvah Education group’s participation diminishes the value of a Kokoda pilgrimage.
The group consisted of 8 children ranging in age from 9 to 13 years of age and 4 adults. It is important to note that 3 of the children including one of the 9-year-olds, were accompanied by their father and a further 3 children including the other 9-year-old, were accompanied by their mother. The group are from the north coast area of NSW and had undertaken months of lead up training prior to undertaking the trek. In addition, they received from my company, support, and advice on what to take and how to prepare for the trek prior to arriving in PNG. Of note, key participants including both the parents had also visited PNG earlier in the year and the father of the 3 children had grown up in East New Britian (his father was an SDA church leader in Kokopo). The group not only were prepared for their trek but had a greater than average knowledge of PNG than the average trekker coming from Australia. They certainly satisfied my requirements. Otherwise, I would not have taken them, nor would I have proceeded if at any time I thought the participants were at risk.
As for my company operating illegally, this is false. I am a licensed trek operator with KTA, and this trek had a valid trek permit. My business is foreign certified, and I am compliant with the relevant laws in relation to operating a business in PNG. I am happy to provide to you the name and number of my PNG accountant who will provide the relevant details to your office if required.
The Tikvah Education group participated in donating live chickens in Port Moresby. They are a Christian group who align with the values of Papua New Guinea. Samantha can give you more details on this. As mentioned before, most of the group are Aboriginal Australians. During the trek, they not only participated in services of remembrance at significant places such as Isurava Battlefield and Brigade Hill, but they also paid particular attention to acknowledging the involvement of Papua New Guineas who served during the campaign. Indeed, their cultural involvement with the people along the track was far greater than any other group I have taken. It is a credit to them.
In closing, I am happy to report that not only did the young people complete the trek without incident, but they excelled at the activity. Engaging with the local kids, playing football at the end of the days march, and importantly sharing cultural experiences between Aboriginal Australia and indigenous Papuan New Guineans. They have left PNG as ambassadors for the promotion of tourism in PNG.
Kind Regards,
David Howell
Note that on 19 November 2023, Charlie Lynn took issues again with the KTA. As a result, it was discovered that the KTA permit officer Lucy Miro who has long being suspected of being manipulated by Charlie Lynn, was caught out on social media undermining her position at the KTA.
Lucy Miro no longer works for the KTA.
