It’s a remote area of the world written into Australian folklore.
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The Kokoda Track, 96km of undulating landscape deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, isn’t for the faint-hearted.
It’s a challenge that the Macleay’s Phillip Hines will soon face, with the Kundabung man taking to the track on May 29 in a bid to raise funds for the Missions Aviation Fellowship.
It’ll be the first time the 28-year-old will tackle a trek of this magnitude.
“I’ve never done anything on this level, it’s not down my aisle,” Phillip said.
He’s been preparing for the hike, which will go for “a bit over a week”, by training after work and on weekends.
The training hikes during the week usually consist of three treks of about 2-3kms in length, while Phillip grinds out 10-15kms on each day of the weekend.
He’s heavy pack, carried to simulate the bag he’ll carry on the trail, has drawn some quizzical looks from fellow hikers.
“I’ll be walking along the track and people will stop to have a chat and see what it’s about,” he said.
The Missions Aviation Fellowship, for which Phillip is fundraising for, is a charity that flies planes into isolated area such as the mountains around Kokoda, and Arnhem Land in Australia, to assist people with medical conditions.
This includes airlifting injured people or pregnant women from remote areas to medical aid, instead of them having to hike for days to find the closest help.
The charity also helps with supplies and medical help following natural disasters around the world.
It’s a cause close to Phillip’s heart, who several years ago was airlifted from Kempsey Hospital to Newcastle following an accident where he sustained severe lacerations to his face.
So far the Kundabung man has raised $5300, and he’s confident of exceeding that as the departure date for his trip gets closer.
He admits to being a bit nervous ahead of the trek, but said he was “pretty excited” about finally tackling it.
“The first day is the one that gets me worried, the way everybody talks about it,” he said.
“The humidity can make anything a challenge.”
“I’m feeling pumped, I can’t wait.”
Anyone wanting to donate to Phillip’s cause can do so at https://kokodatrekformaf.gofundraise.com.au/page/PhillipHines
