Mooloola-Baja

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I decided a few months ago that any new songs I wrote would be happy. It’s too easy to be miserable.

Anyway I used to be in a band in Canberra in the early 80’s with a wonderful character we vcalled Uncle Don – we called him that because he was significantly older than us. He was a resourceful dude who built his own pedal steel guitar out of wood, scrap metal and car parts and he was a colorful addition to our already colorful country-rock band.

He comes to Qld every year to escape the Canberra winter with his wife, Jill.  Last year we were sharing a few beers and reminisces and fooling around with the chorus of a song, deciding to write one each. Here’s my paean to the wonderful Mooloolaba beach.

I had a hand from some musos all round the country – Michael Schack from Warrnambool, formerly from the Dead Livers, but still gigging around, Graeme Cameron from Melbourne, from Mike Noga and the Gentlemen of fortune, and Toni Pollard, great country, blues and swing singer, and good all round shiela.

If you like the song, tell Jimmy Buffet and ask him to record it!

Then sign up with a group of your friends or family to trek the Kokoda Track and in doing so, know that you will be helping villagers in the mountains of Papua New Guinea with employment and access to school teachers and medical supplies.

The trip will be delivered by Naoro Kokoda Treks Pty Ltd, a company established by local PNG men who live along the Track with voluntary assistance from Australians Lindy & Peter Dunn of Canberra. They have worked with the men (who have years of experience guiding and portering for other companies), who now wish to be independent and see profits go directly to their villages.

Neither of the two Naoro villages have a school teacher, although they have built beautiful bush school houses. Likewise, medical services are rudimentary and supplies extremely limited. Many of the village people, especially the children, continue to contract malaria and often supplies of medications are non existent. By trekking you can help these people and they look forward to welcoming you to their land.

Sadly, very little of the massive aid program Australia is delivering to PNG is reaching these villages.

The Treks

Two treks are offered, the first, a 10 day full Kokoda Track trek, starting either at Owers’ Corner and finishing in the town of Kokoda before flying back to Port Moresby or in reverse. The second option (still 10 days however less trekking) is a more culturally focused trek involving trekking along the Kokoda Track for 3 days from Port Moresby end, before leaving the track to trek through both Naoro villages before returning on a slightly easier path to the start.

Both trips allow an opportunity to experience the war time track and learn the history of the area as well as gain an understanding of the culture of PNG. The second allows more time for village stays.

Costs

Cost ex Port Moresby is $3,300 (2nd option $3000 as there is no need for an internal flight). In 2010, departure dates between June and October, can be arranged to suit your group.

So take your fitness to a new level – or start training now to ensure you are ready to enjoy this awesome experience. You will be offered a training program when booking for the trip and can either do it by yourself or train together with your group.

Full details on the development and aims of the company, costs and inclusions of the trip can be found on the website or by emailing Lindy at lindy@NKTreks.com.au .

A powerpoint presentation can be made available for viewing at one of your group’s meetings to generate interest or Lindy can also hold briefing nights and show photos from the trek and village life should you have a group enthusiastic.

Contact Lindy directly at lindy@NKTreks.com.au or M 0407 910 603 to discuss aspects of the trek or the community development project.

As you know, the Festive Season is quickly closing on us and it is asked that you spare a thought for our soldiers serving our country in harm’s way in Afghanistan.

Perhaps you may wish to send a soldier a care package. The idea behind this is that some troops over in Afghanistan may not have family who are able to send them packages with things they may need or things that make their time over there just that tiny bit easier. There may also just be a soldier who is finding their time over there difficult and just needs a bit of cheering up. It’ll get given to whoever needs it most.

To send a care package to an Australian Soldier in Afghanistan, you need to purchase a “BM” size box (weighs 175g itself) from Australia Post, they cost $2. They’ll give you some customs forms which you will also need to fill out. The address you need to send the package to is below. Make sure you seal all the edges of the box with packing tape. If the box after being packed weighs less than 2kg, Australia Post will send it for Free.

An Australian Soldier

Op Slipper

AFPO 13

Australian Defence Force

SYDNEY NSW 2890

To give an example of what can be sent, a care package could be:

1 x Lynx Shower Gel Travel Size

1 x Pack of Schick Disposable Razors

1 x NON-AEROSOL Shaving Cream

1 x Lynx Roll On Deodorant

1 x Small Baby Powder (Talc)

1 x Chap Stick (SPF 30+)

3 x Bags of Allen’s Lollies (NOT CHOCOLATE)

1 x Beef Instant Noodles

1 x Pack of Scotch Finger Biscuits

2 x Canned Tuna (Pull Ring Style)

But don’t limit it to this let your imagination do the walking.

You may wish to also include a self addressed envelope and a letter, or include your email address as well just in case they want to contact you or have something specific they want you to get for them.

Things not to send:

Alcohol

No Clothing, Except socks

Aerosols

Cigarettes

Pork

chocolate (melts)

Magazines with naked people.

You can also send a female specific care package, including feminine deo, perfume sample sachets, girly mags. All you need to do is when addressing write ³An Australian Soldier – FEMALE².

For those of you that are animal lovers, you may wish to do the following: sending care packages to our Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) with the following items included:

1 x box dog biscuits

1 x beef bone (not fresh)

3 x “greenies”

1x toy

1 x tennis ball

and don’t forget a couple of packets of lollies for the handler.

The dogs do a magnificent job under very trying conditions and to date, four have lost their lives serving their country.

The address is:

³An Australian EDD Handler”

Op Slipper

AFPO 13

Australian Defence Force

SYDNEY NSW 2890

This is a fantastic way to help out our serving soldiers, and show your support. What about getting the local kids at school involved and send some special packages from them there is still 4or5 weeks before they finish the year.