Today as I have done for the last week or more, I have been going about the task of responding to our clients, many of whom were due to be on either our trekking or non-trekking trips this Anzac Day. 2020 was set to be a big one for Kokoda Historical with four individual groups all going in April. I know they have been preparing, some for over 12 months. Early morning walks before work, sacrificed lunchbreaks and the dozens of early morning weekend hikes. All of this seems at present, to have been in vein. The Corona virus in one foul swoop has thrown people’s efforts to the wind.
Equally my thoughts are with the Green Masin, our team of PNG guides. This past February all our PNG staff attended their annual training at Kokoda Station. Their plans also dashed. Many of our staff rely on the wages they earn to pay school fees and supplement food and clothing for their extended family. One of our Green Masin members is even stranded here in Australia. Ben Jons (Kila’s brother) is unable to return to Port Moresby until the PNG Government allows their citizens to return home. Even more worrying for Ben is his expecting wife, their first child due in five weeks’ time.
The only consolation for Ben is he is safe. Yesterday I received a call from Queensland Health advising that there had been a risk of exposure of COVID-19 on flight QF600 arriving Brisbane 23 March 2020. This was Ben’s connecting flight on route to Port Moresby. Knowing that PNG had shut borders the day before Ben did not travel. PNG has had only one reported case, a mine worker who was sent back to Australia. If the virus took hold in PNG, the consequences would be far greater than we have seen here.
What I am to do with Kokoda Historical, a business that I have passionately ran for more than 15 years. As our cash flow grounds to a halt, how will I keep the business ticking over. Should I perhaps go into hibernation find other employment. What of our Australian trek leaders or our PNG staff, will I be able to give them work this year. And what is to become of the many relationships we have made with suppliers, travel agents and industry partners, are they still going to be here once this is all over. This and many other thoughts are continually playing on my mind. Is there any hope?
There must be hope and it is times like these that I turn my attention to what I am good at-history. I can find the answers starring me in the face. My office wall is covered in propaganda posters with slogans such as ‘On to Victory’, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ and ‘Dig for Victory’, to name a few. If they the greatest generation came out the other side of the dark years of the Second World War, then so shall we.
Once this pandemic is over, Kokoda Historical will be back on track- the Kokoda Track and battlefield pilgrimages beyond. Many of our loyal clients have emailed their support opting to postpone their tour until later in the year or to Anzac Day 2021.Postponement or accepting a later trek date is perhaps the biggest support that we can receive from people right now and for this I am truly grateful. It means we can survive as a business and enable me to offer financial help to our team in PNG. Shortly I will be sending financial assistance through to the Green Masin so at least they have some reassurance in these uncertain times.
For now, I and the team will reflect, reset and live to fight another day. When that day comes in the very near future I look forward to personally welcoming you all back to PNG.
David Howell, 2 April 2020
