Projects already completed by KMF
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Restoration of Memorials - May
2009
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Following the
successful application from the Australian Government - Department of
Veterans' Affair for a grant, KMF returned to restore some of the memorials
it had installed some years before. The tasks included repainting the stick
figure at McDonalds' Corner and fix its garden, repaint Archway at Owers’
corner, repaint the 25-pdr gun at Owers’ corner, and repaint the plaque,
plinth and flag poles at Owers’ corner.
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Ioribaiwa Village plinth and
plaque
- Oct 2007
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The hills
above Ioribaiwa Village was an important turning point in the Kokoda
campaign for the Japanese. It is where the Japanese Army had dug themselves
in along the ridge line able to see the lights of Port Moresby and the Coral
Sea. It was also to be the most southern point where they would advance.
With very limited supplies the Japanese command in the Pacific decided to
retreat troops back to the north coast. KMF has installed a plinth and
plaque in Ioribaiwa Village to illustrated to walkers the history that took
place over 60 years ago.
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Imita Ridge plinth and
plaque
- Oct 2007
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A small
ridge along the Kokoda Trail called Imita Ridge is where the Australian
soldiers had drawn the proverbial 'line in the sand'. A short journey to
Owers' Corner the Australians had the advantage of
a shorter supply line. The Japanese
troops had positioned themselves across the valley to the Ioribaiwa hill
tops. Here they dug in with virtually no supplies. KMF installed a plinth
and plaque in a small saddle where the trail intersects the ridge.
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Construction and
dedication of Kokoda Ave, Memorial Turramurra - Nov 2005
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Inspired by the name of their street, some
residents of
Kokoda Avenue,
Turramurra in Sydney decided to create a memorial to the memory of the
soldiers that fought and fell along the Kokoda Trail, PNG and approached the
Kokoda Memorial Foundation to build the memorial on their behalf. A small
team of skilled volunteers from KMF completed the project over a six-week
period in 2005 using local sandstone and bronze plaques similar to those
found on the Owers’ Corner Archway in PNG.
At the dedication ceremony on
20th
November 2005 Lt General Peter Cosgrove unveiled the memorial in front of a
gathering of local dignitaries, State and local council representatives, ex
veterans and the local community.
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Construction of 9m bridge near
Vesulogo on main Owers' Corner/Port Moresby road - July 2003
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A minor creek crossing
several hundred metres before the Vesulogo village proves impassable
in the wet season. KMF through the generous donations of individuals and
companies from Australia was able to fabricate and install a 9 m bridge
giving back access for villagers and visitors.
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Supply and mounting of 25 pdr gun - 2003
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When the Japanese
reached Ioribaiwa a single battery from 2/14 Field Regiment was located at
Owers' Corner. The 25-pounder donated by ADI Ltd - Lithgow was restored and
mounted at Owers' Corner in memory of the men whom handled the gun in
horrendous conditions.
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Supply of hand operated fire fighting equipment
- 2002
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To aid in protecting
the villagers assets in the dry season from uncontrolled fires, KMF provided fire protection equipment
positioned at various sites around the village. The villagers were given training on maintenance & use
of equipment.
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Supply
of grading blade for KH tractor to help grade the
road - 2002
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The dirt road to
Owers' Corner which is a life-line for several thousand nationals
deteriorates every wet season to a point where no vehicle can pass. KMF has
brought and supplied a grading blade to be fitted to the village tractor so
the road can be graded for vital access by all.
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Building of elementary school at Vesulogo -
2002 -2003
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The local school
which consisted of a single open thatched roofed room with one blackboard
and crude benches was in desperate need of a make over. KMF supplying the
manpower built a totally enclosed school with local materials. All funding
was provided by Mosman High School, Sydney, Australia.
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Delivery of donated school furniture for local schools
- 2002
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St Patricks College at
Strathfield had surplus good quality school furniture which KMF secured and
the RAAF transported to PNG. The pool of furniture was distributed to about
four schools in the area.
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Construction of Owers' Corner memorial
- 1999 - 2002
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This memorial sited at the southern start of the Track where the road from
Port Moresby ends and the jungle of the Owen Stanley Range begins. The
memorial encompasses many facets of construction and design and is Kokoda
Memorial Foundation's largest project.
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Refurbishment of
Depot memorial -1999 - 2002
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In the Kokoda campaign, Depot was major re-supply and staging area before
approaching the beginning of Owers' Corner. Depot is where the road to Owers'
Corner branches off the road from Port Moresby. The memorial sited here was
refurbished by KMF to give the recognition it deserves.
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Installation of 2 km poly pipe of water supply
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1999-2001
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Prior to KMF arriving
in 1999, the water pipe from the local dam to the village which had not been
dug into the ground was severely
damaged by villagers burning off or cutting grass with machete. With new
poly pipe and fittings from Vinidex (Aust), KMF using villagers as the main
source of labour dug in two kilometres of poly pipe to secure a constant
water supply.
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Installation of water tanks - 1999
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To ensure villages
above the local dam had water to see them through the dry season, rain water
tanks donated from Bushman Tanks of Dubbo were installed at various sites
to ensure the maximum benefit of the wet season rains for as many people as
possible.
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Raising of the level in village dam - 1999
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In times of drought
in the area, the local water supply in the dam was insufficient for the
three hundred people of the local village – Vesulogo. KMF with donated
materials from Australian companies raised the existing dam by 0.5 m which
has guaranteed a water supply through the dry season.
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Installation of lights in Church
and guest house together with
supply of generator at Menari - 1999
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The first of the
projects by KMF, a petrol driven electric generator was donated to the
village of Menari. The generator is used for lighting the church and also
provides a source for the village when it is used by trekkers in the guest
house.
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