LAKE Illawarra police officer Sergeant Simon Day will embark on an adventure of a lifetime to remember the fallen soldiers of the infamous Kokoda Track
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Sgt Day is one of 60 officers from police, fire, ambulance and police legatees who will spend eight days confronting the arduous Kokoda Track, as part of the 2015 NSW Police Legacy Kokoda Trek.
The annual trek is in its 10th year and will once again depart in April 2015 to pay respects to those famous Diggers who fought along the Kokoda Track to save Australia from invasion in 1942.
Sgt Day will join detective senior sergeant Darren Kelly of Wollongong Command and represent the Illawarra area in completing this year’s NSW Police Legacy Kokoda Trek as part of 100 years Anzac celebrations.
Sgt Day said he was both excited and daunted by the task ahead.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said.
“With the combination of difficult terrain, heat and mosquitoes, it is going to be hard but it’s obviously interesting at the same time.
The Kokoda Track is 96km long and takes eight days to complete. The track passes through rugged mountain ranges, steep valleys and jungle. This incredible environment is also home to beautiful, welcoming people.
“It is certainly a difficult path, over eight days with no rest time, in another country, away from the comforts of home but it’s a life achievement.
“It’s an important year being 100 years for ANZAC and obviously a worthy cause being a police legacy.”
Sgt Day said the group were from various different backgrounds and age groups and had been training together and individually.
You can support a trekker to help raise funds to enable police to send police legatees each year. To help visit 2015kokodatrek.gofundraise.com.au/cms/home